McMinnville, Ore. — Yamhill County professionals and providers from a broad range of sectors will come together April 18 to address the effects of trauma and learn techniques to build resilience in the families they serve. Consultants from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), a federal agency focused on improving the behavioral health of American communities, will lead a full day workshop on implementing Trauma-Informed Care.
Trauma-Informed Care is an approach used to develop policies, procedures and practices within an organization in order to restore a sense of safety, power and self-worth in those they serve. Agencies that are trauma-informed seek to empower clients and actively work to avoid re-traumatization, from altering parking lot lighting to post-visit follow up procedures,.
“Research shows us that good health involves far more than physical care,” said Seamus McCarthy, interim CEO for Yamhill Community Care Organization. “We are pleased to work with community partners not only in health care, but also in education, social services and the faith community to actively address the psychosocial components to wellbeing as well.”
Empowering and building resiliency in families and children has been the main focus of Yamhill Community Care’s Family Resiliency Community Conversations series that began September 2016 and will continue monthly through March 2017. These events have provided education on the effects of a variety of family support, including those that aim to reduce the incidence of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACEs) and trauma. The ultimate goal is to build a healthier, safer, more prosperous and equitable community.
Attention is now shifting to providing tools for organizations that are ready to take action.
“So many of our families are challenged by traumatic experiences, either in their childhood or later in life, or sometimes both,” said Suey Linzmeier, executive director of Head Start of Yamhill County and co-chair of Yamhill CCO’s Early Learning Council. “It’s up to providers to recognize the barriers that this can create and to work together to find ways to support our families effectively."
The conference will begin at 9 a.m. April 18 at the McMinnville Community Center, 600 NE Evans Street. Admission is free, but registration is required.
For information about this story and registration details, contact Emily Broadwell, Early Learning VISTA, at 503-455-8052 or [email protected].
About Yamhill Community Care Organization
Yamhill Community Care Organization is a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) that serves Oregon Health Plan (OHP) members in Yamhill County and parts of Clackamas, Washington, Polk, Marion and Tillamook counties. Yamhill CCO provides a different way of delivering care to OHP members. By working within the community, Yamhill CCO provides a different way of delivering care, by integrating physical and mental health services, coordinating educational and family supports, bringing new models of care that are patient-centered and team-focused, and being governed by people from our community, including social service providers, health care providers and community members.
