THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM INC

THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM (CWC) IS A DRIVING FORCE IN THE TRAINING AND EDUCATION OF THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY. WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH NON-PROFITS AND STATE DEPARTMENTS ACROSS CONNECTICUT AND NOW, NATIONALLY, WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THOSE PROVIDING CARE HAVE THE TOOLS AND SUPPORT THEY NEED TO PROVIDE A HIGH STANDARD OF CARE. WE PROMOTE AND FOLLOW THE PRINCIPLES OF TRAUMA-INFORMED, GENDER-RESPONSIVE CARE AS OUR FOREMOST GOAL IS TO FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, COMPASSION, EMPOWERMENT, AND SAFETY FOR THOSE STRUGGLING WITH MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION. WE ENVISION THAT BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS SERVING WOMEN WILL BE ACCESSIBLE, EFFECTIVE, AND PRACTICE HOLISTIC, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND GENDER-RESPONSIVE CARE. TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION, WE STRIVE TO ELIMINATE DISCRIMINATION AND PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THE CARE FOR WOMEN THROUGH EDUCATION, TRAINING, ADVOCACY, AND POLICY DEVELOPMENT. PROGRAMS: 1.TRAINING & EVENTS - THE CWC PROVIDES A WELCOME LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR TRAININGS WHICH ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. OUR TRAINING AUDIENCES INCLUDE SOCIAL WORKERS, COUNSELORS, STUDENTS, STATE EMPLOYEES, NON-PROFITS, MEN, WOMEN, AND OTHERS INTERESTED IN TRAUMA, GENDER, AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. ADVANCED COURSES IN THERAPEUTIC MODELS AND ONGOING EDUCATION FOR CLINICIANS IS AN ADDITIONAL PIECE OF WHAT WE DO. OUR INSTRUCTORS ARE LOCAL AND NATIONAL EXPERTS IN GENDER-RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE INCLUDE: CRIMINAL JUSTICE, DIVERSITY, VETERANS, GENDER, TRAUMA MODELS AND CLINICAL THERAPY, ADDICTION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE, MENTAL HEALTH, HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS, INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, AND RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUAL HEALTH. ADDITIONALLY, WE PROVIDE SPECIALTY TRAININGS IN GIRLS CIRCLE, EMDR, AND DBT. 2.TAG - THE TRAUMA AND GENDER PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVE (TAG INITIATIVE) IS A COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES, THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM (CWC), AND PROVIDERS. TAG PROMOTES BEST PRACTICES IN TRAUMA-INFORMED, GENDER-RESPONSIVE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE IN CONNECTICUT BY PROVIDING BEST PRACTICES, RECOMMENDATIONS, TOOLS, TRAININGS, NATIONAL/LOCAL EXPERTS AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. 3.CJ TAG - CRIMINAL JUSTICE TRAUMA AND GENDER PROJECT (CJ TAG) BRINGS TRAUMA-INFORMED, GENDER RESPONSIVE CARE TO AGENCIES IN THE GREATER NEW HAVEN AREA PROVIDING REENTRY SERVICES TO PREVIOUSLY INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS. AGENCIES INVOLVED IN CJ TAG RECEIVE CONSULTATION FROM NOTED EXPERTS IN TRAUMA AND GENDER. THE PROCESS INCLUDES A TOOLKIT, A TWO-DAY KICKOFF, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN IMPLEMENTATION PLANS AND FIDELITY SCALE, SITE VISITS, WALKTHROUGHS FROM ADVOCACY UNLIMITED (A PEER AGENCY), STAFF TRAINING, AND A TRAIN THE TRAINER'S COURSE WITH CEUS. AGENCIES APPLY AND ARE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TWO-YEAR PROCESS. THIS PROJECT IS BASED ON THE TAG AGENCIES PROJECT. 4.WSPIC - THE WOMEN'S SERVICES PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVE IS A PARTNERSHIP OF THE CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S CONSORTIUM, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES (DMHAS), AND WOMEN'S SPECIALTY SERVICE PROVIDERS FUNDED BY DMHAS. WSPIC FOCUSES ON IMPROVING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR WOMEN THROUGH EXPERT PANELS AND PRESENTERS ON BEST PRACTICES IN GENDER-RESPONSIVE AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMMING. WSPIC QUARTERLY MEETINGS HAVE A GENDER-RESPONSIVE FOCUS FOR WOMEN'S SERVICES AND ARE A SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE TRAUMA AND GENDER PRACTICE IMPROVEMENT COLLABORATIVE. 5.EVERY WOMAN CT - EVERY WOMAN CONNECTICUT IS A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE THAT WORKS WITH CONSUMERS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, STATE AGENCIES, PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERS. TOGETHER THEY ARE WORKING TO HELP SPARK RAPID IMPROVEMENTS IN CARE FOR WOMEN AND MEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE, RECOGNIZING THAT PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SOCIAL HEALTH?ARE?VITAL TO WELLBEING, AS WELL AS THAT OF FUTURE GENERATIONS. EVERY WOMAN CONNECTICUT LEARNING COLLABORATIVE IS BASED ON THE ONE KEY QUESTION AND IMPLICIT NETWORK MODELS WHICH ARE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES TO IMPROVE BIRTH OUTCOMES. ONE KEY QUESTION: "WOULD YOU LIKE TO BECOME PREGNANT THIS YEAR"? THIS INITIATIVE IS PART OF THE MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH COALITION (MCH). 6.HEALING & EXPLORING TRAUMA INITIATIVES - HEALING TRAUMA BY STEPHANIE COVINGTON, PHD WITH EILEEN RUSSO, MA IS A SHORT-TERM, 6-SESSION, GROUP TREATMENT CURRICULUM, DESIGNED TO HELP WOMEN TO RECOVER FROM THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMA, HELP THEM GROW, AND GUIDE THEM TOWARDS HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS AND HAPPIER LIVES.THE DISTINCTION OF A BRIEF 5-SESSION INTERVENTION IS IMPORTANT AS THEY CAN OFTEN BE COMPLETED IN SETTINGS WHERE THERE IS A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME SUCH AS AT A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR EVEN AS AN INTRODUCTION TO TRAUMA BEFORE OTHER TREATMENT FOR EXAMPLE BEFORE SUBSTANCE USE TREATMENT. THE PROJECT WAS EXPANDED TO MEN'S TREATMENT GROUPS USING THE EXPLORING TRAUMA CURRICULUM IN 2016. EXPLORING TRAUMA IS A NEW CURRICULUM BY STEPHANIE COVINGTON, PHD AND ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY AS A SHORT-TERM INTERVENTION FOR MEN. THE HEALING TRAUMA & EXPLORING TRAUMA PROJECTS TRAINS AGENCY STAFF AND ORGANIZES ADDITIONAL FACILITATORS TO RUN TRAUMA TREATMENT GROUPS. AS THESE PROGRAMS ARE GOOD INTERVENTIONS FOR CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE POPULATIONS WE RUN GROUPS AT YORK CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTE FOR WOMEN AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES, BUT ARE NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THESE AGENCIES. THE EVALUATION PIECE OF THIS PROJECT FOR WOMEN HAS SHOWN A REDUCTION IN BOTH TRAUMA SYMPTOMS AND RATES OF DEPRESSION AND IS GROUP MODEL FOR BOTH COMMUNITY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE SETTINGS.