LI Course
CE Hours: 3 contact hours

Statement of Purpose and Institute Overview: The purpose of this Institute is to describe why trauma is a public health issue, and how trauma-informed concepts can be integrated into direct services and program management in a productive and sustainable manner. The prevalence of trauma in the general population and its implications for treatment are gaining greater attention in our field. We see the impact of trauma on substance abuse and other high risk behaviors, mental illness, and health conditions. While we may be aware of these relationships and address them with specific clients and populations in treatment, the services and systems around us may continue to exacerbate conditions and re-traumatize our clients. What are the conditions of a system that is trauma informed and those that are trauma insensitive? How does one assess trauma sensitivity in one’s practice and agency environment? How do you make the changes needed to become trauma informed? Trauma informed care has been developed and implemented in a number of settings including those within the justice system, without sacrificing safety or order. As our understanding of trauma and its impact grows, the next generation of social workers will be called on to build practices and design environments that are trauma informed. National resources are available to those who are interested in learning more and adopting these practices in their work settings.

Session Objectives: 1. Define trauma and trauma informed care 2. Understand prevalence and implications of trauma 3. Understand the impact of trauma through the lens of the survivor 4. Understand the cultural and intergenerational ramifications of trauma 5. Describe how trauma informed care can reduce instances of re-traumatization for service recipients 6. Define core principles for organizational and service system design to enhance trauma-informed practices 7. Describe key concepts about providing trauma-informed assistance in crisis situations 8. Obtain technical assistance to integrate trauma informed care into their agencies and programs.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing