Online Trauma-Informed Organization Certificate Program: Basics for All Staff
Our online certificate program helps organizations move toward a trauma-informed culture for clients and staff.
Trauma-Informed Care means that we stop asking “What is wrong with this person?” and begin asking “What has happened to this person?”
The Basics for All Staff Certificate Program was created by the University at Buffalo's Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care to help organizations and staff better understand trauma-informed systems of care.
In a trauma-informed system of care, organizations provide services that help clients feel safe, accepted, and understood, while reducing practices and interactions that may be retraumatizing or triggering. The Basics for All Staff Certificate Program introduced participants to core concepts in trauma-informed practice, including:
- how a trauma-informed approach helps agencies become more informed about and sensitive to trauma-related issues affecting both clients and staff;
- the five principles of trauma-informed practice;
- how these principles can guide interactions among staff and with clients; and
- how a trauma-informed culture can be applied across different levels of an organization.
The Basics for All Staff certificate program is now closed and is no longer open for new enrollment.
Individuals who have already purchased courses in the Basics for All Staff series may complete the required coursework and certificate requirements through 11:59 p.m. ET on December 31, 2026. After that date, no new certificates will be issued.
As the field of trauma-informed care continues to evolve, ITTIC is shifting its training focus to live Micro-Credential Opportunities. These 12–15 hour series reflect ITTIC’s current teaching, research, and practice-based approach to trauma and trauma-informed care. Through ITTIC’s partnership with UB School of Social Work Continuing Education, CEUs are available for eligible micro-credential offerings.
Learners who are looking for current trauma-informed care training are encouraged to explore ITTIC’s live Micro-Credential Opportunities.
You can also explore additional professional development opportunities through the UB School of Social Work Continuing Education catalog at https://ubswce.ce21.com/.
Trauma-Informed Care vs. Trauma Specific Services
Upon completion of the certificate program, your organization and staff will gain an understanding of:
- How a TIC approach in an organization seeks to ensure it is informed about and sensitive to trauma-related issues of both clients and agency staff.
- The guiding principles of trauma-informed practice: safety, trust, choice, collaboration and empowerment.
- How the guiding principles of TIC relate to the interactions between staff, and between staff and clients.
- Ways this training process can create the foundation for an organization to take steps toward culture and service provision that supports trauma survivors and as well as employees.
- Resources and information about how a trauma-informed culture is applied at all levels of service, from the reception staff, to front line workers, up to management and administration and in specific service environments referenced in the elective courses (more elective courses are being filmed).
- Enroll and start at any time that is convenient for you. The program is available 365 days a year.
- You have up to 12 months to complete the entire certificate program, although you may complete it in a shorter time frame.
- If you do not wish to take the entire certificate program, you may purchase any of the courses individually.
- Organizations may choose to have staff watch courses as a group. When purchasing a course, the access and certificate of completion are assigned to the person making the purchase. If you want each person to receive a certificate for course completion and any applicable CEUs, please have them purchase the Additional Participant option.
- Access and use of Online self-study Digital Seminar Courses: The Digital Seminar access never expires from the date of purchase. It offers you two options: watch as a streaming video and/or download the video and watch as often as desired. Both can be done at a time of your convenience. Online courses are provided in a video format that you will view on your computer (Internet access and speakers are required). There is no access to the course instructor. PowerPoints, readings and other materials are included in the handouts section of the course website. A quiz is required to verify your acquisition of knowledge.
- Review the introduction to the online format for more information.
All courses are offered online and are available 365 days a year.
All courses can be purchased in the Online Trauma-Informed Organization Certificate Program: Basics for All Staff section of our online course catalog. Use the link at the bottom of this section to go to the online catalog and choose these program courses from the Category section.
Foundation courses for the certificate program: (complete all three)
- Trauma 101: An Overview of Psychological Trauma (1.5 hours)
- Trauma-Informed Systems and Organizations: What Do They Look Like? (1.25 hours)
- A Trauma-Informed Approach to Self-Care: Preserving and Nurturing Yourself (.75 hours)
Elective courses for the certificate program: (choose a minimum of one course)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working in the Addictions System (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working in Aging and End-of-Life Services (1.75 hours)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Children, Families and Service Providers in Child Welfare Services (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Children and Service Providers in Mental Health Services (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Children, Youth and Service Providers in the Education System (.5 hours)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working in the Family Court System (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working in the Health Care System (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Individuals and Service Providers in the Criminal Justice System (.5 hours)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Refugees, Immigrants, and Asylum Seekers (1 hour)
- Trauma-Informed Care: Working with Veterans, Service Providers and the Military Culture (1.5 hours)
Visit our online catalog- use the categories to find applicable courses for this program
- Introduction to online courses: Prior to registering for an online course, we recommend you visit our introduction to the online format page.
- Account: Set up an account in our online catalog or log-in if you already have an account. Courses are available 365 days a year and are considered self-study (no access to the instructor at the time you take the course). Handouts are available for printing or saving to your computer.
- Access and use of Online self-study Digital Seminar Courses: The Digital Seminar access never expires from the date of purchase. It offers you two options: watch as a streaming video and/or download the video and watch as often as desired. Both can be done at a time of your convenience. Online courses are provided in a video format that you will view on your computer (Internet access and speakers are required). There is no access to the course instructor. PowerPoints, readings and other materials are included in the handouts section of the course website. A quiz is required to verify your acquisition of knowledge.
- Cost: The cost is approximately $240 or less for the total certificate (minimum of four courses) program, subject to change. Courses will be added to your account immediately upon purchase.
- CEUs: Any CEUs or NYSED LMSW, LCSW, LMHC, LCAT or LMFT self-study contact hours for the course are listed in the credits tab of the course information.
- Certificate of Completion: For those who finish the certificate program, and have completed the online application, please complete your evaluation to have your coursework reviewed and certificate activated. If you have not submitted an application you can complete the application and evaluation at the same time.
Questions? Contact us at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or 716-829-5841.
In January 2019, the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care released its Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual, designed to help organizations and systems plan for, implement and sustain trauma-informed culture change.
A certificate program does not verify competence in the field, but rather indicates completion of the required training. Acquisition of new knowledge and skills improves your ability to deliver services.
Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care Infographic - view or print on 11 x 17 paper; works best when printed from a color printer (rather than scanned in a copier).