The Traumatic Stress Institute offers a Risking Connection Basic three-day virtual trauma training three times per year, and the next opportunity is coming up on October 6-8, 2026. This training is designed to help professionals better understand trauma, recognize its impact, and strengthen the way they support clients and each other in their programs. While the training is the centerpiece of our Risking Connection Change Model, it can also stand on its own as a three-day learning experience, making it a practical option for a wide range of organizations that serve trauma survivors.

Coming up on August 3rd at 1 p.m. ET, join an OPEN MINDS Circle for a one-hour live presentation withNicole Powasnick, Chief Nursing Officer ofRWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH)Behavioral Health Center and Vice President of Clinical Operations for the Behavioral Health Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health, andJohn Engel, Director of theTraumatic Stress Institute (TSI)ofKlingberg Family Centers.

They will share how their organizations partnered to implement theRisking Connection Change Model (RCCM) – an 18-to-24-month roadmap for total organizational transformation – across behavioral health units and emergency departments at eight RWJBH sites, including data to illustrate its impact. 

After two years of intentional improvements, we're excited to announce that the Online ARTIC – now the Online ARTIC for Organizations –has officially reopened to the public*. Trauma-informed care has become a common goal across many sectors, including healthcare, education, behavioral health, and human services, but one important question often remains: How do you know your efforts are making a difference? Program evaluation provides the answer.

We think of abundance and joy when we think of Jodie Tingle-Willis, LCSW, owner of Supreme Peace Yoga and Wellness, and her journey says everything about the power of the Risking Connection® (RC) Change Model. She first encountered the Traumatic Stress Institute and RC as an employee at an RC client agency. Here is Jodie's story, in her own words:

After a year of intentional growth and system improvements, we are excited to officially announce that Online ARTIC will reopen in July 2026.

For the first time in our 20-year history, the Traumatic Stress Institute (TSI) engaged in a formal strategic planning process, resulting in a concrete strategic plan for the next two years.After 12 months of work, and under the wise guidance of Leading Culture Solutions, our entire team worked to identify specific strategic initiatives in 4 areas:

Hospital-based behavioral health departments work tirelessly everyday to keep communities healthy and safe. However, many healthcare systems experience symptoms that transform healing spaces into re-traumatizing environments for patients as well as leadership, physicians, and staff. Patients with complex needs, larger system pressures, changes in leadership, and staff turnover all can evoke fear and stress, resulting in punitive and non-relational interactions. This kind of climate unwittingly replicates the abusive dynamics patients and staff may have experienced in their own lives, leading to poor outcomes.  

After 20 years as Director of the Traumatic Stress Institute (TSI), Dr. Steve Brown will be retiring in June.We are pleased to announce that John Engel, TSI’s Associate Director, will assume the position of Director effective June 29, 2026.

We were recently introduced to Laneita Williamson, founder of 18 Cairns Consulting, who led a system-wide implementation at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, a North Carolina health system. Her recent research article reinforces something we see every day: lasting impact requires more than training; it requires systems change.

The Traumatic Stress Institute gathers twice a year for staff retreat. The retreats last a few days and give us the space to step back from daily demands and reconnect as a team. These retreats are a time to reflect on what we’ve accomplished, clarify our direction, and explore new ideas that will shape our work moving forward.

Our most recent retreat was online in January (see picture) and included a phenomenal learning session co-led by Tanji L. Donald, M.Ed., Program Coordinator, and Samm Winebrenner, Operations Coordinator.