How do systems and administrative approaches that are antithetical to trauma-informed work impact clinical efforts to become trauma-informed and address the trauma-related contexts of client populations? Challenges that were explored included intake processes that are inherently traumatizing, funder requirements that are not trauma-informed, and the necessity to intervene in situations where there are not enough resources and/or time to actually address trauma. Additionally, what is the value/efficacy of trauma-informed services in the context of a racist milieu in which the client lives in a toxic traumatizing environment? How can we as social workers remain aware of, and not become numb to, the daily trauma of racism (and other isms) that we and our clients experience? And after awareness, then what?

We brought together the perspectives of clients, supervisors, and administrators, and academics to discuss what is effective, the ways in which race impacts interactions, and a theoretical framework that can help us understand the challenges we are facing as well as possible solutions.

Licensure training provided 6 continuing education hours on Law and Ethics for LCSW's, LMFT's, and LPCC's.

Workshop was held at the California Endowment and tickets cost $50.