Training Haitian Service Providers in Holistic Psychological Care for Trauma Survivers

Objectives: The purpose of this poster is to present a training program for psychosocial service providers in Haiti to build capacity to address the psychosocial needs of trauma survivors. The primary objectives were to enhance the capacity of providers to (1) understand trauma from a psychosocial perspective, (2) identify the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress, (3) provide age-appropriate psychosocial care, and (4) employ a variety of techniques for stress reduction and relaxation. Design: Using a rapid ethnographic assessment methodology, a research team from DePaul University, coordinated by a Kreyol-speaking MPH graduate student, developed culturally-appropriate materials in Kreyol related to identifying and addressing post-traumatic stress reactions. These materials were used at three separate free one-day trainings and were shared with NGOs and government agencies. Trainings were held in Gonaives, Cap Haitian and Limonade, areas that received significant numbers of displaced people from Port-au-Prince. Trainings were designed for psychosocial service providers and included skills-building and support related to the issue of post-traumatic stress symptoms, adaptive responses to stress, and intervention strategies. Employing a train-the-trainer model promoted the sharing of this knowledge within organizations. Results: The results of the 6-month follow up showed that trainees expressed a high degree of satisfaction with the training, desired additional training in the form of a follow-up session, and were actively employing techniques learned during the training. Conclusions: We would like to disseminate these training materials to a wider audience, including both organizations working with displaced populations outside of Port-au-Prince and organizations working with camp populations.