News

Tina Zerbian and Megan Koury at the TINRC Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY.

ITTIC Attends NYS TINRC Conference in Saratoga, Springs

10/31/24 - ITTIC team members Tina Zerbian and Megan Koury attended the New York States Trauma-Informed Network & Resources Center's (TINRC) Annual Join the Journey Conference in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This conference was a place for professionals and survivors to come together and learn about trauma-informed and resiliency strategies. ITTIC presented on the Organizational Change Manual and how organizations can utilize the resources provided to move from theory to practice. 

Trauma-Informed Supervision

10/9/24 - In a video from the UB School of Social Work, Marie Cannon, DSW ’24, MSW ’91, president and CEO of the Community Action Organization of WNY, shares her doctoral research on how trauma-informed supervision can mitigate burnout. Cannon describes how she put her research into practice within her organization to benefit their practices of supervision and staff. 

ITTIC believes heavily in trauma-informed supervision, and we have a unique opportunity for an interactive 12-hour training for supervisors. This series helps supervisors share interactions with staff to promote well-being and accountability, while inviting participants to reflect on and consider their own supervisory work, and explore tools and resources available within our trauma-informed supervision framework. Contact us to learn more about how you can use these practical strategies in your organization. 

ITTIC presents at NYSCAA and NYSWDA professional development conference

Welcome poster from NYSCAA & NYSWDA Conference in Lake Placid, NY.

9/20/24 - Tina Zerbian, ITTIC assistant director, and Megan Koury, project manager, presented during the NYSCAA and NYSWDA Annual Professional Development Conference from Sept. 17-20 in Lake Placid, N.Y. Their presentation focused on how to take the theories behind trauma-informed practices and put them into action at CCA, a community action coalition in Cattaraugus County.

ITTIC presents at 2024 National Community Action Partnership Annual Convention

Tina Zerbian (left) presents with Andrew Studley, CEO of Connecting Communities in Action, (right) in Seattle Washington on August 28th.

9/4/24 - ITTIC assistant director, Tina Zerbian, and co-presenter Andrew Studley, CEO with Connecting Communities in Action, went to Seattle, Washington, during the last week in August to present at the National Community Action Partnership Annual Convention. They presented "Demystifying Trauma-Informed Care: From Theory to Practice," which focused on how using the 10 Key Developmental Areas in ITTIC's Organizational Change Manual can make what feels like an unattainable goal a reality. 

ITTIC Collaborates with UB Accessibility Office

8/15/24 - ITTIC and UB Accessibility collaborated over a two-part discussion for a total of 5.5 hours of training on trauma-informed care. The conversations focused on the intersection of accessibility resources on college campuses and the impact of trauma and adversity on students, faculty and each other. 

ITTIC Presents at IALMH Conference in Barcelona

From left to right, Rachel Tanguay, Tina Zerbian, and Allison Jayne at the IALMH Congress.

7/29/24 - ITTIC presented at the International Academy of Law and Mental Health (IALMH) 38th Congress in Barcelona, Spain on July 24. IALMH hosts an international congress every two years that brings together expertise on emerging and best practices in law and mental health from across the globe. ITTIC Co-Directors Sue Green and Samantha Koury were joined by Hon. Rachel Tanguay and Allison Jayne from Rockland County Family Treatment Court, Tina Zerbian, ITTIC Assistant Director, representing her previous agency Connecting Communities in Action, and Travis Hales, PhD, from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and ITTIC, to present a panel on creating and evaluating trauma-informed systems. The presentation anchored ITTIC’s trauma-informed organizational model and then shared the experience, impact, and lessons learned about trauma-informed implementation at Rockland County Family Treatment Court, Connecting Communities in Action and Niagara Falls City School District. Hales ended the panel by describing the creation and future directions of a client version of ITTIC’s Trauma-Informed Climate Scale.

ITTIC Welcomes Members of the "Approaches to TI Support for Victims of Violence, Atrocities and Conflict" Project

7/1/24 - ITTIC welcomed international visitors from Eurasia who visited Buffalo as members of the "Approaches to Trauma-Informed Support for Victims of Violence, Atrocities and Conflict" project from June 20-25, 2024. This program was sponsored by the US Department of State and the International Institute of Buffalo through the International Visitor Leadership Program

ITTIC was very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with folks from around the globe to share what each organization is doing in regard to minimizing the effects of trauma and the impact of re-traumatization. 

ITTIC Team Members with the Eurasia visitors.

NFHS Student Champion Team Presents at NF Housing Authority

Niagara Falls Student Champion Team presents to the NF Housing Authority.

