2021 Virtual COSSAP National Forum. COSSAP 2021--New Partners, New Tools, Renewed Hope. Breakout Session: The National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors’ Center for Innovation in Health Policy and Practice promotes trauma-responsive approaches in the delivery of services to people who have experienced violence and trauma and are seeking support for recovery and healing. For many, traumatic experiences have strained social connections in the family, in the workplace, in childrearing, and/or in housing, which may have led to consequent substance use, criminal behaviors, or other health and social problems—all of which need to be addressed in a trauma-integrated approach. Widespread interest and attention to trauma has substantially raised awareness and understanding of trauma’s long-lasting impact, yet systems often struggle with the culture change needed to implement approaches that prevent retraumatization and promote safety.
SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach describes the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) values-based principles and domains that serve, not as prescriptive measures, but rather as guidelines to implementing an approach aimed at doing no harm. Presenters will discuss the definition and prevalence of trauma, the neurobiology of trauma and how it affects the developing brain, and how trauma-responsiveness can help people heal. A person with lived experience with incarceration and substance use will be featured. Practical examples of innovative, low-cost strategies, as well as resources and technical assistance opportunities, will be shared with participants.
At the conclusion of this training, participants were able to:
-Define trauma and discuss its prevalence.
-Discuss strategies to reduce the likelihood of retraumatization.
-Develop action steps to implement trauma-informed practices in their work
Moderator: Pam Rainer, MSW, Senior Program Manager, Advocates for Human Potential (AHP)
Presenters: Raul Almazar, R.N., M.A., Senior Public Policy Advisor, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
Joan Gillece, Ph.D., Director, Center for Innovation in Health Policy and Practice, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
William Kellibrew IV, Director, Office of Youth Violence Prevention, Baltimore City, Maryland, Health Department
Please check the box next to the following questions if the answer is 'yes'.
Please enter the applicable Event Date if there is an Event associated with this TTA.
When entering an Event Date, the Time is also required.
If the TTA is targeted to a particular audience or location, please complete the questions below.
Milestones are an element, activity, work product, or key task associated with completing the TTA (e.g. kick-off meeting, collect data from stake holders, deliver initial data analysis).
Please complete the fields below, if applicable, to create a milestone for this TTA.
Please respond to the Performance Metrics below. The Performance Metrics questions are based on the TTA Type indicated in the General Information section of the TTA.
Please submit a signed letter of support from your agency’s executive or other senior staff member. The letter can be emailed to or uploaded with this request. The letter should be submitted on official letterhead and include the following information:
- General information regarding the request for TTA services, i.e., the who, what, where, when, and why.
- The organizational and/or community needs specific to the request for TTA services.
- The benefits or anticipated outcomes from the receipt of TTA services.
By submitting this application to BJA NTTAC, I understand that upon approval of this application for TTA, the requestor agrees to keep BJA NTTAC informed of any circumstances that may impact the delivery of the TTA, including changes in the date of the event, event cancellation, or difficulties communicating with the assigned TTA provider.
Please call [site:phone] if you need further assistance completing this application.