Trauma-Informed Care Consortium 
of 
Central Texas
"Building a Community of Care for Children, Families and Providers"
Newsletter
February 2016
Table of Contents
Spotlight on SAFE Alliance
Creating Trauma-Informed Systems of Care within Organizations
TICC Trauma-Informed Organizational Readiness Survey Results
TNOYS "Creating a Culture of Care" Initiative
Movie Screening - Save the Date!
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
"One Billion Rising" event at City Hall
Featured Training: Texas CASA Annual Forum
Next TICC Meeting
TICC Members
    
Spotlight on 
SAFE Alliance

The SAFE Alliance, or SAFE | stop abuse for everyone, is dedicated to ending sexual assault and exploitation, child abuse and domestic violence through prevention, intervention and social change. Our vision is for a just and safe community free from violence and abuse. SAFE's founding partners are Austin Children's Shelter and SafePlace who have learned that, together, we can more effectively address the intersections between all types of violence and abuse.

We are working to break down the silos historically separating child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault services; all issues that evolved separately as concerns in the public arena and that have continued to be addressed through different governmental funding and regulatory systems. These issues too often exist simultaneously, or sequentially, in the lives of the people we serve.
 
Through SAFE we provide an extensive continuum of prevention, intervention and community advocacy services, including: Emergency shelter, transitional living, community counseling, Strong Start, Expect Respect, Child Development Centers, supervised visitation, forensic nursing and advocacy, legal, foster & adoption, and much more.

Click here to learn more.
Upcoming Trainings
*Please check our website (www.traumatexas.com) for on-going updates and additions to our trainings calendar!

February
2/18/16

2/18/16

2/18/16
 
EMDR & Mindfulness Seminar
(Houston)
2/19/16

2/19/16


2/23/16

2/23/16-2/25/16

2/24/16-2/26/16


March
3/3/16-3/4/16

3/7/16-3/11/16

(St. Louis, MO)
3/9/16-3/10/16

3/12/16-3/13/16

The Advanced Mindfulness Toolbox for Rewiring the Brain
(Houston)
3/15/16-3/16/16

3/16/16-3/17/16

3/30/16-3/31/16


April
4/8/16

4/15/16-4/15/16

4/20/16

4/21/16

4/22/16-4/23/16

4/22/16

4/27/16-4/29/16
Add TICC to Your 
List Serve
 
Please notify 
of any upcoming trainings 
your agency is holding in 
order to get them added 
to the website and newsletter! 
The Trauma-Informed Care Consortium is funded by:

St. David's Foundation
Featured Articles
TICC Training Recap: 
"Creating Trauma-Informed Systems of Care within Organizations"

"Creating Trauma-Informed Systems of Care within Organizations" was presented by TICC chair, Seanna Crosbie, this week as part of TICC's initiative to educate others on trauma-informed change.  This training focused on ways to successfully transform systems using the six core values of trauma-informed care including safety, collaboration, choice, empowerment, cultural inclusivity, and trustworthiness. The six domains of transformation including screening, evidence-based interventions, protection against secondary trauma and evaluation were also discussed during the training.  Attendees to this training included KIPP, El Paso Child Guidance Center, UT-University Charter Schools, Denton MHMR, Bell County Community Supervision & Corrections Division, and Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Care were in attendance.  If your organization is interested in receiving training on how to transform systems of care, please contact Seanna at SCrosbie@austinchildguidance.org
TICC Trauma-Informed Organizational Readiness Survey Results

Katie Mitten, LMSW
Austin Child Guidance Center

At the end of 2015, the Trauma-Informed Care Consortium (TICC) of Central Texas conducted The Trauma-Informed Organizational Readiness Survey for the second year in a row. Eighty-seven individuals from 70 unique organizations completed the survey. The survey inquired about numerous areas of trauma-informed care and the results provide a snapshot of the types of trauma-informed practices being using in Central Texas. The survey will guide the work of TICC member organizations in the coming year including increasing trauma screening and assessment as well as trauma-informed trainings.  

To see the results and find out how TICC plans to increase trauma-informed care in Central Texas in the coming year, please click here.   
Resources and Lessons Learned from the TNOYS "Creating a Culture of Care" Initiative

