The Traumatic Stress Institute fosters the transformation of organizations and service systems to trauma-informed care (TIC) through the delivery of whole-system consultation, professional training, coaching, and research.

2023 Events 

Please Note:

Only Risking Connection (RC) Basic and Restorative Approach (RA) Basic trainings are open to the public. All other events listed are available only to our Client Agencies. Interested in learning more about our program? Click here for information.

January


Reinstatement for Unmet 2022 RC Trainer Requirements

Registration open January 24 – March 31, 2023

RC Associate Trainers who did not meet their credentialing requirement of attending two events in the 2022 training yearreceived an email notice in early 2023 with instructions and registration information for Reinstatement. Reinstatement involves an extra fee, but is also a self-driven process you can complete on your own schedule. Completion deadline is March 31, 2023. After that date, those who’ve not met their 2022 requirement or completed reinstatement will lose their RC Trainer credential.

March


Risking Connection (RC) Basic

March 7-9, 2023, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

The Risking Connection (RC) Basic training is an 18-hour foundational trauma training. It is a centerpiece of the Traumatic Stress Institute’s Whole System Change Model to Trauma-Informed Care that organizations and service systems can adopt to implement and sustain trauma-informed care.

Please Note:

Because Risking Connection Training is a centerpiece to TSI’s Whole Systems Change Model to Trauma-Informed Care, upon completion of the training, participants are not permitted to use the Risking Connection training as a stand-alone training program within their organizations or communities of care, unless the organization you are affiliated with has also committed to TSI’s Whole-System Change Process. If you are not affiliated with an organization within our network, your participation is an opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge and provide you with a philosophy and method for working with trauma survivors.

RC Trainer/Champion Webinar - Child Sexual Abuse: Talking About Prevention

March 15, 2023, 3-4:30 p.m. ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

Stop It Now! is a child sexual abuse prevention program that is – like TSI – part of Klingberg Family Centers. For 30 years, Stop It Now! has been a global leader in preventing child sexual abuse. They are a unique one-stop-shop for resources to help youth, parents, adults, and organizations prevent child sexual abuse before a child is harmed.

This webinar will introduce the Stop It Now! program and resources to participants, encouraging a hopeful perspective that views child sexual abuse as preventable, not inevitable. By actively addressing both behaviors and environments where children are vulnerable early, with safety plans and organizational polices, professionals strengthen children’s protective factors.

Presenter Information

Jenny Coleman, LMHC, has been working in child welfare for 30 years as a clinician, educator, and advocate.  In 2011, she joined Stop It Now! and as their Director, she oversees a national child sexual abuse prevention program. She serves as co-chair for the prevention committee for the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Sexual Abuse (ATSA), and she is a member of the National Coalition to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, serving as co-chair of the National Plan committee.

Jenny’s work includes published research on the Stop It Now! Helpline, prevention training in higher education, and most recently as a contributing chapter author reviewing the role of Stop It Now! in the sexual abuse prevention field. She presents globally, training individuals and youth-serving organizations in primary prevention, and additionally participates as a prevention expert in national discussions with agencies such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the US Department of Justice.

Risking Connection (RC) Train-the-Trainer

March 28-30, 2022, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

The RC Train-the-Trainer is the avenue by which organizations and systems can implement and sustain trauma-informed care via the RC training program. Organizations that have met the requirements for adopting RC as a training model can train selected staff to be RC Associate Trainers. These trainers train RC within their organization on an ongoing basis.

Please note: This event is open only to RC Client Agencies.

May


Restorative Approach (RA) Basic

May 23, 2023, 10:00-5:00 ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

The Restorative Approach™, newly updated in 2019, is a trauma-informed alternative to traditional “point and level” systems for child congregate care settings.  Based on attachment theory and the principles of restorative justice, it answers the question, “Now that I understand how trauma affects children, what should I do on Monday?”

The Restorative Approach translates what we know about trauma, the brain, and how children heal into specific strategies for all treatment providers within the organization. When children display behaviors that hurt others and the community, rather than “doing time” or dropping levels, staff assigns learning and restorative tasks to help children learn skills and make amends. 

Please note: This training is open to the public.

Presenter Information

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW, Vice President of Strategic Development, Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain, Connecticut specializes in treatment of traumatized children and their families. She created the Restorative Approach™, a trauma- and relationship-based treatment method. She is a Faculty Trainer for Risking Connection® and an Adjunct Faculty at the University of CT School of Social Work and at St. Joseph’s University. She travels nationally to train treaters on trauma-informed care, specializing in improving the daily life of treatment programs. She was the 2011 Connecticut Social Worker of the Year. She is the author of Trauma Informed Care: The Restorative Approach published by Levellers Press, as well as several articles.

