Thanks to the ACE Study (Adverse Childhood Experiences), we know more clearly how widespread and long-lasting the impacts of trauma can be. Trauma does not discriminate. It affects every kind of community, family, group, and social demographic. The more congregations can be sources of restoration, the better.
Thankfully, congregations naturally contain the components traumatologists see as most helpful for resiliency. What are those components?
- Individual and group abilities to calm themselves amid chaos
- Having at least one trustworthy, reliable caregiver
- Being honest about what happened
At ICTG we say it's important to: Calm. Connect. Communicate. We provide online training to learn more about the 3 C's and how to incorporate them more intentionally into your congregation. Practicing these "3 C's" are the best ways we know to prepare for traumas and disasters. A plan of action may be helpful, too. But no plan will be effective if you are not practicing these essential relational compenants too.
The "3 C's" help congregations become effective trauma-informed systems. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network describes trauma-informed systems this way:
A trauma-informed child- and family-service system is one in which all parties involved recognize and respond to the impact of traumatic stress on those who have contact with the system including children, caregivers, and service providers. Programs and agencies within such a system infuse and sustain trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills into their organizational cultures, practices, and policies. They act in collaboration with all those who are involved with the child, using the best available science, to factiliate and support the recovery and resiliency of the child and family.
A service system with a trauma-informed perspective is one in which programs, agencies, and service providers: (1) routinely screen for trauma exposure and related symptoms; (2) use culturally appropriate evidence-based assessment and treatment for traumatic stress and associated mental health symptoms; (3) make resources available to children, families, and providers on trauma exposure, its impact, and treatment; (4) engage in efforts to strengthen the resilience and protective factors of children and families impacted by and vulnerable to trauma; (5) address parent and caregiver trauma and its impact on the family system; (6) emphasize continuity of care and collaboration across child-service systems; and (7) maintain an environment of care for staff that addresses, minimizes, and treats secondary traumatic stress, and that increases staff resilience.
To learn more about how your congregation can become a more trauma-informed system, visit the ICTG Training menu today. You'll be glad you did!