Risking Connection: A Training Curriculum for Working With Survivors of Childhood Abuse

A joint venture from the Sidran Traumatic Stress Institute and the Trauma, Research, Education and Training Institute (TREATI) in conjunction with the Mental Health Departments of the States of Maine and New York. Research in the emerging field of traumatology demonstrates that many of our most difficult-to-treat, suicidal, and self-injuring patients have histories of childhood trauma. Understanding the psychological consequences of early trauma, as well as state-of-the art treatment practices, will result in mental health care that is more clinically effective and significantly cost-saving. Treaters without this education may become discouraged in their attempts to help this group of clients, and may suffer from burnout as a result. This leads to a vicious cycle of high staff turnover rates, increased costs, and more state clients in search of the help they need. The Sidran Institute, a nonprofit organization devoted to educating professionals about traumatic stress conditions, is pleased to announce the publication of Risking A Training Curriculum for Working with Survivors of Childhood Abuse, the only basic trauma training curriculum specially designed for staff in public mental health settings. Our curriculum was developed by trauma specialists at the Trauma Research, Education, and Training Institute, Inc. (TREATI) of South Windsor, CT with the support of the Departments of Mental Health in the states of Maine and New York. This affordable curriculum is now available to all interested agencies and individuals. It was prepared with editorial and clinical input from helping professionals and trauma survivors with extensive experience in state mental health systems, clinical treatments of traumatic stress conditions, curriculum design, and the law.