LaVerne Baker Hotep is a Program Coordinator for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers.  With over 30 years in social service and a special interest in historical and intergenerational trauma, she has co-lead training for various client serving agencies around the country. With members of Mediators Beyond Borders International, LaVerne has co-facilitated trauma response training in Liberia and South Sudan.

Previously, LaVerne served as a Family Development Specialist and Resource Navigator at the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh, PA, serving Allegheny County’s East Liberty Family Center where she founded and continues to convene Me2 Sister Circle, an international trauma-informed self-care and enrichment group for women.   As former director of community education for the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh, PA, she initiated and convened culturally significant conferences to educate about trauma and its impact in vulnerable.

Elaine E. Liberato Jenkins, M.S., is a Program Coordinator focused on the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) sector for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers. Elaine’s passion lies in advocacy for young children and their families –  especially those with special needs. She has a special interest in coaching and development of early childhood educators and community leadership. Elaine is an active member of the early childhood community in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. She serves on several community advocacy committees that promote the health of families and their children, influencing local agencies and preschool programs to support children’s social and emotional development, as well as increasing awareness of early childhood trauma experiences to create inclusive learning settings, equity, and diversity.

Restorative Approach (RA) Train-the-Trainer

May 23, 2023, 10:00-5:00 ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

The Restorative Approach™, newly updated in 2019, is a trauma-informed alternative to traditional “point and level” systems for child congregate care settings.  Based on attachment theory and the principles of restorative justice, it answers the question, “Now that I understand how trauma affects children, what should I do on Monday?”

The Restorative Approach translates what we know about trauma, the brain, and how children heal into specific strategies for all treatment providers within the organization. When children display behaviors that hurt others and the community, rather than “doing time” or dropping levels, staff assigns learning and restorative tasks to help children learn skills and make amends. 

Please note: This training is open to the public.

Presenter Information

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW, Vice President of Strategic Development, Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain, Connecticut specializes in treatment of traumatized children and their families. She created the Restorative Approach™, a trauma- and relationship-based treatment method. She is a Faculty Trainer for Risking Connection® and an Adjunct Faculty at the University of CT School of Social Work and at St. Joseph’s University. She travels nationally to train treaters on trauma-informed care, specializing in improving the daily life of treatment programs. She was the 2011 Connecticut Social Worker of the Year. She is the author of Trauma Informed Care: The Restorative Approach published by Levellers Press, as well as several articles.

LaVerne Baker Hotep is a Program Coordinator for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers.  With over 30 years in social service and a special interest in historical and intergenerational trauma, she has co-lead training for various client serving agencies around the country. With members of Mediators Beyond Borders International, LaVerne has co-facilitated trauma response training in Liberia and South Sudan.

Previously, LaVerne served as a Family Development Specialist and Resource Navigator at the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh, PA, serving Allegheny County’s East Liberty Family Center where she founded and continues to convene Me2 Sister Circle, an international trauma-informed self-care and enrichment group for women.   As former director of community education for the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh, PA, she initiated and convened culturally significant conferences to educate about trauma and its impact in vulnerable.

Elaine E. Liberato Jenkins, M.S., is a Program Coordinator focused on the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) sector for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers. Elaine’s passion lies in advocacy for young children and their families –  especially those with special needs. She has a special interest in coaching and development of early childhood educators and community leadership. Elaine is an active member of the early childhood community in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. She serves on several community advocacy committees that promote the health of families and their children, influencing local agencies and preschool programs to support children’s social and emotional development, as well as increasing awareness of early childhood trauma experiences to create inclusive learning settings, equity, and diversity.

Presenter Information

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW, Vice President of Strategic Development, Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain, Connecticut specializes in treatment of traumatized children and their families. She created the Restorative Approach™, a trauma- and relationship-based treatment method. She is a Faculty Trainer for Risking Connection® and an Adjunct Faculty at the University of CT School of Social Work and at St. Joseph’s University. She travels nationally to train treaters on trauma-informed care, specializing in improving the daily life of treatment programs. She was the 2011 Connecticut Social Worker of the Year. She is the author of Trauma Informed Care: The Restorative Approach published by Levellers Press, as well as several articles.

LaVerne Baker Hotep is a Program Coordinator for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers.  With over 30 years in social service and a special interest in historical and intergenerational trauma, she has co-lead training for various client serving agencies around the country. With members of Mediators Beyond Borders International, LaVerne has co-facilitated trauma response training in Liberia and South Sudan.

