Creating a Trauma Informed Healing Prescriptive: Workforce Development Program for Opportunity Youth

When working with individuals with a history of trauma, it is critical that one is able to recognize the existence of trauma symptoms and accept the role that it has played in that person's life; this approach is known as Trauma Informed Care (TIC). This concept is based on an understanding of the vulnerabilities that traumatized individual possesses, allowing one to sidestep triggers and avoid re-traumatization.The Institute of Women & Ethnic Studies (IWES) has committed itself as a public health organization to not only be trauma-informed, but also healing prescriptive, and to incorporate this type of care into the full span of its work. It is understood at IWES that given the nature of the city in which we work, where trauma is normalized and rarely goes treated, neglecting to acknowledge the stories of the communities we serve would be in direct opposition with our mission and values, and inconsistent with the evidence-based practices (EBP) by which we stand. Through our unique history of implementing various programs with marginalized communities, we understand that a trauma-informed approach is the only way to achieve long term success in our work. Beyond simply adopting TIC into our programming, IWES has disbursed resources in order to support staff's comprehension and appreciation of these progressive interventions, as well as create a city-wide public-awareness campaign (In That Number - #SadNotBad) surrounding the emotional well-being of New Orleans youth. Utilizing billboards, bus ads, and community events, IWES takes great pride in the fact that our organization's mission and core values seamlessly align with the key principles that outline a Trauma Informed Approach