Becky Haas is an Experienced Trainer and Internationally Recognized for Implementing Trauma Informed Care
Becky Haas is unique to the field of trauma informed care subject matter experts. In 2015 when beginning her journey to create a more resilient community, specialized training’s were not available in many disciplines. This prompted hours of research to identify peer recommendations for the best practices of a trauma informed approach within various fields. She then developed training’s based on her findings or became proficient in presenting existing ones. This effort led to the development of Trauma Informed Care training for police, healthcare, educators, services to homeless individuals, domestic violence programs, at risk youth programs, creating multidisciplinary teams as best practice and more. Becky is experienced at presenting the National Child Traumatic Stress Network Trauma Informed Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice System, and Futures Without Violence, Coaching Boys into Men program. Due to a growing demand for agencies to now offer these trainings ongoing themselves, she has developed Train the Trainer programs for several of them.
Building a Trauma Informed Community
This training is based on the Building A Trauma Informed System of Care toolkit. This toolkit was developed as a result of pioneering work since 2015 to build the Northeast Tennessee ACEs Connection group. Through funding provided by the Tennessee Building Strong Brains Program, Dr. Andi Clements and Becky Haas share in a very transparent fashion the steps taken, mistakes made and inspiring successes of local ACEs champions forming a community-wide System of Care. Using stakeholder surveys, training evaluations and focus group input, this document evolved. In 2018, this work was recognized by representatives from SAMHSA and the National Center of Trauma Informed Care as a model for other cities to follow.
This toolkit was designed as a road map to help other communities Advocate, Educate and Collaborate in order to bring to life a trauma informed community of their own. The toolkit’s use is also recommended by John’s Hopkins, Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action and the global online journal ACEs Connection in Growing Resilient Communities 2.1
Presentations for Building a Trauma Informed Community include:
Building a Trauma Informed Community, the Northeast Tennessee Story
- Compelling reasons a community needs to become trauma informed
- Trauma’s impact on communities
- Building community resilience
- Champions will emerge
- Success stories
Building a Trauma Informed Community – A Call to Action
- Lessons learned in Northeast Tennessee
- Challenging stakeholders to action
Roadmap to Reducing the Effects of ACEs – Advocate, Educate and Collaborate
- A step by step review of the Building a Trauma Informed Community toolkit
SAMHSA’s Trauma-Informed Approach: Key Assumptions & Principles
(Train the Trainer version available)
- What is trauma
- How to identify it
- How trauma affects brain development
- Understanding the ACEs Study
- Universal prevalence of trauma
- Four “R’s” to a trauma informed approach
- SAMHSA six pillars for trauma informed programming
Trauma-Informed Multi-Disciplinary Teams as Best Practice
Moving an Organization from Trauma Aware to Trauma Informed (Missouri Model)
- Best practices for moving an organization from trauma aware to where trauma informed is the norm
- Examples of trauma informed programs/organizations
- Assessing existing organizational structure
- Impacting policies and procedures
- Creating an action plan
- Staff self-care is a priority
Other training’s customized by request
Building A Trauma Informed System of Care Toolkit
Bristol TN, Mayor Gives ACE Awareness Month Proclamation
Testimonials
“The Johnson City model of trauma informed care has been a tremendous inspiration for First Chance Delaware and many of our partners. Understanding trauma is a pre-requisite to any strength-based work with children, families and communities; and a multi-agency public health approach is the only way to get there. The Johnson City System of Care is a great example of how to integrate the development of formal supports with the promotion of public awareness, in a science-based, goal-oriented, and sustainable shift in culture. That’s what cities really need.”
“Becky Haas brings an exceptional combination of first hand-experience, energy, passion and an in-depth knowledge of the science supporting trauma-informed approaches to her work. What she accomplished in Johnson City serves as one of the most dramatic examples of how a trauma-informed approach can change a community. Her toolkit based on that experience provides an excellent guide for other communities seeking to achieve the same results, as does her training. I receive nothing but raves from the organizations Becky has provided training to. She is a key resource in our mission to make America a trauma-informed country.”
“Becky Haas is a terrific resource for any community beginning to plan a trauma informed system of care. She does a great job making brain science understandable along with the extensive health effects of adverse childhood experiences and other human trauma not buffered by a caring adult. Becky has so many stories from her work, that the numerous applications of a trauma informed system of care can become evident across many sectors – schools, public health, social services, emergency medical services and criminal justice. Her one day in Durham, North Carolina sharing this replicatable model to community leaders and then leading a training for practitioners in the health and social services has helped to galvanize support for moving forward with the development and implementation needed for a Durham Community Resilience Plan.”
