Trauma-Informed Approaches Employee Trauma-Informed Approaches to Support Employees in the Workplace The Sanctuary Model: A trauma-informed organizational intervention. Research suggests this model: helps inspire and motivate staff to view problems from different perspectives supports staff by showcasing concern for emotional safety and work-life balance Key Values: Emphasizes: Inspiration, optimism, encouragement, honesty & motivation Fosters: respect, team orientation, effective communication, empowerment, reliability, trustworthiness & empathy Being 'trauma-informed' involves addressing the cultural needs of individuals, recognizing their intersectional identities, and considering the historical traumas experienced by different cultural groups. Applying the Sanctuary Model in Leadership 1 Safety: Creating a safe and supportive physical environment. This includes establishing clear and consistent policies, procedures, and practices that prioritize the safety of everyone in the organization. 2 Self-Care: Supporting practices for self-care among staff to prevent burnout and secondary trauma. This includes offering resources and strategies for maintaining personal well-being. 3 Trauma Awareness: Understanding the impact of trauma on behavior and functioning. Training programs help staff recognize and respond to trauma symptoms in themselves and others. 8 Guiding Questions Leaders should consider... Do we understand how our staff define safety? How do we demonstrate transparency? What do we do to help peers support each other? Do we provide an atmosphere that supports collaborative and mutual decision making? How do we channel the great experiences of our staff? What do we do to develop and empower our workforce? Do we support failures as a stepping stone to learning and success? Do our policies and protocols incorporate racial, ethnic, cultural, and individual needs? Approaches to Create Inclusive Environments for Staff Providing tools for self-reflection to understand our unique identitie Recognizing and addressing microaggressions, macroaggressions, and identity-based discrimination Revising policies and programs to promote inclusion Educating others about how to serve as effective allies Ensuring trauma-informed practices are culturally responsive Communicating openly and transparently about traumatic events affecting the community Performing regular program evaluations to assess outcomes of implemented trauma-informed approaches Trauma-informed approaches will allow leaders to better support the diverse needs of staff & faculty and help create a more inclusive workplace. References & Additional Information: Trauma- Informed Paper Trauma-Informed Approaches to Support Learners in Higher Education Infographic Research by Megha Banka & Design by Shania ShethOctober 2024