KRA Staff Engage in Trauma-Informed Care Training
Recently, staff at the KRA Chicago Westside American Job Center (WAJC)— operated for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership—during Staff Development Day engaged in an “Understanding Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care” training session, created by Kelly Butler, KRA Trainer/Special Projects Coordinator.
Ms. Butler facilitated the session through a research-guided PowerPoint video and collaborative opportunities for meaningful discussion. One staff member reflected, “The presentation opened my eyes regarding things to remember when interacting with our customers, and ways we may need to address related situations. The presentation was also a mirror held up in front of my face—that was an added bonus.”
In her thought-provoking presentation, Ms. Butler provided a variety of trauma-related resources, including a TEDx Talk video, The Paradox of Trauma-Informed Care, presented by Dr. Vicky Kelly, Director of the Delaware Division of Family Services, as well as the personal experiences of Tonier Cain, advocate-expert in Trauma-Informed Care (TIC), encouraging WAJC team members to view her intensely moving documentary, Healing Neen.
The SAMHSA website states, “Trauma has no boundaries with regard to age, gender, socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. In the United States, 51% of women and 61% of men reported exposure to at least one traumatic event in their lifetime.”
Ronald Hearns, KRA Director, Midwest Workforce Operations, commented, “We recognize that individuals impacted by trauma are everywhere, and survivors are not limited to a specific population. They may be customers seeking employment and/or training services to improve their lives…or they may be colleagues. I believe TIC is an effective approach, integrating policies, procedures, and practices into our WAJC program operations.”
TIC “is a strength-based framework…grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma, that emphasizes physical, psychological, and emotional safety for both providers and survivors, and that creates opportunities for survivors to rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.”…Hopper, Bassuk, & Olivet
“Half of us don’t have the willingness or desire to wake up every single morning but when we hobble through those doors broken in spirit and mind and body, we expect you know what you are doing.”…Tonier Cain