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Recent Posts

Healing Relationships - Information is Shared

November 6, 2025
by Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW posted in Whole-System Change

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In honor of 25 years of Risking Connection®, this series explores the heart of the model: R.I.C.H. relationships – Respect, Information, Connection, and Hope – and the real challenges of living them out. Join LaVerne Baker Hotep and Patricia Wilcox, LCSW, on November 12th to learn more about how R.I.C.H. relationships are healing relationships.

In the first of the series, we discussed the role of Respect in R.I.C.H. relationships. Next, we'll focus on Information.

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Healing Relationships - Respect Between Clients and Caregivers

November 4, 2025
by Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW posted in Whole-System Change

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As part of celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Risking Connection® (RC) training program, we are sharing short RC Sampler Sessions this fall, covering some of its most essential concepts.  One central concept in the Risking Connection Change Model is that the path to healing is through the acronym "R.I.C.H. relationships" – those that embody Respect, Information, Connection and Hope. Over time in our work with client agencies, we have collected many inspiring examples of how staff demonstrate R.I.C.H. with their clients and with each other – but it isn’t easy. Let's explore what is hard about R.I.C.H. in this series of posts.

These are the areas where we struggle, stumble, and sometimes become less than helpful to our clients and each other. Let’s look at each part of R.I.C.H. and discover what is hard about it and how we can overcome the challenges.

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How to Address Vicarious or Secondary Trauma at your Organization

October 21, 2025
by Steve Brown, PsyD posted in Whole-System Change

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Vicarious trauma, a form of secondary trauma, is an inescapable effect of working with trauma survivors. It is an occupational hazard and may be the single most important factor impacting the success or failure of trauma work. Organizations need to address vicarious trauma as an ethical imperative.  

Sign up for our free sampler session on Vicarious Trauma and receive a replay of Trauma-Informed Care basics!

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Celebrating 25 Years of Risking Connection with an Invitation: Free Sampler Sessions

September 10, 2025
by Christine Greene posted in Whole-System Change

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Risking Connection® (RC) reaches a big milestone this year – its 25th anniversary! Since its launch in 2000, tens of thousands of professionals have been trained in Risking Connection creating ripples of healing and hope not only for clients, but also for families, workplaces, and communities.

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Resources for Risking Connection Treaters Supporting the Healing of Black Children

August 7, 2025
by LaVerne Baker Hotep posted in Whole-System Change

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TSI staff participated inDr. Isha Metzger’s insightful webinar entitled, Cultural Considerations for Integrating Racial Socialization in TF-CBT for Black Youth & Families. Dr. Metzger is a trailblazing Licensed Cultural Psychologist, thought leader, and advocate for culturally responsive mental health care. This webinar was of special interest because in 2024, TSI undertook a major revision of the Risking Connection training based on the belief that trauma training and trauma-informed care must address the trauma of racism.

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TSI Community Event Alert: Launch of the Resilience Learning Community

July 1, 2025
by Steve Brown, PsyD posted in Whole-System Change

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The Traumatic Stress Institute is pleased to share an upcoming event that may be of interest to our community. Origins Training is launching the Resilience Learning Community—a new virtual space focused on exploring resilience practices within organizations and communities.

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Free May Webinar - Risking Connection: Advancing Trauma-Informed Care and Racial Trauma Healing

April 15, 2025
by John Engel and LaVerne Baker Hotep posted in Whole-System Change

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For 25 years, Risking Connection has been at the forefront of the trauma-informed care movement and the foundation of the Traumatic Stress Institute's work. Over the past decade, the Risking Connection foundational trauma training has evolved into the Risking Connection Change Model, a multi-stage intervention that supports  trauma-informed, organizational culture change.

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Risking Connection Change Model: Using Compassion and Human Kindness to be a Safety Net

March 20, 2025
by Vanessa N. Mayers posted in Whole-System Change

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Please meet Bonnie Spencer, Program Office Manager for Family Ark in Jeffersonville, Indiana. When Family Ark recently adopted the Traumatic Stress Institute's Risking Connection Change Model, Bonnie was tasked with ordering food and other logistics for the Risking Connection Basic Training late last summer. Prior to the training, she had started reading about what it meant to be trauma-informed and was still unsure of what it actually meant. After participating in the training, she really felt like everything came together and made sense.

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In the Spotlight: Sycamores' Utilization of the ARTIC Scale

February 19, 2025
by Tasha Reece, M.S. posted in Whole-System Change, Measurement & Research

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For nearly 25 years, the Traumatic Stress Institute has been a leader in trauma-informed education, training, and practice, driven by the mission to transform systems and deliver exceptional care to those in need. Sycamores is a trusted human services organization with a legacy spanning over 120 years in Southern California, and they share this commitment. Please note: this content was planned prior to the California wildfires.

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Free February Webinar - Risking Connection: Advancing Trauma-Informed Care and Racial Trauma Healing

February 11, 2025
by John Engel and LaVerne Baker Hotep posted in Whole-System Change

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Just two more days to register - join us!

For nearly 25 years, Risking Connection has been at the forefront of the trauma-informed care movement. Over the past decade, the Risking Connection foundational trauma training has evolved into the Risking Connection Change Model, a multi-stage intervention that supports  trauma-informed, organizational culture change.

Read More