KEYSTONE HEIGHTS – Trauma Informed Community recently was held at Keystone Heights Elementary to educate residents about trauma. The four-hour training event covered topics such as adverse childhood experiences, the impacts of trauma and toxic stress and health. In addition, the event touched on resilience and the approach of being trauma–informed to deal with personal trauma and to help others with trauma.

“Any teacher or community leader would benefit from this,” said Carey Morford, member of Keystone SafetyNet Alliance.

The event had 60 people at the training session which was provided by Center for Child Counseling. Lunch was also provided.

The purpose of the event was to share the knowledge gathered by the Keystone SafetyNet.

“All of us at Keystone SafetyNet, as we have interacted with people who have experienced trauma, have had to learn some things. We wanted to share that with other leaders in the community,” Carey said.

It was conceived when several leaders of the Keystone SafetyNet Alliance wanted a way to train the community how to deal with trauma.

“We are talking to people who have experienced trauma all the time,” Carey said.

She also said while researching for the event, she found Center for Child Counseling, which provided half-day training on trauma.

“I think it is going to do a pretty good job of helping people regardless of what their role is whether they are a teacher, a business leader, or a parent.”

Trauma Informed Community was made possible through the partnered efforts of local nonprofit organizations and Keystone Heights Elementary and Mission of the Dirt Road. They worked together to make the training session a reality and free for teachers and those interested in learning.

Answers Resource Facility provided lunch during the event and Community Partnership Schools made it possible for other schools to know about the event.