Lara O'Toole, LMSW
TNOYS

Creating a Culture of Care was a statewide initiative by Texas Network of Youth Services (TNOYS) to help Texas residential treatment centers (RTCs) reduce seclusion and restraint practices by supporting organizational culture change toward trauma-informed care. Restraint and seclusion are traumatic to youth who have experienced abuse and neglect, and are physically, emotionally, and financially taxing to programs and staff. This was a pilot project on apply best practices to everyday realities.
From 2011 to 2015, with the support of the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, we at TNOYS helped RTCs apply the evidence-based Six Core Strategies to Prevent Conflict and Violence: Reducing the Use of Seclusion and Restraint and trauma-informed principles through free training, networking opportunities, and individualized consultation. We brought in national and local experts to large audiences and 11 RTCs signed on for intensive support over the 4 years.
We are excited to share what we saw and learned! We recently released our in-depth evaluation report on the initiative as well as 2 videos featuring staff expert Jack Nowicki and staff from a participating RTC (and fellow TICC member!), Helping Hand Home for Children. Our biggest take home was that implementing the Six Core Strategies  is a low-cost path to organizational change. Hands-on training and technical assistance can help keep programs motivated and on track.
A few other highlights:
  • Our successful sites saw a 34% to 100% reduction in restraints. There is a downward trend among all Texas RTCs, but our sites saw more dramatic reductions than the 11% average.
  • These had committed leadership plus an engaged team of staff monitoring progress and communicating regularly. They had learning environments, used data regularly, and were open to trying new strategies to collaborate with youth.
  • The less successful sites experienced significant turnover of leaders or key staff during the initiative. Being understaffed made it difficult to focus on organizational change.
  • Ten of the eleven sites had not used seclusion in years; some created comfort rooms from old seclusion rooms.
  • While there are over 60 licensed RTCs in Texas, our 11 sites initially accounted for nearly half of all restraints among RTCs in the state. We think the right people signed up to participate!
  • Opportunities to receive custom support as well as problem solve with other RTCs staff was invaluable and reduced feelings of isolation in staff at all levels. Direct care staff were a priority.
And a few quotes:
"The project came at a time when we really needed it, and the journey has been great."
"Youth feel safer, and we are more strengths-based now."
"We have had major progress in a total paradigm shift, and it has decreased runaways and increased staff morale."
 "Staff have gotten more actively involved with the youth - and have lost weight!"
"It's surprising how far a little change can go!"
TNOYS continues to prioritize trauma-informed care as well as seclusion and restraint reduction- we coordinate a statewide leadership group and are always looking for opportunities to offer training and consultation.
Save the Date
Movie Screening in April!
Hosted by TICC

More details coming soon!
 

Paper Tigers follows a year in the life of an alternative high school that has radically changed its approach to disciplining its students, becoming a promising model for how to break the cycles of poverty, violence and disease that affect families.

Following the movie there will be an opportunity to reflect and discuss your thoughts about the movie.  
Community Initiatives

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month 

Barri Rosenbluth, Senior Director
Expect Respect Program

In honor of National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention month, Expect Respect, a program of SAFE, has organized several events and a campaign to prevent teen dating violence.

On February 16th, Expect Respect hosted a kick-off event at Travis High School to educate teens about safe and healthy dating. The event included performances by the Travis High School Rebelettes, spoken-word artist Shasparay Lighteard, the Texas Empowerment Panther Band, ZACH Theatre Pre-Professional singers, the Travis High School Primetime step team, and a debut performance of Playing Against the Roles, the 2016 production by the Changing Lives Youth Theatre Ensemble (a collaboration between Expect Respect and Creative Action).

Travis HS lead football coach, Joe Frank Martinez, encouraged students to stand up for healthy relationships in all aspects of their lives. Jennifer Pillich, Manor ISD Girls Athletic Coordinator, received the Young Hearts Matter, Advocate of the Year Award from the Texas Council on Family Violence. Coach Pillich showed a public service announcement about respect that her student athletes created. Click here to access the public service announcement.

During February, Expect Respect disseminated a campaign toolkit to 200 schools in Austin and surrounding districts. The 5K Relationship Challenge includes posters, online activities and morning announcements that challenge students to TalK about relationships; Know their expectations; Evaluate their relationship sKills; BreaK up when it's not working, and Get liKes by sharing what they love or respect about their partner (#iexpectrespectatx).

Click here to find out more about what Expect Respect is doing for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.

"One Billion Rising" Event

On February 14
th, 2016, activists joined together in front of Austin City Hall to bring awareness to sexual violence against women. The "One Billion Rising" movement was founded by Eva Ensler in 2012, and the local event took place at the same time as hundreds of similar events across the world. The event featured speakers including Angela-Jo Touza-Medina, the executive director of Austin YWCA; Deborah Tucker, the president of the National Center of Domestic and Sexual Violence; and Brooke Axtell and John Nehme of Allies against Slavery.
 
Click here to read a full article on the event by The Patch. 
Featured Trainings
 
Texas CASA Annual Forum
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
At the Hilton Austin Downtown
The Annual Forum is designed to educate those in the child welfare community on important issues and to recognize state leaders who have championed efforts to improve the lives of children in the child protection system.

The educational panels at the Forum are free of cost for attendees.

