Trauma Resilient Community Work Advances With Key Community Partners

More than 50 representatives from 13 key community partners this month have begun training in the Trauma Resilient Community (TRC) Model as part of a $5 million, 5-year federal grant to launch an emerging project to promote resilience and equity for Louisville families and young people most affected by trauma, inequity, and violence in west and south Louisville.

The city-wide Trauma Resilient Community Initiative, led by the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, uses a community-based approach to build a “trauma-informed” system of care and services to children and families exposed to violence. The effort is meant to increase the knowledge and skills of people who respond to, make referrals and provide services to its most vulnerable stakeholders.

“Our city has learned a tremendous amount about trauma, and ways to address trauma over the past several decades. Collectively, we have done good work understanding and responding to the needs of children and families across our city,” said Rashaad Abdur-Rahman, Director of the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods. “This effort allows us to again reimagine a system of care that increases resilience to trauma with the understanding that racial equity and culturally responsive service are central to our work.”

“As part of our work to create a city of compassion, equity and opportunity, we have to address the trauma that affects far too many people in our community,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “I’m proud of the work the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods does to promote healing and resilience.”

Over the course of the next four years, backbone agencies will receive ongoing mentorship and support from the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities to customize an approach for each agency to move from understanding basic trauma theory to becoming an actualized trauma resilient organization.

Backbone agencies are key community partners selected to participate based on their ability to demonstrate commitment, collaboration and partnership in implementing the TRC Model within the community. They include:

• Americana Community Center
• Boys and Girls Club
• Center for Women and Families
• Centerstone
• Uspiritus
• Collective Care Center – Spalding University
• Exploited Children’s Help Organization (ECHO)
• KentuckyOne Health
• Maryhurst
• Skillz 4 Life
• Louisville Urban League
• YMCA of Greater Louisville
• National Safe Place Network

The TRC Model training is one of several evidence-based trainings to be offered to partners who aim to provide trauma treatment to 400 children and their families in west and south Louisville, where data shows that youth and families are disproportionately affected by trauma, violence and systematic inequities. The project also involves training 200 clinicians in trauma interventions, and 200 first responders, volunteers and community service providers in a special first-aid approach to youth mental health.

“This is a creative and innovative way to introduce trauma-informed care to our community. I feel that the backbone agencies are going to be able to have a clear understanding of trauma and create a movement throughout our community in order to create more safety for everyone as a whole. The training is instrumental in identifying, personally and professionally, how trauma impacts an organization, systems and ultimately how it effects the community,” said Sonja Grey, Executive Director, ECHO.

To help increase additional awareness of trauma and its effects, a community advisory board has been created to intentionally engage community leaders, enhance outreach and training, and address the root causes of adverse community experiences. The board is made up of approximately 65 participants who represent multiple sectors of the community (service providers, youth, survivors of trauma) and were selected based on interest and alignment of project goals and demonstrated leadership and engagement in west and south Louisville neighborhoods.

The federal grant, provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), was first announced in 2018 by Mayor Greg Fischer and officials with the University of Louisville and Centerstone Kentucky. The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods manages the TRC project, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with UofL’s Kent School of Social Work and Centerstone Kentucky.

For more information, visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/office-safe-healthy-neighborhoods/samhsa-trauma-resilient-community-project