What is Trauma-Informed Training and Technical Assistance?

Trauma-Informed System of Care Training and Technical Assistance

THRIVE is the Nation’s First Trauma-Informed System of Care for Children & the First System of Care for Juvenile Justice.

THRIVE has successfully:

• Changed Maine state contract language to require that child serving agencies be trauma-informed and practice system of care principles
• Created and Implemented the Trauma-Informed System of Care Agency
• Assessment Tool
•  Partnered with eight statewide family organizations in Maine to further family voice and choice
• Developed a statewide youth advocacy organization
• Created a trauma-informed culture in Maine state systems
• Implemented and sustained trauma specif ic treatments

THRIVE Initiative Technical Assistance

THRIVE helps providers and community organizations transform the way services are delivered to children and families through trauma-informed training and technical assistance based on the following system of care core values and guiding principles:

• Family Driven
• Youth Guided
• Cultural and Linguistic Competency

Trauma–informed means that individuals and agencies are educated on the causes and effects of trauma and understand the potential to re-traumatize families and youth by providing services and interacting in a manner that is not sensitive to their experiences and needs based on:

1. Safety
2. Trustworthiness
3. Choice
4. Collaboration
5. Empowerment
6. Language access and cultural competence

What are the causes and effects of trauma?

Trauma has many causes — physical or sexual abuse, domestic violence, exposure to substance abuse, violent acts and natural disasters among others. The effects of traumatic stress include but are not limited to: extreme anxiety, anger, mistrust, sleep impairment and can manifest at any time at school, community agencies and departments, homeless shelters, foster homes, youth correctional facilities — anywhere and everywhere youth and families are served.

What is trauma-informed service?

Whereas, traditional service begins addressing “problem” behaviors by asking “What is wrong with this child and/ or family?” a trauma-informed approach recognizes such behaviors as ways of coping with or adapting to painful current circumstances or stress related to past traumatic events.  The trauma-informed initial question is: “What has happened to this child and/or family?” THRIVE trainers coach staff, including receptionists and administrators, as well as clinicians, other community service providers and youth and adult consumers, on trauma-informed in- teractions, assessment and service delivery for stronger, healthier, more effective provider-consumer relation- ships.

How can I or my agency become trauma-informed?

THRIVE  provides training, technical assistance and consultation on trauma-informed care that is family driven, youth guided and culturally and linguistically competent.  Based on your organizational needs, we will incorporate community, youth and family input to design a package to meet your unique needs.  As trainers and consultants we believe in modeling these principles by having you work with our family, youth, clinical and cultural and linguis- tic THRIVE consultants. Options include:

• Trauma-informed System of Care Agency Assessment (TIAA)
• Technical assistance “Crosswalk” for agencies completing the TIAA
• Trauma-informed Positive Youth Development
• Trauma and Cultural Competency
• Trauma-informed Schools/Classrooms
• Learning Collaborative for Trauma-Specific Treatments
• Child Traumatic Stress, Intergenerational Trauma and Resiliency
• Consultation on Trauma-informed Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Practices
• Organizational Trauma
• Vicarious Trauma and Self Care