Rainbow Dots WELCOME! As you enter the room, please take a post-it note. On the post it note please write one of the following: 1. Something kind you did for someone 2. Something kind someone did for you 3. Something kind you witnessed Please put your completed post-it on the wall. City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
Trauma Responsive Care Emily Buster Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS) Marci Ryan Central Community House
Columbus Care Coalition - Mission Mission: The Columbus CARE Coalition is comprised of members of the community who believe that when trauma happens to one, it happens to all of us. We seek to support, educate, and engage community organizations who serve Columbus including mental health providers, community organizations, city government, and community activists. Collectively, our work will increase sensitivity, awareness and build resilience in neighborhoods and families. Overarching Goal: Columbus becomes a trauma informed community Work Groups: Community Outreach, Crisis Intervention, Networking, Trauma Resource Guide, Trauma Training, Outcomes CARE is led by Columbus Public Health City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
Columbus Care Coalition - Goals To systematically increase education among Columbus residents and community service providers about psychological trauma and traumainformed care approaches (Training Workgroup) To build an infrastructure for rapid response to traumatic events that affect a whole community (Community Trauma Resource Team Workgroup) To directly engage residents in high-risk neighborhoods experiencing trauma and inequity from a trauma-informed perspective in order to increase resiliency in individuals, families and Columbus communities (Community Outreach Workgroup) To create a strong network of providers and community members to address community trauma (Networking Workgroup) City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
History of Columbus CARE Coalition: Key considerations Started in 2015 Findings ways to acknowledge the impact and respond to ongoing trauma collaboratively: Netcare on the scene, CARE- provide crisis support 48 hours afterwards Exploring ways to bring our CARE to the community Better ability to understand and intervene with communities that experience trauma on an ongoing basis. Including New American communities Factoring in various forms of trauma: food insecurity, homelessness, racism Question- what are we doing to promote resilience in the Columbus community? When Trauma happens to one, it happens to us all! City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
Trauma Responsive Care Certification Finding Hope Consulting 26 Trainers Training Workgroup Funding made possible by the Ohio Attorney General s Office. City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
Self-Care Guided Meditation We are going to discuss trauma s impact upon the brain and how to build resiliency. This information may be emotional or mentally triggering for some in this room. Please know, that it is a normal response, and we want everyone to take care of themselves. If you need to stand up, take a break, or even leave, that s okay. Free Resources: marc.ucla.edu
What is Trauma? Family Violence Malnutrition Separation from Family Parent is struggling with mental illness, drugs, and or alcohol Chronic stress from Poverty Community Violence Racism Death What else??
Understanding Trauma The stress of an event does not make it traumatic. It is the meaning of the event that the person ascribes to it that makes it traumatic. Therefore, a trauma reaction doesn t end when the event ends.
Becoming Trauma Informed Ask, What has happened to this person? instead of What is wrong with this person?
The Brain Brainstem ~ controls bodily functions [breathing, bladder] Things you don t think about Limbic System ~ identifies threats, houses emotional memory, fear center [decides fight, flight or freeze] Cortex System ~ controls self regulation, planning, problem solving, and executing actions.
Trauma Brain- Survival Mode Adapted from: Dr. Bruce Perry & Dr. Shoshanah Lyons Hyper alert to danger Environment Thinking Brain offline- not able to reason. Normal Cue or Danger Cue Fear center taking over Fight Flight Freeze
Excusing vs. Understanding Under no circumstances does trauma informed care suggest that poor behavior choices be ignored or excused due to a person s history of trauma. EXCUSING behavior is far different than UNDERSTANDING it. If we can understand the behavior then we can work at the mechanism that is driving it and offer healing.
ACEs: Adverse Childhood Experiences What are ACEs? ACEs are serious childhood traumas that cause toxic stress that can harm a child s brain. This toxic stress may prevent a child from learning, from playing in a healthy way with other children, and can result in long term health problems. ACES video
How do ACEs affect health? Increases difficulty in making friends and maintaining relationships. Increases problems with learning and memory. Lowers tolerance for stress, which can result in fighting, checking out, or defiance. Increases stress hormones, which lowers the body s ability to fight infections. Reduces the ability to learn, respond, or figure things out which causes difficulty in school.
The Iceberg Approach When we see a child with a traumatic affect, we are seeing tip of an iceberg that extends Into family and community. -The Heart of Teaching & Learning: Compassion, Resiliency, and Academic Success
What is predictable is preventable. Robert Anda, MD ACES Co-Founder The goal is to see the precious child that exists beneath the survival strategies and let them know that we see them. Karyn Purvis, MD
Becoming Trauma Responsive Ask, What has happened to this person? And then What did this person do to survive? Honor that as their greatest act of courage.
Resilience overcomes ACEs! Agency: Having a sense of control. Having a say in decisions (power with). Self Esteem: Sense of self-worth, feeling loved. Sense of self-personal preferences. External Supports: Friends, Neighbors, Family, Teachers Affiliation: Being a part of a group that works together towards a positive goal. Safe Adults: Involvement with positive, safe people. Spirituality or System of Meaning
Words Matter Finding Hope Consulting Say I m so happy to see you instead of How are you. Eliminate the word BUT from your vocabulary, use AND instead Explore other ways to say NO Ask How can I help you feel safe?
Safety Script Finding Hope Consulting This is a safe place, and I won t let anyone (name the thing you can t let them do), so I can t let you (name the thing you can t let them do), because this is a safe place.
Safety Triangle Finding Hope Consulting Safe Face Safety Triangle Safe Voice Safe Posture
Reflect, Honor, Connect Finding Hope Consulting Reflect back to the person with compassion, what you heard I can see that you re upset. I hear you saying that you feel disrespected by how they approached you to discuss this matter. Honor their courage for surviving and sharing Thank you for sharing your feelings with me. I know it can be difficult to talk about something that is painful. You should know that would not be an approach I would take. Connect them with safety, supports and what they would like the future to look like. I m wondering if there is something I can do to help you feel safe right now?
Descriptive vs. Evaluative Praise Finding Hope Consulting Descriptive Describes qualities and allows the listener to identify the value Is specific Highlights the area in between; the shades of gray Promotes an internal locus of control Examples You have made a picture with bright colors You found a way to keep them safe You walked away instead of fighting Evaluative Describes the value as seen by another Is general Promotes binary either or thinking Promotes an external locus of control Examples What a pretty picture I like the ending to your story Good job avoiding a fight
Calming the Limbic System Finding Hope Consulting Get level with child or lower (brain calms when eyes look down) Rhythm Activities and Movement Pictures Increase Dopamine Set the Stage
The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be able to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love. - Dr. Bruce Perry
Get Involved Resilience as a culture and We all play a role! We believe that we can become a community that believes in resilience, takes action regularly, and has measures in place to promote this philosophy. Full Coalition Meetings are the last Thursday of the month from 9:30-11am. Website: www.columbus.gov/care City of Columbus Columbus Public Health
Questions? Thank you! Emily Buster Marci Ryan Emily.buster@ethiotss.org mryan@cchouse.org Ethopian Tewahedo Social Services Central Community House 614-252-5362 614-252-3157 www.ethiotss.org www.cchouse.org