Collaborate and Contact Us

Foundation education can be provided in-person or virtually via Zoom. Sessions are both educational and interactive in nature and include both handouts and resources. Our foundation education consists of two parts: 

• Initial presentation – Typically 2.5-3 hours in length, focusing on providing an overview of trauma/adversity and its impact (particularly on the brain and how it impacts “here and now” interactions), re-traumatization and an introduction to trauma-informed values and principles. The presentation is tailored to the role(s) and system of the audience.
• Follow-up sessions – A minimum of 2-3 follow-up sessions for everyone who attends the initial presentation (~1-2 hours in length), to continue the digestive learning process. Session topics vary depending on the number of sessions but can include things such as: strategies to prevent trauma responses and avoid re-traumatization, operationalizing trauma-informed values/principles in staff roles; regulation and trauma-informed language strategies; the impact of the work (e.g., vicarious trauma, vicarious resilience) and workforce wellness.

For longer-term collaborations, we can build on the foundation education described above by providing regular consultation and coaching to the workforce. We generally think about this component of the work plan in hours per month dedicated to activities such as, but not limited to:

Champions are a key part of sustaining trauma-informed change in ITTIC’s trauma-informed organizational change model. Champions are a group of identified staff of various roles who will be positioned to:

• Be a model and advocate for trauma-informed practices (note: they do not need to be an “expert”)
• Lead the trauma-informed change process through their deepened understanding of planning, implementing, and sustaining trauma-informed practices at an organizational level
• Provide support for the workforce—particularly new staff—that may have less training and experience

Generally, Champions attend an initial “kick-off” training (4-6 hours), and then meet monthly for ~1-1.5 hours for trauma-informed consultation and coaching throughout the collaboration period in addition to training, consultation and coaching that all staff members receive. The focus of this consultation and coaching is on ITTIC’s 10 Key Development Areas for organizational change:

Champions will be provided various tools and resources in addition to ITTIC’s Trauma-Informed Organizational Change Manual to lead the process.

ITTIC has specialized training for supervisors focused on how to be trauma-informed within their supervisory role. The training is appropriate for all types of supervisors (administrative, supportive, clinical) and focuses on ITTIC's trauma-informed supervision framework. The framework has eight components:

The live training, which can be offered in-person or virtually, occurs over multiple sessions and provides supervisors with knowledge, tools and resources within each of the eight components and encourages active self-awareness and self-reflection. 

ITTIC also offers an online, self-study module called Trauma-Informed Supervision: A Practical Framework, which provides an overview of the framework and introduces each of the eight components. 

ITTIC provides training, consultation, and coaching for those in formal leadership roles on trauma-informed leadership. ITTIC's framework for trauma-informed leadership includes a focus on both organizational and personal levels across four components:

• Leading a Trauma-Informed Organization
• Model the Model
• Promote Workforce Resilience and Growth
• Prioritize Personal Wellness

Training on the trauma-informed leadership framework occurs over multiple sessions and can be delivered in-person or virtually. Additional consultation and coaching for individuals and/or small groups of leaders over a period of time is also available. 

ITTIC was one of seven locations to receive a train-the-trainer grant on Trauma-Informed Care and the Criminal Justice System. In addition to funding, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) provides materials and support for ITTIC, which are used to train organizations in the community. SAMHSA offers an array of free material to assist individuals and organizations as they engage in trauma-informed care.

ITTIC trainers are available to deliver the How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Response, which is a four-hour curriculum tailored for criminal justice professionals designed to:

• Increase understanding of trauma.
• Create an awareness of the impact of trauma on behavior.
• Develop trauma-informed responses.

ITTIC can also train staff on how deliver trauma and trauma-informed curriculum. The logistics of this process depend on the type of delivery being trained, but always involves the following components:

• Curriculum development tailored to the need(s) of the organization (including PowerPoint slides, handouts, activities, and trainer notes).
• Piloting of the curriculum by ITTIC trainers, shadowed by the trainees.
• A formal training of trainers, where ITTIC trainers review the curriculum and how to train in trauma-informed ways.
• A period of co-facilitation with ITTIC trainers transitioning to observations with feedback.

We offer online modules on trauma and trauma-informed care through our Online Trauma-Informed Course: Basics for all Staff.

This course examines how our systems can shift from thinking “What is wrong with this person?” to “What has happened to this person?” The online format allows you to educate and bring awareness to all levels of staff.  We strongly recommend seeking additional consultation with ITTIC to best tailor and apply the content within your organization.

ITTIC also offers a separate self-study course specifically for supervisors. Please reference the above section on Trauma-Informed Supervision for more information!

The ITTIC research team provides /organizational assessments of trauma-informed culture, climate, procedures and policies, and can assist in evaluation of additional outcomes.  Baseline, midpoint and post-evaluations help inform training, consultation and next steps when organizations are looking to engage in more than foundational education by providing strengths and areas for improvement. 

ITTIC collaborates with leaders in the organization to discuss what to evaluate, specific evaluation tools and data collection methods, including:

• Surveys – Workforce self-report tools to evaluate trauma-informed climate, trauma-informed policies and procedures, readiness to change, and impact of the work (e.g., burnout, compassion fatigue)
• Focus groups – Inviting workforce or individuals receiving services to share their opinions on trauma-informed climate, policies, and procedures
• Interviews – One-on-one conversations with workforce members and/or leaders
• Outcome data – Collaboration with leadership to identify data the organization already collects to evaluate the impact of the trauma-informed care work on outcomes 

Depending on the length of the collaboration and the needs of the organization, the evaluation process can occur at baseline (prior to any education/training), at midpoint and post the end of the project period.

Currently, ITTIC can offer one trauma-specific treatment and two types of trauma support groups to the community in partnership with organizations:

• Seeking Safety: A present-focused, evidence-based trauma therapy to help people attain safety from trauma/PTSD and substance abuse. The treatment is available as a book, providing both client handouts and guidance for clinicians. ITTIC has experience facilitating and providing support to clinicians within organizations to provide the intervention. More information about Seeking Safety can be found here.

• Seeking Safety/Mandala Trauma Support Group: A trauma support group intervention which combines aspects of the Seeking Safety model with mandala work--an art therapy technique. To create the trauma support group, ITTIC staff were trained by an art therapist and then treatment topics from Seeking Safety were modified to include mandala work with permission from Dr. Najavits (the original developer of the Seeking Safety curriculum).  The curriculum was originally designed to work with refugee populations. The group content is designed in a way to meet the needs of having a translator present and facilitators have experience running the group with translators.
  

• Trauma-Informed Parenting Education Support Group (TIPS): An addendum to Seeking Safety designed for use with pregnant women and mothers with young children (infants through age five) who are in recovery from trauma and addiction. TIPS follows the basic structure of Seeking Safety and utilizes certain Seeking Safety handouts about trauma and substance use that complement key parenting and child development topics and discussions.

ITTIC has previous experience facilitating one or more of these interventions to individuals who are refugees and immigrants, survivors of domestic violence, and women struggling with addiction and who have experienced various forms of trauma.