Trauma-Informed Organizations NC (TIONC) designed this pilot process for working with partner organizations. TIONC is a program of the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCCADV) and is being created to fit the needs of a wide variety of agencies. TIONC is currently in a pilot process with agencies who were interested in turning their trauma-informed practice inward, towards their organizational policies and practices. After an agency agrees to join the pilot program, TIONC will begin with assessments to better understand the current work environment and trauma-informed aspirations of the agency. Assessments are done through listening sessions, a staff survey, and by reviewing agency policies. TIONC is designed to be participatory, and its direction is driven by the needs and goals of the organization. Based on the information gathered, TIONC will provide the pilot agency with training and technical assistance to implement desired policy and practice changes. TIONC will also provide guidance on how existing policies can be improved to align with trauma-informed principles. Once training, technical assistance, and guidance are provided, TIONC will facilitate a prioritization process regarding recommended improvements and provide continued technical assistance support as prioritized changes are implemented. TIONC will also evaluate the progress of TIOP in relation to both the pilot agency’s goals and reporting requirements. TIONC estimates that the pilot process can take up to 8 months to complete and are grateful for the pilot agencies who have participated so far.
This pilot process was developed before the COVID-19 pandemic and parts of the process needed to be amended in order to adhere to safety guidelines. A necessary pivot the TIONC team made was to adapt all processes to be virtual in order to reduce travel and in-person gathering.
PREPARATION
NCCADV and decision-makers at partner organization meet to discuss TIONC goals and process
Partnership established via signed MOU
NCCADV comes to visit: speak with organizational leadership and a cross-section of partner organization staff
NCCADV requests & reviews key documentation of organizational culture and policy
NCCADV facilitates a values clarification session
NCCADV and partner organization collaborate to plan the specifics of the next phase based on what was learned throughout preparation phase
ASSESSMENT
In collaboration with partner organization, NCCADV by develops and tailors TIONC assessment tools
NCCADV and partner organization collaborate to assess policies, practices and organizational culture
NCCADV conducts and evaluates TIONC trainings relevant to organization’s identified needs
Partner organization and NCCADV collaborate to identify and prioritize specific changes to policy and practice that partner organization will make during change phase
CHANGES
Partner organization and NCCADV plan a process for implementing identified changes
Partner organization implements identified changes
NCCADV provides ongoing support and TA to partner organization to make identified changes to policy and practice
NCCADV and partner organization develop evaluation tools to measure progress and evaluate the impact of changes
in relation to organization’s goals and select IPV risk and protective factors
IMPACT
NCCADV and partner organization use evaluation tools to measure progress and understand the impact of changes made
NCCADV and organization use evaluation results to inform next steps and identify any new priority areas
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NCCADV REPORTS ON TIONC’S EFFECT ON THE FOLLOWING RISK AND PROTECTIVE FACTORS:
Increased coordination of community services
Improved social, economic policies
Improved community sanctions regarding IPV
Decreased harmful norms about masculinity and femininity
Decreased harmful norms about aggression toward others