7 Strategies for Implementing Trauma-Informed Environments
If you are anything like me, you might get excited about the topic of trauma-informed services in the library. I know it's super weird but I just love to implement services that will support staff and patrons with dignity and respect. Maybe you recently learned about trauma-informed services and want to start implementation at your library but you don’t know how to start, leaving you frustrated and unsure how to proceed.
Don’t worry, I got your back. I want to share with you 7 strategies for implementing a trauma-informed environment at your library without stress. I also created 7 prompts to get your mind going when implementing a trauma-informed environment. Click here to access it.
When implementing… Don’t forget to include self-care.
Self-care is as valuable as training and educating your staff on trauma-informed environments.
Training and Education: For me training and education is the number one strategy before implementation. You can’t jump this strategy. You might be excited to start making changes, but if your staff is not trained on understanding trauma, recognizing the signs, and understanding the effect trauma has on the brain, the individual and their behavior, you will find resistance. When people don’t know the reasons behind a change, they are less likely to accept the change. Commit to ongoing education and professional development to stay informed on new research for trauma-informed services.
Creating a culture of empathy and compassion: Fostering a culture of empathy and compassion among staff members is vital. It will be difficult to implement a trauma-informed approach to services if this type of culture is not already part of the library’s environment. Empathy, compassion, active listening and non-judgmental attitudes are fundamental to trauma-informed services.
Clear policies and procedures: Review your policies before making changes, identify if you have clear policies for handling situations involving distress. Clear policies and procedures ensure consistency and sensitivity in response to trauma-informed approaches.
Community Partnerships: Develop partnerships with local organizations and mental health providers to offer additional support and resources to patrons in need. The idea of a trauma-informed approach is that we can identify the signs of trauma and provide support whenever possible, but refer out to agencies and organizations that can provide additional support.
Self-Care for staff: This is a must for me. Trauma-informed services seek to reduce and avoid re-traumatization. A lot of times we think this approach is only for patrons or clients, but it's also for staff. When interacting with individuals who have experienced trauma, staff can be re-traumatized or experience vicarious trauma. Allowing staff members to prioritize self-care is vital to reduce re-traumatization. Make sure that self-care is encouraged and that staff have a healthy work-life balance.
Feedback and Evaluation: When implementing a trauma-informed environment, it is important to set up feedback and evaluations to assess the effectiveness of changes being made so that you can make the necessary adjustments.
Physical spaces: Think about the layout and design of your library space. Quiet zones, comfortable seating, and natural lighting can contribute to a calming atmosphere. While huge changes may not be possible, a change in paint of your walls might be the change you need and it can make a difference.
These strategies will help you start implementation of a trauma-informed environment without hassle. It will address any resistance your staff might have and it can support them through changes. To further get you thinking, click here to access the 7 prompts that can get your mind going about these implementation strategies.
