Last month, twenty clergy and other caregivers attended the Trauma-Informed Ministry Training and Workshop, presented by Intermountain Chaplain Chris Haughee and ACE Master Trainer Brie Oliver. ACE stands for Adverse Childhood Experiences and Chaplain Chris and Ms. Oliver taught the group about the importance of caring for children with ACEs in a way that does not re-traumatize them.
ACE Master Training, Brie Oliver, explains the affect of ACEs
A panel discussion included Intermountain therapists Mike Kalous and Terri Murray and asked questions like, “What does a ‘trauma-informed’ ministry look like? and “What does it mean for a faith community once they ‘get’ ACEs?”
Ms. Oliver also discussed the ways in which childhood trauma can affect a child’s brain and lifetime health outlook and the ways in which resiliency factors (i.e. having resilient parents, building social connections, and more) can help reduce the effects of ACEs.
Chaplain Chris outlined the “Ten Things your Faith Community Should Know about the Kid with ACEs,” including that the traumatized are biologically wired to worry and that a person doesn’t have to “know it all” to be able to help a child in need.
Members of Helena’s Salvation Army add to the discussion
Chaplain Chris also presented the concept of the trauma-informed approach outlined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. There are six key principles to this approach: safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice, and choice; and cultural, historical, and gender issues.
The training concluded with an opportunity to put all the new knowledge gained throughout the day into practice, editing a lesson outline and building a sample outreach opportunity to community children by designing an after-school children’s group shaped by trauma-informed principles. The groups did a fantastic job explaining why certain choices were made for activities, games, and the Bible lesson based on accommodations needed for a specific child profile and scenario they were given.
Those in attendance expressed interest in seeing additional trainings occur in Helena and throughout Montana. If this is something you or your faith community would consider, please contact Chaplain Chris or Intermountain’s Development team at 406-442-7940.
Discussion continued over lunch and was very lively!
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