Previously, LaVerne served as a Family Development Specialist and Resource Navigator at the Kingsley Association in Pittsburgh, PA, serving Allegheny County’s East Liberty Family Center where she founded and continues to convene Me2 Sister Circle, an international trauma-informed self-care and enrichment group for women.   As former director of community education for the Center for Victims in Pittsburgh, PA, she initiated and convened culturally significant conferences to educate about trauma and its impact in vulnerable.

Elaine E. Liberato Jenkins, M.S., is a Program Coordinator focused on the intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) sector for the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers. Elaine’s passion lies in advocacy for young children and their families –  especially those with special needs. She has a special interest in coaching and development of early childhood educators and community leadership. Elaine is an active member of the early childhood community in Mecklenburg county, North Carolina. She serves on several community advocacy committees that promote the health of families and their children, influencing local agencies and preschool programs to support children’s social and emotional development, as well as increasing awareness of early childhood trauma experiences to create inclusive learning settings, equity, and diversity.

RC Webinar - Building Self-Capacities for All: Effectively Supporting LGBT+ Folx

September 7, 2023, 3-4:30 ET (check local time here)

This is a virtual event.

In this webinar, RC Treaters will investigate the negative health outcomes correlated with adverse childhood experiences for LGBT+ individuals. They will engage applications of the RC Framework that address the impaired self-capacities associated with LGBT+ lifestyle factors, such as daily interactions in intolerant environments and an inability to actualize one’s self-concept (to be their true self).

Additionally, RC treaters will take stock of their awareness, biases, and personal relationships to gender and sexual identity to address any limiting beliefs that may adversely affect these goals.

Presenter Information

André Goddard, MAT, serves as Senior E-Learning Instructional Designer for Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Simultaneously, he is a PhD candidate in Education, whose studies focus on compiling advantageous instructional practices for culturally and linguistically diverse learners. An emphasis on cultural relevance in learning enables institutions to minimize opportunity gaps, which create more pathways to equity & inclusion.

Andre’s goal is to promote healing through rich, authentic learning experiences, for practitioners and clients alike, to better ensure integration in their daily lives.

RC Events – Quick Reference

Monthly RC Mindfulness

Monthly RC Mindfulness sessions are on the first Wednesday of each month, 12:00-12:30 pm ET. Open to ALL STAFF AT ALL RC Agencies – share with your coworkers!

Check out Stop It Now!

Stop It Now! is a department of Klingberg Family Centers that focuses on preventing the sexual abuse of children by mobilizing adults, families and communities to take actions that protect children before they are harmed.

Find more information about their work and upcoming Circles of Safety trainings below:

2023 TSI RC Trainings – Save the Dates!

While we usually expect to have many events posted by the end of January, youll notice this year’s events are mostly not yet open for registration. Our apologies for the long wait; our longtime registration vendor’s platform has become untenable and we are currently building out a new event registration process. We’ll post as soon as possible.

These are online events open to all.

RC Basic

March 7-9, 2023, 10-5 ET

July 18-20, 2023, 11-6 ET

October 24-26, 2023, 11-6 ET

These are open only to RC Agency staff. Prerequisites: RC Basic and passing a knowledge test prior to the training.

RC Train-the-Trainer

March 28-30, 2023, 10-5 ET (Trainers and  Champions)

August 15-17, 2023, 11-6 ET (Trainers and Champions)

November 7-9, 2023, 10-5 ET (Trainers only)

Please Note: Sessions that include Champions must meet a minimum number of Champions in order to include them, as group work is part of the training.

Webinars

Open to all RC Trainers and Champions. All times are in Eastern Time, and topics are TBA. 

March 15, 2023,  3-4:30 ET
Topic: Stop It Now! – Sexual Abuse Prevention

June 15 or 22, 2023, 3-4:30 ET
Topic: IDD-focused

September 7, 2023, 3-4:30 ET
Topic: Trauma and LGBTQI+ Youth

Early November, 2023, 3-4:30 ET

Early December, 2023, 3-4:30 ET

Day of Learning and Sharing (Virtual)

Mid-October, 2023

Open to all RC Trainers and Champions, these are in-person events at Klingberg Family Centers in New Britain, CT. All times are in Eastern Time, and topics are TBA.

Tentatively scheduled and subject to change due to COVID conditions.

Consult Group

May 9, 2023, 9-11:30 ET
Topic: Attachment

September 19, 2023, 9-11:30 ET
Topic: InterPlay

RC Trainers are required to attend Recertification once every two years. You can check on when yours is due by checking the attendance sheets on the Trainers’ Corner. You’ll also receive Recert reminders if you’re due.

RC Recertification

May 3, 2023, 10-5 ET

June 6, 2023, 9-4 ET

August 2, 9-4 ET

September 12, 2023, 11-6 ET

October 4, 2023, 10-5 ET

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