Solutions for a Healthy Workplace The Sanctuary Model: Solutions for a Healthy Workplace Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, COO, YWCA Utah Ibet Hernandez, LCSW, Andrus Institute

OUR MISSION: The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA Utah Safety Services for Victims of Domestic Violence Crisis Line: 801-537-8600 Walk-in services through the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center Crisis Shelter (181 beds) Supportive Housing (48 units) Specialized services for children

YWCA Utah Young women’s leadership development via the YW Empowered Young Women’s Council and the annual Young Women’s Leadership Summit Political leadership training via Real Women Run Nationally accredited Early Education for children ages 6 weeks – 8 years Issue education, advocacy and public policy on behalf of women and girls across the state of Utah.

Every week… 250 people live and receive services at the YWCA 100 children from the community come to Early Education every day 100 individuals in crisis come to the Family Justice Center 110 staff members provide services to the community Leadership and Young Women volunteers receive training and support

Challenges… Program participants with increasingly complicated needs and overwhelming trauma Increasing needs with flat public support Young and eager, yet untrained staff 46% turnover, primarily within domestic violence services Struggling to keep up with the current labor market Struggling to be effective in staying true to our commitment to eliminate racism

What Do You See? Tell us what you see.

Another Perspective

Another Example

Understanding trauma is not just about acquiring knowledge. It’s about changing the way you view the world. © Sandra L. Bloom, M.D. CommunityWorks, 2009

“Creating Sanctuary” refers to the shared experience of creating and maintaining safety within a social environment - any social environment. The idea for the word “sanctuary” derives from Dr. Steven Silver, a psychologist working with veterans at the Coatesville, PA veterans’ hospital. In the first chapter on inpatient treatment, Silver spoke about “sanctuary trauma” in describing veterans who returned from Vietnam expecting to be coming “home” – expecting comfort and security – only to find more trauma, rejection and abuse awaiting them. I was riveted by this concept because it made me think of all the patients I had met over the years, and all the personal accounts I had read of people who had gone through terrible experiences within the confines of mental hospitals.

Sanctuary Organizational Change Based on Safety for both those who receive services and those who provide them

THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS SANCTUARY TOOLKIT S.E.L.F TRAUMA THEORY

trauma Coping Adversity Low Resource Stress Supports Exposure Skills Events Exposure Stress Low Resource Skills Supports

#1 Adversity is Universal Sanctuary Beliefs #1 Adversity is Universal

Sanctuary Beliefs #2 What’s Happened to you? (not “what’s wrong with you?”)

ACES Scores of Staff 85% of YWCA employees have an ACE score of 1 or more. 35/98 = 36% have a score of 0-1 36/98 = 37% have a score of 2-4 27/98 = 28% have a score of 5+ The two above combined means that 64% of YWCA staff have a score of 2 or more. 

REENACTMENT TRIANGLE VICTIM RESCUER PERSECUTOR Helpless Overwhelmed Inadequate Entitled Martyr Harried Guilt-trips Only I can help Reenactment is all about power! Review the concept is adapted from Karpman’s Drama Triangle, but the terms and situations refer to the repetition of the traumatic past. Classic traumatic reenactment involve 3 roles: persecutor, victim and rescuer Persecutor: Attempts to fix things through force; easily become authoritarian, controlling and punishing (“for their own good”) Persecutor needs someone to blame Persecutors deny their weaknesses Greatest fear is powerlessness Denying their own vulnerability, they need to focus on someone else they perceive as weak or broken Tendencies include preaching, blaming, lecturing, interrogating and attack. Rescuer: Someone who often does not own their own vulnerability Seek instead to rescue those whom they see as vulnerable May offer help unasked rather than find out how and if the other person wants to be supported As a result, may agree to do what he/she doesn’t’ really want to do Doomed to fail because Victim wants to be rescued from the past Often end up feeling “taken advantage of”, or resentful, used or unappreciated in some way Does not take responsibility for self instead takes responsibility for the perceived Victim who he/she wants to rescue. Will end up feeling like the Victim, but may be perceived by others as the Persecutor Victim: In Victim role feel overwhelmed by sense of vulnerability, inadequacy, powerlessness Do not take responsibility for ourselves or our own power Look to Rescuer to take care of us May feel let down by the Rescuer May perceive Rescuer as Perpetrator Denies vulnerability Critical, blaming Rigid, bullying

