We Believe In Providing Trauma Informed Care
In order to better serve our community, Lycoming County Children & Youth Services, as part of the Lycoming-Clinton Joinder Board, has adopted The Sanctuary Model(R) of Trauma Informed Care which guides our staff and family interactions.
Anyone can experience trauma at some point in their life, not just during childhood, and it is important that organizations be able to recognize the signs of trauma and treat their clients, patients and co-workers appropriately. That is why adopting a model for Trauma Informed Care is so essential in helping to better our communities.
What is Trauma Informed Care?
Trauma Informed Care helps organizations and health care providers offer better treatment for their clients and patients. Instead of asking the question, “What is wrong with you?” we ask the question, “What happened to you?” Creating a safe environment for people is vital and prevents further trauma from happening. Trauma informed care gives patients/clients a voice and allows them to play an active role in their treatment.
What Is Trauma?
Many individuals have experienced trauma at some point in their life. Trauma can be caused by many things including abuse, neglect, physical or emotional violence, or discrimination. The effects of trauma can be long lasting and can negatively impact one’s mental and physical health.
The Effects of Trauma
The CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study investigated the negative effects of childhood abuse and neglect and how these events impacted people into adulthood. The study discovered that children who experienced these traumas were at a higher risk for heart and brain conditions, anxiety, depression, and alcohol or substance abuse.
What Are Some Examples of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE)?
Physical Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Parental Divorce or Separation
Violence within the Home
Substance Abuse within the Home
Emotional or Physical Neglect
How We Follow The Sanctuary Model
Sanctuary Seven Commitments
1. Non-violence – Physical, emotional, moral and social safety for ourselves and others.
2. Emotional Intelligence - Managing feelings so we don’t hurt ourselves or others.
3. Social Learning – Respecting and sharing ideas and learning from each other.
4. Open Communication – Saying what we mean and not being mean when we say it.
5. Social Responsibility – Agreeing to take care of ourselves and each other.
6. Democracy – Everyone has a voice in decision making and input from all levels.
7. Growth and Change – Overcoming negative patterns produced by trauma creates hope for a better future.
Sanctuary Tools
1. Community Meetings – a list of questions that allows people to connect with each other.
“How are you feeling today? “
“What is your goal for today? “
“Who can you ask for help?”
2. Wellness Plans – A tool that helps to alleviate immediate stress and deal with difficult emotions.
3. Self-Care Plans – A tool to help one take care of their emotional and physical health.
4. S.E.L.F. – A way to solve problems through a process that includes Safety, Emotions, Loss and Future.