“Although I was initially skeptical when Becky came to me with information about ACEs science, I soon confirmed the scientific support for ACEs as a modifiable risk factor for most of society’s major health and well-being issues. She is a visionary, and as we have trained together and published together, I have witnessed a culture change first-hand. We verified that initially only 30% of helping professionals in the region were aware of ACEs, but within a span of three years that increased to the point that over 85% report a working knowledge of ACEs. She has now been given the task of taking the ACEs science and trauma responsiveness message to a 21-county health system and all the school systems within that same area. As if that wasn’t enough, she has trained across the nation and is a sought after, inspirational speaker. The work “at home” is not done, but her reach and ability to inspire others reaches far beyond that.”
Trauma Informed Policing, Juvenile Justice and Corrections
Based on national estimates, it is safe to assume that everyone who comes into contact with the justice system has a history of trauma, so criminal justice professionals should consider taking a “universal precautions” approach to providing services. When justice professionals learn about trauma, they can respond in ways that avoid re-traumatizing, ensure safety of all, reduce recidivism, and promote recovery. Because police serve such a diverse public, it’s important to have those in uniform recognize diverse backgrounds and cultural differences in order to build community trust and reduce the trauma that can result from historical trauma or cultural insensitivity. Building community trust positively impacts policing and residents are more likely to be cooperative with law enforcement if they perceive mutual trust and respect. Trauma informed policing can help to increase safety, reduce recidivism, community trauma and promote recovery for those who are involved with justice systems.
Presentations for Becoming Trauma Informed Justice Professionals:
- Trauma Informed Policing (Train the Trainer available)
- Why members of law enforcement should learn about trauma
- What is trauma?
- Prevalence of trauma
- Effects of trauma on brain development
- Understanding and using ACEs
- Examples of Trauma Informed Policing
- Cultural Competencies in Policing
- Trauma responsive approaches for officers
- Age-appropriate ways to reduce trauma for children on scene
- Tactical Breathing, healing gestures
- Five core messages for responding to domestic violence calls with children on scene
- Arresting a child’s caregiver
- Officer self-care
Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed Juvenile Justice System – National Child Traumatic Stress Network resources
Children who come to the attention of the juvenile justice system are a challenging and under served population, with high rates of exposure to trauma. Exposure to trauma places them at risk for emotional, behavioral, developmental, and legal problems – all of which can increase the likelihood of involvement in delinquency, crime, and the justice system.
This training help juvenile justice professionals (including judges, attorneys, law enforcement, probation officers, front-line residential staff, and mental health personnel) understand and provide trauma-focused services to these youth, create trauma-informed juvenile justice systems that are effective, and ensure the safety of youth, family members, staff, and community.
Trauma Informed Corrections
- What is Trauma
- How to identify it
- How trauma affects brain development and behavior
- The universal prevalence of trauma
- Helping traumatized individuals recover
Training for the Oklahoma City Police Department
Community and Faith Partners along with Police launched first annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity March
Chris Freeze, FBI Special Agent in Charge (retired) attending Trauma Informed Policing Training
Testimonials
“Highly recommend Trauma Informed Policing training! The training that Becky Haas provided was informative and compelling. Her style of delivery was received very well. Trauma Informed Policing can make first responders more effective by putting some very practical tools in their toolbox to help understand people and circumstances encountered by members of law enforcement. In the process, officers further benefit by better understanding reactions to trauma experienced personally or by those we know. We ended the training with an emphasis on officer wellness and reviewing local resources for our employees. Very happy we decided to work with Becky and provide this important information to all of our officers.”
“I attended a Trauma Informed Policing Training taught to our recruits in June of 2019. Becky Haas was a very good instructor and presented the material in a straight forward realistic approach for law enforcement. Based on my experience as a crisis negotiator, it is easy to see the correlation and application of these principles to situations officers deal with on a daily basis. More importantly, officers need to recognize the indicators of trauma they experience as part of their job to prevent destructive behaviors in their own lives. I look forward to Becky returning to providing a Train the Trainer for our department so that all of our officers in time will have this vital information.”
“Our partnership with Mrs. Haas and her Trauma Informed Policing Training is bridging the gap between mental health training and combating the effects of violence in our community. The passion for this content displayed by Mrs. Haas has now motivated our officers to ensure they find help for our citizens exposed to trauma.”
“I want to thank you for presenting the National Children Traumatic Stress Network Trauma Informed Care Training to the Judges, Clerks, their deputies, and the staff of the Court Service Unit. I think all of the participants gave some hard thought about the children and families that we serve.”
