COMPASS Initiative^® Leading through Education, Advocacy & Resistance with our Neighbors (LEARN):
Trauma Informed Care

Program Description
Leading with Education, Advocacy & Resistance with our Neighbors (LEARN) is one of SUSTAIN Wellbeing COMPASS Coordinating Center’s strategies for supporting organizations with transforming organizational practice. The primary goal of LEARN is to build knowledge, capacity and expertise in a particular topic area. A second important goal of LEARN is to strengthen community networks through enhanced collaboration between participating organizations. Each cohort of LEARN is centered on a different content area. SUSTAIN is excited to announce the launch of LEARN Trauma Informed Care developed in collaboration with the Ribbon Consulting Group. No prior knowledge around trauma informed care is required to participate. 

About Trauma Informed Care
People who have been through or are going through traumatic lived experiences need empathic, and compassionate support and understanding. Trauma-informed care is an effective approach for providers in working with people who have experienced trauma because it “treat[s] a whole person, taking into account past trauma and the resulting coping mechanisms when attempting to understand behaviors and treat the patient” (Psychology Today, 2017). 

Trauma-informed care is also an organizational approach in which entire organizations collectively a) recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients served, b) respond by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, and c) seek to actively resist re-traumatization. LEARN Trauma-Informed Care will provide participants opportunities to confer with each other and experts to discuss strategies, methods and tools to build their capacity and support the process of becoming trauma-informed organizations.

About LEARN Trauma-Informed Care
LEARN Trauma-Informed Care consists of the following over the course of 6 months:

• One in-person convening
• Multiple virtual group sessions
• One-on-one coaching sessions 

Four to six organizations will be selected for each cohort. Organizations should also come prepared to initiate and complete within 6 months at least one new project or activity centered around trauma-informed care that they would like to address in a collaborative, shared learning environment. Organizations can expect to contribute no more than 6-8 hours a month. A $5,000 stipend will be offered to each organization to support their travel to the in-person meeting and project implementation. No prior knowledge around trauma-informed care is required to participate in LEARN.

After LEARN Trauma-Informed Care participants will be able to:

• Identify elements of the trauma-informed framework. 
• Identify the six principles of a trauma-informed approach.
• Identify and respond to the impacts of trauma on client movement and engagement through the HIV Care Continuum.
• Understand the role of the HIV service or program staff in creating spaces for understanding, recovery, and healing for clients. 
• Implement and integrate trauma-informed approaches in service delivery.

Eligibility
Organizations interested in participating in LEARN Trauma-Informed Care must have a primary organizational purpose of serving people living with HIV and demonstrate a willingness to integrate trauma informed care, into all aspects of their programs. They should also demonstrate a willingness to cultivate integration of directly impacted communities in this work in collaboration with their organization. Organizations of all sizes are encouraged to apply.  Priority will be given to Black and Latinx-led organizations.
 
Additionally, organizations eligible to participate in LEARN: Trauma-Informed Care must:

• Have a primary organizational purpose of reducing new HIV infections and/or improving the health of people living with HIV;
• Have an idea for a project centered around trauma informed care that they would like to work on throughout LEARN;
• Be a non-profit, tax-exempt organization as set forth in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applicants that do not hold 501(c)(3) status must have a fiscal sponsor to apply;
• Be located in one of the nine Deep South states (AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, TX);
• Identify and commit 2-3 people within the organization (1 decision-maker and 1-2 program staff) that agree to participate fully in each scheduled learning session.

Funding
Organizations will receive a monetary stipend ($5,000)  that may be used to support costs related to travel and/or implementing activities related to the self-selected project.

Allowable Expenses
It is appropriate to use LEARN funds to pay for things like materials, meeting expenses, printing, graphic design services, etc. However, there are prohibited expenses. You cannot use the funds to pay for or offset the cost of any of the following:

• Medications or purchasing of medications
• Direct medical expenses, including lab expenses
• Existing deficits of organization
• Biomedical research or clinical trials
• Projects that directly influence or advance Gilead Science’s business, including purchase, utilization, prescribing, formulary position, pricing, reimbursement, referral, recommendation or payment for products
• Individuals, individual health care providers, or physician group practices
• Events or programs that have already occurred
• Government lobbying activities

Please Note: Reimbursement for items/services purchased or initiated prior to the submission of this funding request will not be supported. Organizations that do not complete final assessments and/or reports, or utilize funds for the intended purpose will not be eligible to receive any additional funding from the SUSTAIN COMPASS Coordinating Center.
 

LEARN Logistics
LEARN Trauma Informed Care consists of sessions over 6 months in 2020 with all participating organizations. Group learning sessions will primarily take place virtually. We value in-person gatherings, so we will host one face-to-face convening which is to be determined after applicants have been selected. Specific details of each component are listed below:

Virtual Convening Dates: Group sessions will take place on the following dates from 12-2pm CST (1-3pm EST). Upon notification of award, calendar invitations will be sent out.

• April 7
• May 5
• June 2
• July 7 
• August 4
• September 2

• Coaching Session Dates: Each organization selected to participate will receive individualized coaching from LEARN facilitators over the course of 6 months (one hour long session per month, 6 sessions total). These will be scheduled according to the availability of both the organization and facilitators. 

• In Person Convening Date and Location: July 21-22, 2020 in Houston, TX
   
• Application Deadline: February 28th, 2020 at 11:59pm EST

Please return to the Home Page to apply for this funding opportunity.