The Impact of Putting Trauma Informed Care Concepts Into Action
2023 marks 15 years that Wellpoint Care Network has been at the forefront of the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) movement.
During that time, more than 75,000 people have learned about our approach and the Seven Essential Ingredients (7ei).
“Trauma Informed Care helps connect people,” said Eleanor McNeil, Foster & Kinship Navigator. “It helps us to understand our neighbor, it helps us to understand ourselves. And, it helps to create deeper, more valuable conversations.”
All staff at Wellpoint Care, regardless of position or title, are trained annually in TIC and use the concepts each day, both in and outside of their work.
“I’ve heard it said before that hurt people hurt people and I’ve also heard it said that healed people heal people,” said Elizabeth Scheuers, SafeCare Home Visitor. “That has really struck true in my life. The more that I am able to recognize the symptoms of trauma that I’ve had in the past and how they affect my personal relationships, the more that I can own those and that I can relate to people. It helps me so much being trauma-informed to be able to empathize with another person, to see where they’re coming from, to understand them a little bit better and want to get to understand them.”
“If people were more consistent in applying Trauma Informed Care practices, they would be able to make better connections,” said Shameka Phillips, Learning and Talent Development Manager. “Not just in their work, but also in their personal life. I see these concepts as transferable to my personal interactions with my own family.”
At Wellpoint Care, we also recognize that you can’t talk about trauma without talking about intergenerational and historical trauma. That is why we have built those into the Trauma Informed Care curriculum, because you can’t truly help people heal and recover without equity.
“We’re part of a system that’s done things wrong in the past, and we’re trying to do better,” said Andrea Dexter, Caregiver Coordinator. “We have rules, we have regulations, we have laws that have changed because of things that were done incorrectly, or not in a healthy or healing way in the past, and now we’re trying to be better. Now that we have Trauma Informed Care, we understand the ‘why.’ We understand why we need to do things differently and how we can do things differently.”
“Providing Trauma Informed Care, the healing that can be done now can follow generations to come,” said Julie Scott, NM Supervisor.
15 years in, the process of refining, distilling and sifting to the essence of what works in practice continues.
“Our Trauma Informed Care model is constantly evolving and changing for the better,” Tim Grove, Senior Consultant. “Often because of conversations with staff who do a really good job at keeping it fresh, keeping it current and keeping it connected to what they’re seeing when they’re genuinely trying to help people heal and recover.”
If you are interested in learning more about Wellpoint Care Network’s upcoming trainings and consultations, click here.
For a list of job openings, click here.
