Rose-Mary’s Trauma Responsive Care Summit:
Real World Applications of Emerging Best Practice
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. Welcome
9:10 – 10:40 a.m. Morning Keynote: Trauma Responsive Care: Feeling Safe, Connected, and In Control
Lara Palay and Kevin Aldridge
An estimated 90% of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have experienced traumatic stress. This stress can take the form of trauma-causing experiences that may seem more obvious, such as abuse and neglect, but it can also come from events that are unfortunately common occurrences, like uncontrolled and sudden changes in living environments. It can also take the form of daily stressors such as bullying, exclusion, powerlessness and voicelessness, repeated over years. In fact, the system of care itself can often cause as much harm in the form of traumatic stress, as it does good. The effect on the brain is the same.
Trauma Responsive Care (TRC) is a person-centered approach for healing trauma, based on brain science and implemented through relational interventions. TRC trains staff to respond in practical, effective and compassionate ways to people affected by traumatic stress. The model centers on helping people feel safe, connected, and in control, starting with building trust, self-regulation, healing experiences and positive identities in the people we serve.
10:40 – 11:00 Break
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion: Community Integration & Culture Change
Rose-Mary undertook its Trauma Responsive Care initiative at the same time that the agency was down-sizing their large facility and opening 7 new homes to integrate those individuals into the community. Panel members will discuss what was learned during the community integration project, track how the culture of Rose-Mary has changed over the past few years, and look at key drivers of culture change in the organization.
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 Lunch (provided)
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Afternoon Keynote: The Use of Psychotropic Medications for Persons with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
Dr. Stephen Ruedrich, MD
Many people with disabilities, along with family members, clinicians, and researchers, believe that psychotropic medications have historically been over-prescribed to persons with IDD, often with little clinical justification, and without appropriate monitoring for toxicity. Psychotropic treatment of persons with IDD should start with an accurate psychiatric diagnosis; or in the absence of an agreed-upon diagnosis, a well-thought-out psychotropic treatment hypothesis. Dr. Ruedrich will briefly describe the history of psychotropic practice with persons with IDD, the current best-practice of establishing a diagnosis before prescribing medications, and the need for continuous monitoring of individuals for evidence of side effects or toxicity.
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Ray’s Story: Panel discussion on supporting individuals with complex needs
The developmental disabilities system serves many individuals who don’t fit into established molds of diagnoses and treatment. Creating a trauma-responsive environment can be what makes a difference for people who have struggled to find success in other models. We will meet Ray, a young man with a complicated life experience who has flourished under TRC. His interdisciplinary team, family, and direct support staff will discuss how his life has changed for the better when their focus pivoted away from addressing each behavior, and toward a whole-person approach to wellness.
4:00 p.m. End of conference
