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Crisis Center of Tampa Bay Assumes Leadership Role in Trauma-Informed Care
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone. (a primary tenant of the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians and other healthcare professionals swearing to practice medicine ethically and honestly).
The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay's promotion of help, hope, healing is born out of a fundamental fact that people seeking our services have often experienced some form of psychological trauma that overwhelms their ability to cope. In keeping with this understanding, the Crisis Center has adopted the framework of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) to guide the services it provides, how it treats clients, staff and volunteers and how it works in the larger community.
The agency's journey towards becoming a Center of Excellence for the practice and dissemination of trauma-informed care is well underway. A Steering Committee was formed last year comprised of experts in the field. Staff were taught the fundamentals of trauma and have attended trainings in trauma-specific practice and interventions. Through a community partnership, competent trainers are being developed (see sidebar story). Most recently, Vicki Hummer, a highly seasoned trauma specialist with over 15 years in the field, was appointed Director of Trauma-Informed Care and given the task of helping the Crisis Center become more trauma-informed. (see sidebar story).
Most individuals seeking behavioral health and other public services have histories of physical and sexual abuse and other types of trauma-inducing experiences such as domestic violence or sexual assault. These events often lead to mental health and co-occurring disorders such as chronic health conditions, substance abuse, eating disorders, and HIV/AIDS, and frequent contact with the criminal justice system.
"When a human service program such as the Crisis Center decides to become trauma-informed, every aspect of our organization, leadership, and service delivery system is assessed and potentially modified to include an understanding of how trauma affects the individual's lives who seek our services and those who provide care. Instead of asking a client "What's wrong with you?" trauma informed care teaches us to ask, "What happened?" "says David Braughton, President and CEO of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.
"The Crisis Center's intention is to become a center of excellence for the practice and dissemination of trauma-informed care and trauma specific interventions and services. Our long-term aspiration is to create a trauma-informed system of care and a trauma-sensitive community," continued Braughton.
Trauma-informed organizations, programs and services are based on an understanding of how trauma manifests in our society, and offers principles and practices that support safety, full recovery, and self-care for staff and consumers. Traditional service delivery approaches have re-traumatized trauma survivors through practices that heighten their vulnerabilities or activate their "triggers."
How is Trauma-Informed Care being incorporated at the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay?
Each service/program area at the Crisis Center has adopted Trauma-Informed Care techniques and practices. Here are some current examples:
- 2-1-1 Crisis Center Hotline - Call Center staff wear I.D. badges with Psychological First Aid (PFA) Actions and 5-Step Personal Safety Plans. Realizing all too well just how "close-to-home" some issues hit, the Safety Plan acts as another safeguard
- Sexual Assault Services - Team members employ several self-care/peer support strategies such as meditation, "Rainbow Dance" practice and follow the trauma-informed care principles to create a healing environment (safety, trustworthiness, choices, collaboration, and empowerment).
- Development & Marketing - like many Crisis Center departments, they've adopted Sanctuary Model's "Community Meeting" concept before all staff meetings. Each person states who they are, how they are feeling, their goal for the meeting and who will they will speak to if they have a concern.
- Trauma Recovery Services - allows moments for counselors to seek support and acknowledgement from their peers. Their focus is on mutual respect and kindness. Their goal for their clients is to move beyond the role of victim and be part of a journey towards healing.
- Child & Family Safety - implementedTIC principles into their presentations and when mentoring students. One activity includes the "Family Solar System" that is part of the Rainbow Dance. Children can express their family system as they exist in the middle as the sun and the planets serve as their family members and friends.
- Human Resources - have adopted different approach to Supervision with Managers and Directors.
- Administration - has instituted a regular "Shout Out & Kudos" section in the weekly internal Crisis Center Newsletter to acknowledge and recognize employees for their outstanding efforts in client care and teamwork.
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