How can you incorporate principles of trauma-informed care and healing justice into your outreach work?

I would argue trauma-informed care is an approach rather than a framework. For an individual to be ‘trauma-informed’ they need to be aware of how trauma, adversity and social injustice impacts people and communities. This involves education via research evidence. The process also involves reflecting - and this can be difficult for those who have experienced trauma, adversity and injustices themselves. Support needs to be provided during the process of education. In addition to avoiding retraumatising and promoting healing, trauma-informed individuals and services need to contribute to prevention by creating environments and circumstances which reduce the risk of trauma, adversity and injustice.

Children of divorce experience trauma in many ways. Changes in living environment, household structure, financial status, and even the things that caused the divorce in the first place, like drug/alcohol abuse, or the mistreatment of a parent or the child directly. Although attorneys for the children are required to talk to our clients, we are not required to re-traumatize them, which occurs each time they are asked to recount a stressful event. Instead, my client interviews with children are forward-looking, and about them, not any particular event. I want to know who the children are, what their interests, talents and skills are, and how they think their needs can best be met. Children need advocacy, not interrogation, by their attorney.

Incorporating trauma-informed care and healing justice into outreach means understanding trauma's vast impact, prioritizing safety and trust, and empowering individuals. Educate your team on trauma's nuances. Create safe, non-judgmental spaces where choice and control are given back to individuals. Emphasize collaboration, treating those served as partners. Be culturally sensitive, recognizing diverse experiences and historical traumas. Focus on strengths and resilience, not just challenges. Regularly seek feedback, adjust accordingly, and always avoid re-traumatization. Uphold clear boundaries and ensure confidentiality. This holistic approach fosters resilience, empowerment, and community healing.

Incorporating principles of trauma-informed care and healing justice into outreach work involves recognizing the prevalence and widespread impact of trauma and understanding paths for recovery. It also requires recognizing the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved in the system. Here are some strategies to incorporate these principles effectively: • Acknowledge Trauma's Impact • Safety First • Build Trust • Empowerment & Skill-Building • Cultural Humility • Peer Support • Collaboration and Mutuality • Avoid Re-traumatization • Evaluate and Adapt • Advocate for Policies & Social Change

In my experience trauma informed care is a framework for approaching treatment. It is important to prevent re-traumatization in the client or patient, as well as monitor vicarious trauma in the provider.

Be aware of the ‘cost’ to service providers in working to help community/patients/clients who have experienced trauma, adversity and injustices. Ensure staff, management and leaders are supported in this work with access to professional services (eg qualified counsellors/psychologists) and informal supports such as mentors. Include strategies to assist with building strong relationships in your team/s. Examine organisation policies and processes and adjust where necessary to ensure they are trauma-informed.

Include a program to help those who have experienced trauma navigate and advocate when dealing with the court system, police, family courts, etc. It can be a frightening and overwhelming experience to have to deal with any of those authorities for the most whole people. Someone who is struggling with mental health issues, trauma, or domestic abuse situations ends up being retraumatized by the system itself. Have programs to education judges, police forces, outreach agencies on the true impact of trauma and how abusers use those systems to continue the abuse.

Trauma-informed care and healing justice are essential for outreach work in any domain, any field of expertise benefits from an awareness of cultural, individual and social health. However, the trauma informed best practices should never work in isolation it should be considered a guideline to work in a recovery oriented environment and one of the best practices as a way of life, it’s highly positive for work relationships and interactions as create safeguard for people and compassionate approach. In practical sense hosting greater awareness and educational component to share best practices and trauma management can influence and improve the community outcome. Community outreach , resource fairs, panel discussions are some of the ways.

The consideration of re-entry must be evaluated in the context of this "framework". It is a tool in the tool box and much like a tint within a color pallette, it can inform, guide and provide for appropriate goals and interventions in a careplan . To truly make forward momentum we must also consider meeting these individuals where they are. This means application of other tools to homelessness, addiction and recovery and employment.