6/14/24 - On June 11, the Niagara Falls High School Trauma-Informed Student Champion Team took their knowledge into their community and gave a 20-minute presentation to the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. The students shared the difference between adversity and trauma and how it can show up in their community, as well as areas of poverty and lack of housing, mobility/opportunities. We are proud of the work that they have accomplished this school year. 

Check Out Our Newly Updated 'What is TIC' Page

5/28/24 - We are happy to share our newly updated What is Trauma-Informed Care page. We have new descriptions, graphics and resources to share. Let us know what you think by sending us an email at sw-ittic@buffalo.edu

ITTIC & Empire State University Begin 4-Month Collaboration

5/14/24 - ITTIC and Empire State University have begun their collaboration, starting in April and going through July, on joining trauma-informed care and universal design in how virtual classroom and course instruction are created. This partnership consists of training over 80 staff through trauma-informed practices, sequence of engagement and impact of the work. 

ITTIC & NFHS Student Champions Participate in Walk with Us 2024

4/29/24 - For the second year in a row, the Niagara Falls City School District's High School Trauma-Informed Student Champions participated in Healthier Niagara Falls "Walk with Us 2024." The students talked about adversity and trauma and how they can impact us. They also created pamphlets and activities for adults and children to utilize to help them think about emotional regulation.

ITTIC Meets with UK Director of Unique Connections to Discuss the Pathway to Becoming More Trauma-Informed

Co-Directors Sue Green and Samantha Koury with Dr. Beverley Samways at the ITTIC office.

Co-Director's Sue Green & Samantha Koury with Dr. Beverley Samways at the ITTIC Office. 

4/11/24 - Dr. Beverly Samways, the Director of Unique Connections in the UK, visited our ITTIC office last week. She was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to come to the United States to explore trauma-informed approaches with various spot across the country. She is particularly interested in trauma-informed approaches for individuals and settings that work with IDD. 

ITTIC and Dr. Samways discussed Dr. Samways's practice experience, the 'state of the field' in the UK and the USA, and explored through ITTIC's experience working and consulting with organizations on their path of becoming more trauma-informed.

Thanks for visiting us, Dr. Samways! Safe travels. 

Gaskill students work with the Cataract Elementary students to make their affirmations.

Gaskill Prep's TI-Champion Team had a Workshop with Cataract Elementary

3/29/24 - Gaskill Prep's Student Trauma-Informed Champion Team completed their first workshop with Cataract Elementary Students on the power of words, and how adversity and trauma can impact us in school. The students ended their session making affirmations to put in their lockers to spread positivity. 

ITTIC presented at Superintendent's Conference Day

3/18/24 - On March 8, ITTIC presented on three topics during the Williamsville Central School District's Superintendent's Conference Day: foundational trauma-informed educational practices, how to keep yourself and your students regulated, and compassion resilience.

Niagara Collaborative Wrap-Up

Niagara Collaborative wrap-up, March 2023.

2/23/24 - As we reach the Niagara Collaborative's one-year anniversary, we want to thank our 2022-2023 champions for their hard work in Niagara, Ontario. Through this collaborative, we were able to continue partnerships and spread the knowledge of trauma-informed care to Canada. The collaborative was left with resources and work plans to continue their organizational change, as well as a professional community dedicated to change. If your community partners wish to form a collaborative, contact us for more information.

New Online Trauma-Informed Course Modules Available

ITTIC to Present in the 2024 Intersection of Science, Treatment and Policy Conference

1/29/24 - From Feb. 2-3, the 2024 Intersection of Science, Treatment and Policy Conference will be held virtually in support of improving patient care by the NYSAM and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Samantha Koury, ITTIC co-director, will present on "Noticing and Addressing the Impact of the Work" on Feb. 3:

  1.  Discuss the ways the workforce can be negatively impacted by the work 
  2. Identify how the workforce can be positively impacted by the work
  3. Explore trauma-informed strategies for addressing the impact of the work (self/peer/organization) 

For the full speaker list, check out the 2024 conference program

Niagara Falls City School District Professional Development Day

1/29/24 - On Jan. 26, the ITTIC team went to Cataract Elementary School, Gaskill Prep and LaSalle Prep for three professional development days. The topics ranged from understanding how trauma and adversity impact students and the workforce, to emotion regulation, to the impact of the work and self-care strategies. 

Niagara Falls High School Student Team Responds to Holiday Burnout

1/11/24 - The Niagara Falls High School Student Champion Team went to the Niagara Outlet Mall to hand out affirmation cards and have conversations with shoppers about the impact of holiday time, including burnout, boundaries and adversity. The team gave out over 150 affirmations and had a successful first community event.