The THRIVE SWVA Community Network is about our region reaching its full potential, together, through the model of trauma-informed care.
Trauma-informed care acknowledges the need to understand the impact of a person's life experiences on their well-being in order to THRIVE together, and has the potential to improve community and employee engagement, health and education outcomes, and provider and staff wellness.
Trauma awareness is simply the understanding that all of us (both service recipients and service providers) have likely been affected by adverse experiences that have created sensitivities to particular interactions or scenarios. Often these unseen wounds can be as painful and as limiting as any physical ailment or disability. It is because these wounds are unseen that we must be aware of the possibility in order to forge the path ahead to THRIVE together from cradle to career and beyond.
Our Mission to THRIVE will be achieved by:
Advocating for the education of the effects of trauma on individuals and communities, while supporting our partners with best practices, tools and principles that assist all people with achieving their fullest potential in order to THRIVE.
The UWSWVA’s THRIVE team aims to implement a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency collaborative approach that will create safe, supportive, trauma-informed, THRIVING communities by informing, educating, and developing lasting positive systemic changes for Southwest Virginia.
Our Path to THRIVE includes:
A Whole Community Approach: We consider our communities from a cultural perspective that allows us to serve all community members with respect and mutual understanding.
A Trauma-Informed Lens: We work to create a culture of sensitivity to the impact of trauma and work to create a restorative, safe environment for all community members through education, advocacy, and support.
Equity: We celebrate differences among our members, our communities and our region and will address, with an equitable lens, racism & socio-economic barriers that challenge our most vulnerable populations.
Inclusive Membership: We create opportunities for inclusion among sectors and support diversity among membership so that all voices can be heard, listened to, and respected.
Accountability: We accept responsibility to advocate and educate others about adverse childhood experiences and Trauma Informed policies and practices, and we work to create opportunities that build THRIVING communities.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: We celebrate partnerships and collaboration from a multi-tiered approach with community members and organizations from all sectors.
Communication: We offer opportunities to share resources, communicate needs, and educate and inform stakeholders about Trauma Informed policies and practices that empower community members, organizations and partners to THRIVE.
Progression & Improvement: We strive to use research, data driven decision making and community wisdom to grow our network and achieve meaningful, measurable results and adapt with the ever-changing needs of our region.
We all have a stake and role to help our community THRIVE.
Join us in our mission to THRIVE:
- Attend monthly THRIVE SWVA meetings as scheduled
- Join in the work of THRIVE SWVA (be a part of a sub work group, participate in meetings, share resources, offer training, participate in training, etc.)
- Work to educate my organization on Trauma-Informed practices that have a healing based, holistic approach to prevent re-traumatization for individuals.
- Help develop a common, consistent language of resilience that can be used to educate others on THRIVING from cradle to grave.
- Provide input and feedback for the THRIVE SWVA Network (during meetings, through email communication, with the use of surveys, using the TIC Screening Tool)
- Participate in opportunities that work to advance the mission and vision of THRIVE SWVA.
Partners
