People Inc. awarded NYS Department of Labor funds to support trauma-informed training

People Inc. Press Release 

Thanks to a $23,000 grant provided by the New York State Department of Labor, People Inc. will train more than 60 direct support professionals (DSPs) on solutions-focused strategies and trauma-informed care.

The combination of these approaches can help enhance the support People Inc. employees can give people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in residential and day habilitation settings.

“A deeper understanding of trauma helps us serve our community more effectively, while empowering our employees with additional training and tools,” People Inc. President and CEO Anne McCaffrey said.

The training, modeled from the solution-focused trauma-informed care (SF-TIC) approach to care, aims to improve overall employee well-being among DSPs and people served through People Inc. It is expected to increase safety for employees and persons supported; improve staff resilience, compassion, and ability to manage behavioral crises; and enhance communication and engagement.

SF-TIC training will be completed in collaboration with the Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) at the University at Buffalo. Susan Green, LCSW, clinical professor and co-director of the institute, and Denise Krause, LCSW, clinical professor and associate dean of the institute, will lead the training sessions.

More About People Inc.: People Inc. provides health and human services that enrich lives and communities through innovation and supportive services. We offer programs and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout Western New York and the Greater Rochester regions, essential affordable housing options, services for the deaf and hard of hearing, and a range of supportive programs for seniors. For more information, go to people-inc.org.