Training & TA

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 linguistic 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