“As Criminal Court Judge of the First Judicial District I had the privilege of working with Becky Haas to develop a first probation program of its kind for felony offenders with addictions in Tennessee. Though beginning this program from the ground up presented obstacles to overcome within the court, with local law enforcement, probation and parole and other community partners, Becky proved time and again to be an effective communicator in voicing the needs of the reentry population. In 2016, myself, other Judges of the District, our District Attorney and the local justice community were honored to have this program which had been developed under Becky’s leadership to be acquired by the Tennessee Department of Corrections as a model which they have now replicated across the state.”
Trauma Informed Healthcare
National statistics on abuse and violence in the United States are sobering. This means a large number of people have experienced serious trauma at some point in their lives. A medical office or hospital can be a terrifying experience for someone who has experienced trauma, particularly for childhood sexual abuse survivors. The perceived power differential, being asked to remove clothing, and having invasive testing can remind someone of prior episodes of abuse. This can lead to anxiety about medical visits, flashbacks during the visit, or avoidance of medical care. Trauma informed healthcare training will better equip professionals to offer services with greater empathy and compassion. Also, it is important that healthcare professionals understand the significance of ACEs as underpinnings to poor health. As opportunities are available, providers can help patients access resources to reduce toxic stress in their lives and promote better health.
Trauma Informed Healthcare
- What is trauma
- How to identify it
- How trauma affects brain development
- Understanding the ACEs study
- The universal prevalence of trauma
- Four “R’s” to a trauma informed approach
- Examples of trauma informed healthcare
- “D, E, “F Protocol”
- Self-care for healthcare professionals
- SAMHSA Six Pillars of a trauma informed organization
Training Healthcare Staff
Addressing ACEs – A Call to Action Conference with Dr. Stephanie Covington
Addressing ACEs – A Call to Action Conference
Testimonials
“As an academic pediatrician, I am responsible for educating future healthcare providers in best practices for supporting the health and well-being of children. Becky Haas has inspired and enabled me to incorporate the field of resilience science into my seminars and clinical teaching. Becky’s training programs, resources, and framework for developing a system of care also inform my work in program development and community advocacy on a daily basis. I admire her engaging presentation style, her ability to relate information and approaches to professionals in a wide range of disciplines, and her contagious enthusiasm for this work. I attended the first cohort of trauma informed care training that Becky did in 2016. Since that time I have witnessed the work she pioneered bring about regional acceptance in almost every professional sector that addressing ACEs is a must for every community.”
Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, “one out of every 4 children attending school has been exposed to a traumatic event that can affect learning and/or behavior. Trauma can impact school performance; lower GPA; increase the rate of school absences and chances for drop-out; higher incidents of suspension and expulsion and decrease student’s reading ability.” (NCTSN Child Trauma Educator Toolkit) Once schools understand the educational impacts of trauma, they can become safe, supportive environments where students make the positive connections with adults, learn strategies to help calm their emotions to behave appropriately, and achieve greater academic success. “Trauma sensitivity will look different at each school. However, a shared definition of what it means to be a trauma-sensitive school can bring educators, parents, and policymakers together around a common vision. (Creating and Advocating for Trauma Sensitive Schools).
Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools
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- Training for School Leadership
- Training for Educators
- Training for all school personnel including administration, bus drivers, dining, and custodians
- What is trauma
- How to identify it
- How trauma derails brain development
- Understanding the ACEs study
- The universal prevalence of trauma
- Creating trauma sensitive classrooms
- Evidenced based educator strategies
- Addressing race and trauma in the classroom
- Using discipline to teach and not to punish
- Educator self-care
- Resource list
Coaching Boys Into Men – Futures Without Violence Resources
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- Coaches Clinic
Rural Summit for Childhood Success with Jim Sporleder
Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools
With Topper Academy Principal, Mrs. Riden-Bacon and Dr. Andi Clements
Testimonials
“I’m grateful for the society changing work regarding trauma informed care and building resilience led by Becky Haas. The knowledge she conveys and the passion she exudes makes her presentation one of the most profound I have experienced in my twenty-five-year career as an educator. Becky’s ability to connect with any audience is truly remarkable. Smyth County Virginia Schools are moving closer each day to becoming a trauma informed school division. Becky has trained our entire staff on the life-long impacts of trauma, which is needed to help individuals overcome the trauma they have sustained. She has also provided instructional strategies for our teachers to implement in order to help our students achieve success. The impact of this implementation will be recognized for generations in Smyth County. I would like also to highlight the fact that our community has started the process to becoming trauma informed as well. Becky, once again, was the catalyst for this transaction. She held a public training in our local theatre for all agencies to attend. The response was overwhelming and very moving. The support was surreal and a call to action was issued. I cannot be prouder to be in Smyth County and have the support from local healthcare through Becky Haas who is helping us move toward our goal of making us a more resilient community.”
