The Trauma-Informed Organizational Training consists of three 3-hour sessions delivered to cohorts no larger than 40 participants each. The training model includes three primary areas of focus:

• Part 1: Introduction to Trauma-Informed Care
• Part 2: Trauma, Community, and the Workplace
• Part 3: Trauma, Systemic Change, and Collective Healing

As a result of these areas of focus, participants will gain knowledge at a micro, mezzo, and macro level strengthening their understanding of the complexities of trauma and the impact trauma has on the work they do.

While many organizations have a basic understanding of how trauma impacts their clients and their staff, the Paths for Families model intends to re-introduce these concepts in a way that is explicitly relevant to the specific work of the participants. Understanding trauma in the context of the client, the professional, and the organization provides context for the importance of delivering trauma-responsive services and mitigating the potential impact of vicarious trauma and burnout.

The holistic approach ensures better treatment of clients who have experienced trauma, prevents further trauma from interactions with unprepared systems and resources, and enables front-line professionals to have the tools to prevent and mitigate the impact of vicarious trauma. This reduces burnout and makes employment at trauma-informed organizations more sustainable.

Another key piece of the initiative will be a coaching phase for each cohort as they work towards becoming a trauma-informed, trauma-responsive, resilience building organization. After each cohort’s training sessions have been completed, Paths for Families will provide three 2- hour coaching sessions to deepen the concepts and lessons from the training series. These coaching sessions will include concept review, new concept introduction, as well as case consultation as a group and individually. Coaching allows staff to directly engage with key participants after the training has been completed as they begin to integrate the concepts learned into everyday practice. This transforms knowledge into action through specialized guidance to initiate transfer of learning.

This initiative will culminate with a full-day Trauma-Informed Care Conference on July 31, 2024 that will highlight promising practices and strategies for creating and sustaining a trauma-informed and trauma-responsive network of care in Prince George’s County.  The conference will bring together local and national experts and will be open to cohort training participants as well as other professionals and community members.