What does it mean to be a Trauma-Informed Organization?
What does it mean to be a trauma-informed organization? What does it look like? How can we avoid re-traumatizing people? What does it mean that Hawaiʻi is on the path to be a trauma-informed state? In the following video, Sharon Simms, Tia Hartsock, and Danny Goya discuss these questions and more.
Video: What it means to be a Trauma-Informed Organization
Why do we need to use an assessment tool like the RECSSA?
Why is it important to do an organizational assessment? What can an assessment tool do for an organization? How can we administer the tool in a trauma-informed way? In the following video Sharon Simms, Tia Hartsock, and Danny Goya provide answers to these questions.
Video: Why do we need to use an assessment tool like the RECSSA?
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “A trauma-informed system is one in which all parties involved recognize and respond to the impact of traumatic stress on those who have contact with the system including children, caregivers, and service providers. Programs and agencies within such a system infuse and sustain trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into their organizational cultures, practices, and policies. They act in collaboration with all those who are involved with the child, using the best available science, to maximize physical and psychological safety, facilitate the recovery of the child and family, and support their ability to thrive.”
Trauma-informed organizations take into consideration the needs of all involved with the organization, including staff, leadership, children, and families. Becoming a trauma-informed organization is a journey that requires an organization to:
- Examine and embed the six principles of trauma-informed care into its practices, policies, and procedures.
- Understand the impact of trauma on children, families, staff, and leaders
- Create a safe, supportive environment
- Train staff, leadership, and other key stakeholders about trauma
- Implement screening and assessment tools to identify individuals who have experienced trauma
- Identify and implement trauma-specific interventions, as needed
- Implement culturally appropriate and gender-appropriate approaches