Trauma and Violence Informed Care Toolkit
Publisher: Canadian Public health association
Date Published: 2020
Languages: English
The tool is structured into five sections, each corresponding to different aspects of TVIC implementation, including staff development, physical environment, client interactions, policies, and monitoring and evaluation.
Main Contribution
The "Organizational Assessment Tool" is designed to guide health and social service organizations, particularly those providing sexual health, harm reduction, or STBBI services, in implementing a Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) approach. This tool helps organizations understand TVIC principles, identify areas for improvement, and evaluate progress. It aims to enhance service provision to the community by addressing issues related to stigma, trauma, and structural violence.
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This assessment tool is intended for use by staff members in various roles within the organization, including management, intake workers, front-line service providers, and support staff. It promotes open discussions to create a more supportive environment for clients.
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The ratings and comments are then discussed as a group to determine the organization's average rating.
Using a provided template, the team identifies priorities for action based on the assessment.
A 5-point scale is used to rate each statement about the organization's programs and services, with the option to respond "unsure" or "not applicable" where relevant.
GBV Prevention
The toolkit addresses the prevention of gender-based violence within the context of providing care for individuals who have experienced traumatic life events, emphasizing the reduction of service barriers and the promotion of caring, compassionate, and non-judgmental care.
Identification of GBV Risk Factors: The tool can help organizations working with these communities identify specific risk factors for GBV. For instance, it can assess whether staff is adequately trained to recognize signs of GBV or whether there are policies in place to address it.
Trauma-Informed Approach: The tool emphasizes the importance of understanding trauma. In GBV prevention, this is crucial, as many survivors have experienced trauma. Organizations can use the tool to ensure their staff is well-equipped to provide trauma-informed care and support.
Client Interaction: Evaluating the way staff interacts with clients can help in GBV prevention. By ensuring staff provides a respectful and supportive environment, the likelihood of clients disclosing GBV experiences may increase.
Creating Normative Change
Addressing Stigma: The tool recognizes the impact of stigma, which is often a barrier to reporting GBV. By assessing how stigma is addressed within the organization, it can help reduce stigma, which is essential for normative change.
Policy and Environment: The tool evaluates an organization's policies and physical environment. If policies are adapted to be more GBV-sensitive and the environment is designed to make survivors feel safe, it can contribute to normative change by demonstrating the organization's commitment to GBV prevention.
How it could be adapted to the communities
Cultural Competency: To serve Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi, and Afghan communities effectively, the tool can be adapted to include cultural competency questions. This ensures that service providers understand the cultural nuances and challenges specific to these communities, promoting trust and comfort.
Language Access: For these communities, language access is crucial. The tool can be modified to include questions related to language support, interpreters, or bilingual staff, as many individuals within these communities may have limited English proficiency.
Cultural Sensitivity: The assessment can be adjusted to examine whether the organization is culturally sensitive and respectful of the customs, traditions, and values of Syrian, Iranian, Iraqi, and Afghan populations, which is key to building trust.
Keywords
Building trust, Trauma- and Violence-Informed Care (TVIC) implementation, Stigma, Harm reduction, Client-centric environment creation
