Trauma Training Tuesday
Trauma Training Tuesday was created by Worcester Addresses Childhood Trauma (Worcester ACTs) to give all who care for themselves and others with experience of trauma, the opportunity to gather together for training, networking, lunch and camaraderie on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.
To respond to the unfolding crisis, Worcester ACTs has added additional sessions on the 1st Tuesday as well. Since March 17th all trainings have been conducted virtually. We look forward to the day that we may once again gather in person for the trainings at WAMS.
Upcoming Trainings
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In case you missed the previous virtual trainings (click on image to access video):
September 1: With everything about school being different it is hard emotionally prepare yourself and your children for the semester ahead. Fred Kaelin and Megan Sullivan from the SHINE Initiative provided an overview of the mental health indicators children may be displaying in response to the crisis and offered tools to support social and emotional wellbeing. Mary Mahoney of Worcester Public Schools, Kristen Mayotte of You, Inc. and Dr. Johanna Sagarin of Children’s Friend also joined the conversation.
August 4: Here in 2020, anything can happen. We are all worried about our homes, our jobs, our health, our plans and our loved ones. Social workers, Deborah Bunker, Emily Swalec and Anne Bureau shared their work within the community to address needs and offered tools for managing stress and worried children (video link will be forthcoming).
July 21: Addiction is often rooted in trauma. People start using substances to numb the pain and silence disturbing thoughts and memories. Unfortunately, the substance can become central, causing more trauma and negative life outcomes. Recovery Coaches, Rebecca Zwicker and Lori Hout shared their journeys of recovery along with their experiences helping others, including their work with the No One Walks Alone Peer Recovery Center.
July 7th: The Covid -19 pandemic has magnified inequality and and the impact of oppression. Worcester County Commissioners on the Status of Women, Dr. Mary Bridget Burns and Dr. Tonisha Pinckney, highlighted the ways in which women are uniquely impacted as well as the racial disparities among these findings.
June 17th: In care of the US, Immigrants have been detained, physically harmed, and/or tortured because of their religion, political views, sexual orientation, gender, disability, and other protected grounds.
The zero-tolerance border policy, expanding detention programs, protracted family separation and the travel ban from Muslim-majority countries have harmed already traumatized people seeking help and justice. Attorney Alex Mooradian offered case examples to talk about legal supports and interventions he has successfully used.
June 2nd: The CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Project for children trains volunteers to give voice to abused and neglected children who are under the care of the Massachusetts child welfare / court system. Robb Zarges and Lynn Tesconi from the CASA Project Worcester County talked about their roles and experiences at CASA, the impact that abuse and neglect at the hands of caretakers has on the future of children and the importance of ensuring that children in the system are given their best opportunity to thrive.
May 19th: Just as Covid 19 highlights socio-economic inequality, people with disabilities continue to experience barriers to equality and inclusion. The team from EPIC is working to eliminate barriers and to build a community of inclusion in a post Covid world. Presentation by Jeff Lafata-Hernandez & Krystal Linn.
May 5th: As Covid 19 keeps us sheltering in place, we know the stress can lead to interpersonal violence. During this presentation Deborah Hall and Craig Mortley and others from the YWCA discussed their work to provide direct and comprehensive support to survivors of intimate partner violence, and the ways we can all work together to create solutions that build community and promote healthy relationships.
April 21st: As we watch Covid 19 run its course, we can see the ACEs study validated in real time. People who have been afforded less social power due to a marginalized identity are losing their lives in greater numbers. Raquel Castro-Corazzini and Kathy Esparza, both of the Worcester Dept. of Health and Human Services Division of Youth Opportunities, discussed serving in a time of crisis with a health equity lens.
April 7th: Worcester ACTs Clinical Director, Amy Ebeson LCSW together with various colleagues who are themselves challenged by “real time” stressors such as kids at home and far-away loved ones to worry about, identified and discussed tips for managing the many situations we find ourselves in. Click on the picture below to view the presentation.
March 17th: The Reverend Aaron Payson who is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry Team and a staple of the Worcester spiritual community, offered a wise and level headed conversation regarding the current community trauma of COVID-19. Click on the picture below to listen to the presentation or on the followng link for Presentation SLIDES only.