The Empowerment TRIANGLE COACH CHALLENGER CREATOR Focuses on choice, connects with own passion Focuses on vision, demonstrates compassion with questions The TED* Empowerment Roles – David Emerald’s work “The Empowerment Dynamic”: Breaking the patterns that keep us in the reenactment triangle requires a shift in mindset for most people. When “Shifts Happen” and you move into a Creator, Challenger or Coach role, greater awareness and options become available to you. Creator— is the central role in TED*(*The Empowerment Dynamic), which taps into an inner state of passion. Directed by intention, a Creator is focused on a desired outcome, propelling the person to take Baby Steps toward what they want to create.  A Creator also owns their ability to choose their response to life circumstances. The role of Creator is the alternative to the drama triangle role of Victim.  Challenger— is focused on learning and growth, holding a Creator accountable while encouraging learning, action, and next steps. A Challenger consciously builds others up, as a positive alternative to putting someone down by criticizing, blaming, or controlling. The role of Challenger is the alternative to the drama triangle role of Persecutor. Coach—uses compassion and questions to help a Creator develop a vision and action plan. A Coach provides encouragement and support, in place of “rescuing” actions. The role of coach is the alternative to the drama triangle role of Rescuer.   Focuses on learning and growth as well as accountability

THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS SANCTUARY TOOLKIT S.E.L.F TRAUMA THEORY

Emotional Intelligence Social Responsibility Gannondale RTF 10-16-08 The Seven Commitments Nonviolence Emotional Intelligence Social Learning Open Communication Social Responsibility Democracy Growth & Change

Creating a Culture to Counteract Trauma’s Effects Nonviolence Counteracts experiences of violence and feeling unsafe Emotional Intelligence Counteracts experiences of feeling disrespected and mistreated Social Learning Counteracts experiences of helplessness by encouraging people to rely on others and learn from mistakes Open Communication Counteracts experiences of secrecy Democracy Counteracts experiences of disempowerment Social Responsibility Counteracts experiences of abandonment and disconnection Growth and Change Counteracts experiences of hopelessness

Creating a Culture to Counteract Racism Nonviolence Counteracts experiences of violence and feeling unsafe Emotional Intelligence Counteracts experiences of feeling disrespected and mistreated Social Learning Counteracts experiences of isolation by encouraging people to rely on others and learn from their mistakes Open Communication Counteracts experiences of secrecy; encourages dialogue around hard conversations Democracy Counteracts experiences of disempowerment; encourages all voices to be heard Social Responsibility Counteracts experiences of disconnection and encourages a shared commitment to racial justice Growth and Change Counteracts experiences of racism by a continued commitment to be better together

THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS SANCTUARY TOOLKIT S.E.L.F TRAUMA THEORY

Assessing and Resolving Problems

S.E.L.F. A way of organizing complexity Dynamic and nonlinear Phases you move in and out of, not stages you climb An accessible language Gets everyone on the same page Applicable to children, adults, families, staff and organization Describe the purpose of using the four elements that make up the S.E.L.F. framework.

USES FOR S.E.L.F. Describe the uses for S.E.L.F.

THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS SANCTUARY TOOLKIT S.E.L.F TRAUMA THEORY

The Tool Kit Community meetings Core Team Red Flag Meetings Safety Plans Team Meetings

The Tool Kit (cont.) Supervision Training Psychoeducation Self-Care Plans Service Planning Meetings

NONVIOLENCE DEMOCRACY SAEETY PLANS COMMUNITY MEETING SOCIAL LEARNING RED FLAG REVIEWS EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OPEN COMMUNICATION S.E.L.F. SELF-CARE PLANS SOCIAL RESPONSIBIILITY GROWTH AND CHANGE

New and more complex things emerge from groups of similar parts. EMERGENCE New and more complex things emerge from groups of similar parts.

Successes … An investment in trained staff on a common language and culture setting, has brought trusting effective working relationships across the entire organization A platform for engaged conversations and common interest in problem solving 29% turnover (down from 46%) Leadership opportunities for diverse staff at all levels of the organization Successful EAP Utilization

Next steps … Further reduced turnover Additional funding opportunities A culture and toolkit informing program participants for increased safety and reaching of goals Common tools for staff to address racism and work towards racial justice together

 

QUESTIONS? Ibet Hernandez, LCSW Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, LCSW EMAIL ihernandez@jdam.org WEB www.thesanctuaryinstitute.org Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, LCSW EMAIL kjones@ywcautah.org PHONE 801.537.8625 WEB www.ywcautah.org