Panels:
8:45 - 10 AM: Strategic Collaboration: Using Trauma-Informed Care to Bring Healing to Children (1.25 CLEs)
10:15-11:45 AM: Collaborative Family Engagement (1.25 CLEs)

This event is currently at capacity. Please click here to be added to the waitlist. 
Next TICC Meeting
 
Friday, April 8th, 2016 - 9:00-10:30 am
The Allan Center (Library) - 4900 Gonzales St. Austin, TX 78702 
 
Please RSVP to Katie: 
TICC 
Members 
Chair
Seanna Crosbie
Austin Child Guidance Center
 
Co-Chair
Renee Calder Price
DePelchin Children's Center
 
Organizational Members
Allies Against Slavery - John Nehme
Any Baby Can - Alex Alfau
Armstrong Community Music School - Margaret Perry, Sarah Beth Gooding
Asian Family Support Services of Austin - Catherina Conte
Austin Achieve Public Schools - Kali Fagnant
Austin Child Guidance Center - Seanna Crosbie, Stephen Kolar, Andrea Ciceri, Katie Mitten
Austin Children's Shelter - Sarah Rees, Abigail Sharp
Austin ISD - Kathy Palomo, Kate Wegler
Austin ISD Campus Based Counseling Referral Centers -Starla Simmons
Austin Oaks Hospital - Angelica Reyes
Austin PD Victim Services
Austin Shelter for Women and Children - Stacy Schwarz
Austin State Hospital - Jennifer Swinton
Austin Travis County Integral Care - Melody Palmer-Arizola, Amanda Davidson, Melissa Acosta
Behavioral Health Center of Nueces County - Victoria Huerta Rodriguez
Bell/Lampasas County CSCD - Samantha Haynes
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Texas - Sharlene Eaton-Landis
Care Options For Kids - Kevin Schoenberger
Casey Family Programs - Michael Martinez
Catholic Charities of Central Texas - Teresa V. Cox
Cenpatico - Karen Rogers
Center for Child Protection - Barbara Jefferson, Addie Wieland
Child Inc. - Jerica Owukori
Communities for Recovery - Robin Peyson
Communities in Schools of Central Texas - Kris Downing, Kelly Smith
Community Advancement Network (CAN) - Hannah Brown
CommunitySync/Project HOPES - Suzanne Hershey
Community Yoga Austin - Shawn Kent
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Travis Co. - Charron Sumler
Dell Children's CARE Program - Sara Laney and Heather Van Diest
Department of Family & Protective Services - Sheila Brown
DePelchin Children's Center - Renee Calder Price
Eanes ISD - Katie Bryant
Easter Seals - Jessica Portilla
El Buen Samaritano - Donna Shanor
EngenderHealth - Mandy Ackerman
Family Service Association - Ron Flores
Georgetown Psychological Services, PLLC - Jo Vendl, Psy. D.
Helping Hand Home - Micki Marquardt
Kids in a New Groove - Laura Wood
KIPP Austin Collegiate High School - Vanessa Marie Flores
Lake Travis ISD - Kathleen Hassenfratz
LifeWorks - Rob Thurlow
NAMI Austin - Karen Ranus
Out Youth - Sarah Kapostasy
People's Community Clinic - David Burrows
Pflugerville ISD - Vicky Esparza-Gregory
Phoenix House - Kyle Withrow
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas - Kristin McDuffie
Refugee Services of Texas - Kay Mailander
SafePlace - Linda Herbert, Barbara Ball
Samaritan Center for Counseling and Pastoral Services - Gretchen Johnson
Southwest Key Programs - Hillary England
Spirit Reins - Rhonda Smith
Texas CASA - Sarah Crockett
Texas Department of State Health Services - Emily Parks
Texas Network of Youth Services - Lara O'Toole
Texas NeuroRehab Center - Cheryl Nickell
Texas System of Care Consortium - Texas Family Voice Network - Candace Aylor
The Council on Recovery - Trish Taylor Rivera
The Settlement Home - Bronwyn Seay
Travis County Collaborative for Children - Katy Bourgeois
Travis County Health & Human Services & Veteran Services - Christina Kuehn & Corie Cormie
Travis County Juvenile Probation - Erin Foley
United Way for Greater Austin - Alison Bentley
Upbring - Cara Fox
UT Child and Family Research Institute - Beth Gerlach
YWCA Greater Austin - Laura Gomez-Horton
 
Website Committee
Stephen Kolar and Katie Mitten- Website Liaisons
Kevin Schoenberger, Laura Gomez-Horton, Trish Taylor Rivera
 
Newsletter Committee
Andrea Ciceri - Newsletter Liaison
Bronwyn Seay, Micki Marquardt
 
Membership and Marketing Committee
Alfonso Bermea and Sarah Rees - Membership and Marketing Liaisons
Joe Dias, Barbara Jefferson, Kathy Paloma, Kate Amerson, Cristina Guerrero, Julie Guirguis, Jina Sorensen, Donald "Doc" Shuffield, Kathleen Doherty

Trauma Screening Work Group
Katie Mitten - Work Group Liaison
Alison Bentley, Sarah Crockett, Jerica Owukori, Angelica Reyes, Bronwyn Seay, Laura Stevens, Bridget Speer, Vanessa Flores, Michael Martinez, Micki Marquardt, Katherine Medlin