Trauma Informed Systems of Care makes powerful impact in Kansas | Teresa Strausz, MSOD, LMSW

Trauma of all types can impose a profound impact on individuals, families, organizations, and communities. Recognition of this impact, evidenced by research, prompted the need for systemic, trauma-informed changes. Building on previous work, the Trauma-Informed Systems of Care (TISC) team emphasized cultivating compassionate cultures in organizations to reflect the values of empowerment, safety, collaboration, trustworthiness, and choice for all staff and persons receiving services.

In 2013, CCSR staff participated in conversations with over 200 Kansas providers, raising awareness of trauma’s influence on clients and staff and initiating conversations to support systemic change. Work with the organizations ranged from initial discussions about TISC to formation of a TISC Leadership Team poised to launch organization-wide change. 

 Staff presented at the Kansas Conference on Poverty organized by the Kansas Association of Community Action Program staff. Regarding the workshops, Jesyca H. Rodenberg, communications & outreach director, Kansas Association of Community Action Programs said, Participants came away from the CCSR Trauma-Informed Care sessions we hosted raving, and I know lives were changed because of what was learned.”

In addition to conference appearances, staff helped organizations create vision, expectations and strategies for implementing TISC, provided individual and team coaching, developed an organization assessment, and engaged in collaborative partnership building with stakeholders in Kansas. In conjunction with the Research team, TISC staff also developed a plan for an evaluation of THRIVE© (Gina C. Maree, 2012), the framework upon which our approach is based.

As a result of these efforts, we hope to provide organizations with tools that will enable them to support and sustain their desire for a more trauma-informed system within which to work and serve.

For more information about Trauma-Informed Systems of Care, contact Teresa Strausz, MSOD, LMSW, at teresa.strausz@wichita.edu or 316-978-6778.