Name
Program Design and Staff Training for Decolonized & Trauma-Informed Service Delivery
Date & Time
Thursday, April 8, 2021, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Celeste Morales Dr. Rochelle Stevenson
Description

The Vancouver Humane Society is conducting research exploring how animal seizure, surrender, and outreach practices can be updated to reflect a One Welfare, decolonized, and trauma-informed approach. Unfortunately, structurally vulnerable persons may be re-traumatized by common service delivery practices, and new animals may be acquired with the same neglect issues occurring as the ones experienced by the surrendered or seized animals. The aim of this project is to establish a knowledge base for avoiding this re-traumatization and to provide tools to support animal service agencies in combatting this cycle.

Our workshop will present the results of our research and offer four key takeaways for animal service providers (protection, sheltering, outreach and bylaw): 1) How to implement a trauma-informed approach when assisting structurally vulnerable folks (e.g. focusing on pet retention through intake diversion rather than rehoming); 2) How to build an outreach-first and prevention-based model (e.g. through community engagement/collaboration); 3) How to update the practices and processes of addressing animal neglect to ensure cultural awareness, sensitivity, and safety (e.g. best practices and suggested policies); and 4) How to better address staff experiences of compassion fatigue and burnout, which in the absence of a trauma-informed approach to service provision, can contribute to the re-traumatization of clients (e.g. by updating mental health policies and resources available to staff). This workshop will allow participants to jumpstart the process of an organization transformation plan by engaging in active exercises. Workshop participants will also gain early access to the pilot training program for their organizations.

Key Learnings:

1. Participants will learn how to implement a trauma-informed and prevention-based approach when assisting structurally vulnerable folks.

2. Participants will learn how to update the practices and processes of addressing animal neglect to ensure cultural awareness, sensitivity, and safety in animal services.

3. Participants will learn how to identify and address staff experiences of compassion fatigue and burnout, which in the absence of a trauma-informed approach to service provision, can contribute to the re-traumatization of clients.

Session Type
Workshop or Panel
Stage
Stage 3 Recorded