“My sincere thanks and appreciation for an excellent workshop presented to Dickenson County School leadership. Your words touched my heart, and many people in the room. Principals, school counselors and directors shared with me that this had been time well spent! I loved your passion about children and trauma and how to change school culture. We cannot wait to get our district fully on a path to becoming trauma informed.”
“Since transforming the Science Hill High School Alternative School into an online academy focused on restoring value to students and trauma informed care, student attendance and credits have increased significantly over the last three years. The first year resulted in students earning less than a 100 credits a year to over 1000 credits a year. Attendance increased from approximately 52% a day to 85-88% a day. Becky Haas provided Trauma Informed Care training and ongoing coaching for our staff the entire first year of transition. Her wisdom, sense of humor and passion for helping students provided our Topper Academy staff with a new student focus and renewed sense of value in making a positive difference. The Trauma Informed Care training transformed our school culture and climate very quickly and in a very positive way.”
Faith Based Community
One of the most compelling reasons I was impacted by the message of trauma informed care and the Adverse Childhood Experiences study (ACEs) is because of faith. As a Christian, I knew the principles of trauma informed care aligned closely with the teachings in the Bible. Whether training physicians or police, this is a message that should prompt anyone who hears it to respond with greater empathy and grace instead of judgement and shame. In Psalm 56:8, the Psalmist David said, “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book.” (New Living Translation) This verse portrays a powerful image of a trauma survivor. Being victimized is crying tears of anguish that are seen by no one. That is, except by God.
We see in scripture that the faith-based community should be a place of safety and trustworthiness for healing and restoration for trauma survivors, yet people actually experience trauma in a church or by the hands of a spiritual authority figure. Houses of faith by nature are a place where people turn when vulnerable, hurting, lost and confused. To think when coming to church to find answers and help, there are occasions where people have experienced further victimization is tragic. Trauma Informed for Faith Based Communities is a training that provides the Biblical foundations behind the principals of Trauma Informed Care. It also is designed to help church leaders understand the basics of trauma and develop skills for restoring trauma survivors within their congregations.
Building Trauma Informed Faith Based Communities
- What is trauma
- How to identify it
- How trauma derails brain development
- Understanding the ACEs study
- The universal prevalence of trauma
- Biblical principles aligning the mission of Christianity is to love and heal the broken
- Creating trauma sensitive congregations
Impacting Your Community with Trauma Informed Care
- Homeless Services
- Domestic Violence Shelters
- Schools
- Park and Rec Programs
- Public Housing
- Libraries
Training Knox Area Rescue Mission (KARM) staff
Pastor Sanghoon Yoo, Arizona ACEs Consortium and Dr. Andi Clements East Tennessee State University
Appalachian Service Projects summer mission team
Online Training Academy
Given the current advancements in technology, many organizations are moving towards the virtual world for meeting their staff training needs. During the global pandemic of COVID-19 these online tools have become even more essential. Technology made it possible to continue operating many businesses, enabled employees to effectively work from home, increased the number of telehealth services available and more.
In the aftermath of COVID-19 there are serious concerns that the repercussions following quarantines and isolation will include a trauma tsunami. Now more than ever, professionals in every sector need to be educated about trauma informed care. Training will promote a new understanding and skills that enable staff to provide a more effective service delivery to help trauma survivors heal, reduce re-traumatizing consumers and to safeguard against team member compassion fatigue and burnout through the use of self-care.
As we move forward from COVID-19 to navigate “a new normal” the Online Training Academy is an available option to meet any trauma informed care training need. Every training area that is listed on BeckyHaas.com can be provided as an online training by live webinar as well as customized staff training’s. (Please note – when requesting a Train the Trainer version, you must first have attended the training itself in order to qualify.)
The Online Training Academy provides two training options:
Organizational Professional Development – This option is for any organization desiring to provide virtual trauma informed care education and professional development for your team by a live webinar. To learn more, complete the Get in Touch form indicating you would like information and pricing for an online training and you will be contacted regarding your training need.
Personal Professional Development: This option is for any professional desiring to understand how to implement trauma informed care within their field. This option can also be used by organizational management desiring to first “sample” a training before considering booking an “in-person” or online training for staff. Training’s are offered by live webinar. As training’s are posted, a link will be provided to access registration details and training fees.
Upcoming Training’s:
Free Webinar Training
3 hour pre-recorded webinar conducted for statewide partners of the TN Commission on Children and Youth, on SAMHSA’s Trauma Informed Approach, Key Principles and Assumptions. In this training you will learn, what is trauma, how to identify it, how trauma affects brain development, understanding the ACEs study, the prevalence of trauma, the four “R’s” of a trauma informed program and six pillars to having a trauma informed approach.
Click on the link to view the pre-recorded webinar.