According to the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 51% of the general population has had exposure to trauma. And, there is evidence that the prevalence of trauma is significantly higher for people living with mental illness and substance use disorders. Trauma is “an almost universal experience of people with mental and substance use disorders,” according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
This training series provides an overview of what trauma is and how it affects people. You will learn types, examples and levels of trauma. You will learn how a trauma informed approach can be implemented in a variety of settings including forensic hospitals, correctional settings, and within law enforcement. The training addresses how trauma affects professionals working in these settings, and includes information to help leaders and supervisors effectively implement trauma informed approaches within their organizations.
Module 1
In the first module, you will gain a broader perspective of what trauma is and how it affects people. We discuss types, examples and levels of trauma, the adverse childhood experience, or ACE study, complex PTSD, and resilience. You will learn what signs indicate that someone has experienced trauma and about the effects and experience of trauma. You’ll also get an introduction to a multidisciplinary approach that helps explain the impacts of trauma across people and populations, and a discussion about the prevalence of trauma.
Modules 2-4
These modules cover the trauma-informed approach and the SAMHSA’s framework for implementing the approach, and are tailored for specialized audiences. Module 2 is for corrections personnel, Module 3 is for forensic hospital and treatment staff, and Module 4 is for law enforcement.
Module 5
The last module is specifically designed for supervisors and managers and reviews key elements of SAMHSA’s framework for understanding the trauma-informed approach with a focus on leadership and supervision. You’ll learn more about trauma in the workforce, supporting workplace wellness, and core competencies and practices for trauma-informed supervision. You will also learn how leaders can implement the trauma-informed approach system wide, and about some frameworks developed by national leaders in the trauma-informed network. We introduce resources to help assess your organization and plot a course to becoming trauma informed. Finally, we share some insights on the process of change and the creation of trauma-informed environments.