City-Wide Trauma Awareness, Sensitivity and Healing Through Relationships
Foreword We know that trauma can affect any one of us at any time in our lives. Many of us will develop ways to cope with these experiences as they arise, and our lives will continue without any long-term consequences. During these times we may be supported by members of our family, our friends, or others in our community. These connections and the role of one supportive relationship must not be underestimated. We know that for some of us, the significance of these experiences is such that we will need to reach out and access specialist support to help us to recover from the impact of trauma. These experiences can impact not only our physical and mental well-being but also our relationships. Together we have an opportunity as a city to be courageous and transform how we understand and respond to Trauma. This strategy affords us as a city an opportunity to develop a ‘trauma lens ‘which can be applied across all our services. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted for us all the impact of collective trauma, and while we were all in the same ocean, we were not all in the same boat. Covid 19 has illustrated the role and impact of trau- ma, particularly for those who are already affected by inequalities and have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES). Importantly, this strategy helps us to understand the roles we all play, and the difference we can all make by simply being more compassionate and more understanding of each other. By shifting our perspectives firstly as individuals, collectively within our organisations and as a city shifting our focus from the narrative of ‘What is wrong with you?’, and instead asking ‘What has happened to you?’ As a city, we want to promote a culture where people experience empathy and kindness and are empowered to access the services they need for support. We want to provide services and policies that build and strengthen trusting relationships. This strategy aims to develop a bespoke trauma framework at a city-wide level that will support statutory, community and voluntary organisations, in addition to local communities. At its core is the development of principles and practices which further Cork City becoming Trauma-sensitive. This framework comprises a number of overarching goals including the development of a bespoke training programme and toolkit that will be developed for, and offered to, all partner organisations. Further, this strategy is the beginning of the development of a road map for Cork City charting our courageous and exciting journey towards becoming Trauma-sensitive City. Thank you Ann Doherty CE Cork Council
Cork Trauma Sensitive City
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