Agency Hero Highlight: Envision 4/25/22

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Envision has been providing services since 1963 to children and adults with developmental disabilities in the Greater Cincinnati area through programs that promote independence, healthy relationships, community inclusion and skills which are necessary for living a full and vibrant life.

What Makes You a Trauma Hero in our Community?

Along with being a Tristate Trauma Network Agency member, Envision implements many ways to be trauma informed and trauma aware for the people that they serve.

  1. Continued and consistent implementation of the Sanctuary Model. This includes the daily practice of holding community meetings, with both staff and the individuals we serve. This also includes the creation and utilization of safety plans to practice healthy coping skills and behaviors in place of the maladaptive behaviors often associated with a history of trauma.
  2. Continued support of staff seeking to maintain TTN certification, including financial assistance with re-certification.
  3. Opening of a new day program in October 2020, which is client-centered and driven. The opening of this program during the pandemic provided much needed respite for families and addressed the critical need for socialization opportunities during a period of wide-spread isolation for many of the individuals we serve.
  4. The addition of a new, full-time therapist to address the mental health needs of the individuals we serve, particularly regarding past trauma experiences. This has allowed Envision to reduce wait-times for these critical services and to continue providing comprehensive assessment and therapy services to both children and adults with developmental disabilities.
  5. Exemplary staff contributions and dedication to best serving clients throughout the pandemic. This includes maintaining consistent and reliable relationships with individuals during times of uncertainty through positive and respectful interactions (both virtual and in-person). One example of such being the willingness of staff to accommodate the needs of residents living in Envision’s Bayberry group home when they fell ill with Covid just prior to Christmas 2021. Please see our attached newsletter for more information.

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To learn more about the programs and services offered by Envision, please visit us at envisionohio.org. See the attached newsletter to see more of what’s going on at Envision!

Thank you to Envision for being a TTN Member and for providing specialized services for trauma survivors and the staff who treat them. Envision serves more than 600 children and adults each year. What an impact! We are eager to see more and more lives being changed through Envision’s trauma-informed services.

Wishing you a day filled with HOPE and with resources like this to find the services you or someone you know needs,

Melissa Adamchik, MA, LPP, Executive Director, Tristate Trauma Network

Agency Hero Highlight: DCCH Center for Children & Families 4/8/22

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This month we are featuring long-term agency member, Diocesan Catholic Children’s Home (DCCH) Center for Children & Families, who joined TTN when they enrolled in our 2017-2018 year-long Trauma-Informed Care Learning Community, held in partnership with The National Council for Mental Well-being (formerly the National Council for Behavioral Health).

DCCH Center for Children & Families is a multi-faceted agency providing Residential Treatment for boys and girls, ages six to 14, many of whom have experienced significant abuse and neglect. We also provide Therapeutic Foster Care & Adoption services, an Independent Living Program for young adults aging out of the foster system, Outpatient Therapy that’s open to the community, and Targeted Case Management to keep families together and connected to community resources they need to thrive.

What is your organization doing to support or advance trauma-informed care in our community? 

• During interviewing, we ask whether they have had a training in trauma-informed care.

• We list on our job descriptions the expectation that the employee supports trauma-informed

care principles/initiatives in the agency.

• During orientation all staff are trained in trauma-informed care.

• Staff are required to attend two trauma-informed care trainings a year.

• We strongly encourage staff to develop a self-care plan, we provide trainings, support, and an

EAP option to help staff with self-care.

• We do weekly education tips with all staff on trauma-informed care.

• We do announcements during the workday to encourage staff to take some self-care time.

• We work to avoid doing things to increase client’s risk of re-traumatization.

• We work to create a safe environment for clients and staff.

• We support clients having control, choice, and autonomy in their treatment.

• We strive to be strengths-based in our approach.

• We promote trauma awareness and understanding with staff and trauma screenings with

clients.

• We emphasize building relationships and being nonjudgmental and empathic in all relationships.

To learn more about DCCH Center’s programs, visit www.DCCHCenter.org or call (859) 331-2040.

Thank you, DCCH, for being a place that cares so much about children, families, and the Northern Kentucky community!  We appreciate you!

Wishing everyone reading this a day filled with Hope!

Melissa Adamchik, MA, LPP

Executive Director, Tristate Trauma Network