The Center holds periodic trainings such as those described
below. To receive e-news from the Center and information about future trainings, please
email a request to the Center's Project Coordinator.
School District of Philadelphia trauma training
On April 1, 2010, the Center presented a trauma training with Dr. Sandra Bloom for 100 employees of the School District of Philadelphia’s School-Based Social Services program (SBSS). These are Bachelor and Master level individuals who provide social service supports to children throughout the District. Staff of the
Healing Hurt People violence intervention also provided an overview of the program, which connects violently injured youth to various supports and services to address their trauma. This day was part of the Center’s ongoing efforts to engage with the School District of Philadelphia around issues of violence to find ways to work together in addressing the needs of students impacted by trauma.
Trauma Arts Narrative Therapy
On November 24, 2009, the Center presented Trauma Art Narrative Therapy (TANT) training with Lyndra Bills, MD. TANT is a creative narrative cognitive exposure therapy that is beneficial for:
- reducing intrusive symptoms from trauma;
- integrating verbal and nonverbal aspects of traumatic stress exposure;
- and providing resolution to traumatic experiences.
TANT is designed to help resolve trauma-based symptoms and behaviors in order for traumatized individuals to move on to the next step in their healing.
Dr. Lyndra J. Bills is a board certified psychiatrist. She completed a PTSD fellowship as part of an internal medicine/psychiatry residency at West Virginia University. Dr. Bills began using Trauma Art Narrative in 1992 as a way to help individuals process traumatic events. She has most recently been teaching and practicing acute inpatient psychiatry in Austin, TX. Dr. Bills has extensive experience using and applying the Sanctuary Model of trauma-informed care in order to reduce violence.
Trauma Training for Philadelphia Police Officers
On October 9th, 2009, the Center presented a training with Dr. Sandra Bloom on the psychobiological effects of trauma and an introduction to trauma-informed approaches to providing services and supports to traumatized individuals. The majority of participants were Philadelphia Police Officers representing the divisions of Victims Assistance, Major Crimes, and Homicide. Other represented organizations include St. Christopher's Hospital for Children and Every Murder is Real, which provides support and services to the families and friends ("co-victims") of homicide.