"Through this initiative, Integral Care will enhance our knowledge of the impact of trauma people experience in order to promote organizational change that will improve how we deliver care," David Evans, Integral Care CEO.

 

Austin Travis County Integral Care was selected to participate in the National Council's 2016 Trauma-Informed Care Learning Community. The learning community focuses on helping organizations strengthen their capacity to provide services that are easily accessible, person-centered, competently delivered, culturally respectful and consistent with recovery oriented principles, shared decision-making and self-direction. A key aspect of the training is working with organizations to strengthen ways to provide safe and secure physical and social environments for the people that they serve. Integral Care joins more than 150 other organizations across the country that have participated in this opportunity since 2011.

Click here to learn more about the Trauma-Informed Care Learning Community.

Four key findings of the mapping project:

These findings demonstrate that child maltreatment is a community problem. They also provide an important opportunity to strengthen and promote equality in the neighborhoods hardest hit by child maltreatment in Travis County.   When child maltreatment is prevented, quality of life improves for everyone.

Stay tuned this fall for the online release of the summit mapping report. The report will include project maps, key findings, and recommended action and policy steps to end child maltreatment in Travis County developed by summit participants from our community.  Researchers from the Dell Children's Trauma and Injury Research Center will continue and expand this important line of research for the Travis County community and beyond. 

The mental health needs of women and children experiencing homelessness are not only complex, but often not adequately met due to a high prevalence of mistrust for mental health professionals.

A majority of women and children experiencing homelessness have experienced complex trauma, are in distress and suffer from untreated mental health illness. Cumulative stressors such as high rates of exposure to physical and sexual abuse, substance and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, family destabilization, chronic medical conditions and untreated emotional disturbance plagues those experiencing homelessness. Homeless children are often exposed to high rates of violence and are more likely to have excessive school absences than their housed peers, which compromise their academic achievement as well as their school adjustment and level of self-esteem (Masten, et al., 1993). All of which are critical components to becoming successful and well-adjusted adults.

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Adventure therapy is an innovative intervention which engages clients who are often averse to traditional talk therapy. It is the prescriptive use of adventure activities by mental health professionals to kinesthetically engage clients on affective, behavioral, and cognitive levels. Adventure therapy integrates traditional therapeutic practices, yet differs in that it focuses on the environment and the use of eustress to create a novel experience for change (Gass, et al., 2012). Activities such as hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and camping all provide an opportunity for clients to have fun, become connected with nature, and work toward making positive change in their lives.

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TICC Training Opportunity

Interested in learning more about adventure therapy? Register Now for the Trauma-Informed Adventure Therapy Training on September 26th from 10 AM-12 PM at Austin Travis County Integral Care. 

Click here for more details and to register. 

Questions? Please email [email protected]