In 2019 the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) created the ODHS Trauma Informed Organization Policy, recognizing the agency’s commitment to becoming a trauma informed organization. Then in March 2020, the ODHS Trauma Aware Program was put into action. The Program serves approximately 14,000 employees, as well Shared Services with the Oregon Health Authority.

The focus of the Trauma Aware Program begins with the ODHS workforce. It’s important to remember that there is a parallel process within trauma informed care. The research supports everything we know experientially: when employees feel valued and supported, they in turn provide better services for those living in Oregon, as well as our communities. That is why the Trauma Aware Program focuses on the well-being of employees in addition to promoting trauma informed approaches.

The ODHS Trauma Aware Program provides four interrelated areas of intervention and service.

Trauma Aware promotes resilience, supports wellbeing, and seeks to restore safety and power for those who have experienced trauma and toxic stress. It facilitates the ODHS goal of being a trauma informed organization through interactions with individuals and teams, but also through systemic solutions that address equity, inclusion and accessibility.

Trauma Aware’s interventions, consultations, tools, and trainings reflect current research infused with the wisdom and lived experiences of our workforce, as well as Oregonians involved in our programs.

Trauma Informed Practice includes how we relate to those coming to us for help, our community partners and one another. The team provides trainings, consultations, and tools with topics ranging from vicarious trauma, wellness, trauma informed notifications, communications, as well as trauma-informed environments. Trauma Aware shares these materials with the Pathways to Resilience coalition which includes representatives from throughout the country.

Trauma Response Services are designed to offer supports when traumatic events or critical incidences occur for our employees. These incidents range from the devastation of disasters to the passing of a team member. Trauma Aware offers peer group debriefs, one-on-one peer conversations and processes that offer support and connect people to relevant and helpful resources.

Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Program understands every individual can play a role in saving lives and creating healthy and strong individuals and communities. Trauma Aware provides education, training and consultation and encourages the workforce to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis and change the conversation around suicide. Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Suicide Prevention training is a required training for the ODHS workforce. Since June 2020 over 10,000 ODHS employees have completed QPR training. In addition, Trauma Aware offers Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) throughout the state to the ODHS workforce, other state and county agencies and community partners.

Employee Resilience is centered on the connection of resilience, healing, and empowerment to address both reactions and causes of trauma. One example of support in this area is the ODHS Employee WELL, which is a library of resources curated specifically for employees and is organized by topics, accessibility, lived experiences, language and identities.

The newest Trauma Aware effort is the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) program, which was created by the Trauma Research Institute. A team of peers have been trained and certified to teach CRM workshops to employees and community members. CRM’s goal is to help to create “trauma-informed” communities that share a common understanding of the impact of trauma and chronic stress on the nervous system and how resiliency can be restored or increased through the utilization of healthy, biologically based skills and strategies.

Recently, Shannon Biteng, Trauma Aware Program Manager, described the Program’s development and CRM efforts on a nationally-aired podcast, “Resiliency Within.” She was interviewed by Elaine Miller-Karas, LCSW, co-founder and director of the Trauma Resource Institute.

For more information about the Trauma Aware program you can email TraumaAware.DHS@odhsoha.oregon.gov.