A TRAUMA SENSITIVE RESPONSE TO COVID-19 FROM ALIVE AND WELL COMMUNITIES

We at Alive and Well Communities wanted to take a moment to present some considerations for how our community responds to COVID-19, through the trauma lens. These suggestions assume that additional core institutions will close and/or must limit the ways they typically engage with community members. It is also assumed that a number of community members will have to self-quarantine and “shelter in place.”* These suggestions are guided by the principles of trauma informed care: trustworthiness, equity, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and safety.

A CALL TO ACTION: RESIST RACIAL RE-TRAUMATIZATION DURING THE PUBLIC HEALTH RESPONSE TO COVID-19

We, at Alive and Well Communities, call upon stakeholders to continue acknowledging those truths and maintain momentum for actively correcting the effects of anti-Black bias and racism. These calls to action and supporting activities serve three priorities. First, we must name the needs of Black Americans in order to disrupt patterns of inequity during our response to this pandemic. Second, we recognize the duty to disrupt anti-Black racism, always. Third, we call upon stakeholders to act now to transform the inequity in our social systems for “after” COVID-19.

TRAUMA-INFORMED COMMUNICATION + DECISION MAKING GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS + SCHOOL DISTRICTS

COVID-19 requires schools to be more adaptable and creative than ever before. Educating students, supporting staff, and fulfilling the key roles that schools play in keeping communities well all demand leaders and educators to step into uncharted territory. All of this change is taking place during a time where leaders and educators are also navigating the stress created by a global pandemic, concerns about the well-being of kids and families, and new financial hardships. For these reasons, and more, applying our trauma lens and following the principles of trauma-informed for decision making and communication is essential. In partnership with our Educational Leader's Workgroup, Alive & Well Communities invites you to review the following recommendations, which are for educators, by educators.

TRAUMA-RESPONSIVE ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACHES TO GRIEF PROCESSING AND HEALING: COVID-19 AND BEYOND

The necessary and profound public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the reality that there is no ‘right time’ to do what needs to be done. Lives have been saved by the mandatory changes in lifestyles and daily routine. And still, it is painful. To safeguard our health and that of essential workers, some people, more than others, can stay at home and limit their community outings. In many ways, we have chosen to adapt. In other ways we struggle. There have been various and significant losses. Life as we knew it has been disrupted. While still in the thick of it, we have yet to fully understand and count all the costs.

This informal guidance document will provide suggestions about trauma-responsive organizational approaches to grief and healing. Many organizations, whether public or private, volunteer-driven or employee-based, small or large, and regardless of their sector, have expressed concern about helping their staff and stakeholders cope with and heal from COVID-19.

Trauma Responsive Supervision: During COVID-19 and Beyond

This guidance document for organizational leaders and supervisors about trauma-responsive supervision aligns with the principles of trauma-informed care: trustworthiness, equity, choice, collaboration, empowerment, and safety. Due to COVID-19, life as we knew it has changed. The effects of such profound disruption will last beyond the moment society is “re-opened.” It is one of the many crises our institutions and people have had to adapt to and manage. Organizations everywhere will have to provide supervision and support to staff during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. The psychological needs people have related to loss and change must be considered when developing supervision processes, when planning how to execute supervision activities, and during supervisor-supervisee interactions.

GRIEF GUIDANCE FOR EDUCATORS AND YOUTH WORKERS

This informal guidance for youth-serving professionals, including teachers, school administrators, after-school program directors, and non-profit staff, will provide processing tools, considerations, and questions that will serve as a catalyst for the creation of school and organizational culture that identifies, values, and addresses grief without punishment.

CLICK HERE for a PDF version of the PrepareSTL Flyer.

CLICK HERE to learn more on the PrepareSTL homepage.

PrepareSTL Community Outreach Progress and Next Phase Report

PrepareSTL in the News!

Liberated Living

Over at InPower Institute we are launching our virtual platform, Liberated Living in the coming weeks. In the meantime, checkout the Liberated Living Vlog with Rebeccah Bennett in collaboration with the St. Louis American! Here's the link to most recent episode, "Black Folks & Corona"

Check out this

TIK TOK VIDEO

produced by VECTOR!

The Vector Mask Tik Tok Video is all about keeping safe and having fun while we do it! Educate your friends and family on the importance of wearing a mask and social distancing!