Staff Training

• Increases the shared knowledge base of all employees
• Explores the brain science behind behaviors
• Introduces effective responses to others
• Builds resilience and trauma integration for the team and those they serve

My training presentations can be customized for any agency and level of knowledge regarding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)  and developmental trauma's effects.  Presentations are very interactive with conversations in small and large groups, regulation skill building, and activities that promote self-reflection regarding our responses to others.  My topics include but are not limited to:

• Effects of ACEs and trauma informed care perspectives and basics
• Brain changes, triggers, and how we can respond rather than react
• Three inter-related levels of intervention emphasizing safety and connection, emotional regulation, and competency skills

Topics can be facilitated separately however, agencies committed to trauma informed change should consider 18-20 hours of training within a year.  Experiential and interactive activities with each training encourage staff to work toward implementation of multiple strategies and incorporate them into their daily routines. The ideal number of training participants in each session is between 25 and 60. However, the training can be altered to accommodate larger groups. The interventions are a preventative model meaning that when in place they will aid in the prevention of further trauma, help decrease the negative effects of trauma, and thus help build resilience.  Many strategies will be concepts staff are familiar with, however, this training will explain why those strategies work.  Knowing how the strategies changes the brain, encourages staff to be more diligent using the strategies.  My training can be enhanced by consistent hands-on coaching and consultation throughout the year.

Staff Coaching

• Increases effective use of tools and strategies from training
• Encourages building on strengths to broaden success
• Builds collaboration to ensure a Trauma Informed cultural shift

Coaching staff and leadership to use trauma responsive strategies and concepts with all staff is a vital ingredient to becoming a trauma informed agency.  I suggest a core team of staff members from all levels of the agency meet on a monthly basis to discuss how the agency will move forward supporting staff, clients and families.  Trauma responsive strategies and concepts should be incorporated into procedures, policies and culture of the agency through routines, rituals, and environmental changes that will increase the physical and emotional safety. Sustainability of trauma informed care is only possible if team members incorporate the strategies and concepts into daily activities and encourage and support the use of the strategies.  Strength based coaching focuses on what is working in the agency and sharing the successes with other staff to promote positive change.

Agency Consultation

• Creates a Trauma Informed environment
• Increases sustainable changes
• Moves the organization from a vision to action

Agency consultation is designed to help the leadership develop and maintain a sustainable plan to increase trauma informed care throughout the agency.  The strategies and concepts learned during training should be applied to all staff on all levels in order to achieve a high level of competency and encourage trauma resilience and integration with all staff members.  I strongly suggest consultation with leadership before staff training begins.  Creating Resilience training is not a behavior intervention model; it is a preventative model to transform the culture of the agency to respond to all people (staff and clients) with a trauma informed lens.  Agency leadership must embrace, support and encourage the use of the knowledge and strategies in order to create trauma informed care.

Contact Cheryl Step:   cstep.cr@gmail.com  or  call/text (405)612-9432