Trauma and Violence Informed Decision Making for Elected Officials

The matters that come before council have changed. Councils and council members are often faced with complex and traumatic events impacting your communities. From domestic violence, to homelessness, mental health, addictions, accidents and more, understanding and addressing these issues in effective and meaningful ways requires insight and understanding.

AMO has partnered with experts in the fields of trauma and violence on a workshop that will support our members by:

1. Describing the core principles of trauma-and-violence informed (TVI) decision-making.
2. Considering decisions in ways that prioritize the emotional, physical and cultural safety of those affected by these decisions.
3. Accessing tools and resources that support the use of TVI strategies in decision-making.
4. Maintaining and enhancing practices and policies that promote safety for municipal staff, Council colleagues, constituents and the public, as well as their own well-being.
5. Demonstrating a non-judgmental, anti-discriminatory and non-stigmatizing attitude as a fundamental aspect of their leadership roles.

This 6-hour workshop consists of two 3 hour sessions. The format and content is as follows:

• Session 1 (3 hours) will cover the basics of TVI approaches including a primer on trauma and its impacts, along with the specific effects of interpersonal and systemic/structural violence on service users and staff of health, social and public services. Two small group activities will be used, for example, the Trauma Review Exercise and the Rate Your Organization for TVIC Tool, to get members thinking about key issues and how they relate to municipal decision-making contexts.
• Session 2 of each training (3 hours) will begin with a recap of session 1, and (voluntary) round-the- room regarding what stood out (comfortably and uncomfortably) for members. Two small group sessions will be used for members to work on specific, relevant cases where TVI thinking and strategies can be applied, for example in the domains of civic space planning, assessing municipal housing bylaws and policies, safe communities initiatives (focus: violence against women and girls), etc.2
• Participating members will receive a pdf Handout Package prior to the session, including slides, cases and links to key resources.
• Prior to Session1 of each training, members would be asked to complete an anonymous online evaluation survey on TVI knowledge, attitudes and practices, which they would be asked to repeat after Session 2.

 AMO understands this is deep work and we also understand our members are looking for support in the work they do in todays complex decision-making environment.

 

Date: May 28 & June 5, 2025 (10:00am-1:00pm both days)

 

Location: Virtual

 

Registration Fees:
•    $415.00 (individual registration only).
•    $75 +HST cancellation fee

 

Register here

 

Workshop Educators:
 

Nadine Wathen, PhD, FCAHS is Professor and Canada Research Chair in Mobilizing Knowledge on Gender-Based Violence in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University, and Academic Director of the Centre for Research on Health Equity and Social Inclusion. 

Nadine’s research examines the health and social service sector response to gender-based violence, interventions to reduce health inequities, and the science of knowledge mobilization. A particular focus is developing person-centred interventions, and learning and practice resources, that enhance health equity, and take a gendered, trauma- and violence-informed approach to providing services for those experiencing violence and/or marginalization. She is deeply committed to a partnership approach to research and knowledge sharing and has led a number of federally funded research initiatives, and international research and knowledge mobilization networks.

www.nadinewathen.ca, nwathen@uwo.ca, @NadineWathen 
 

 

Marilyn Ford-Gilboe, RN, PhD, FCAN, FCAHS, is a Distinguished University Professor and Women’s Health Research Chair in the Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing at Western University. 

A Registered Nurse with a background in Women’s Health and Public Health, Marilyn’s research focuses on identifying, preventing and reducing the harmful health, social and economic consequences of violence against women, particularly for those facing barriers to support or other inequities. She has led national research to develop and test innovative trauma- and violence-informed interventions, shown to improve women’s safety, health and well-being, and studied how to integrate these new programs and resources into existing services to strengthen community responses to violence and policies. A strong believer in the power of intersectoral collaboration, she brings experience in leadership and consulting roles in variety of practice and policy contexts - locally, nationally and internationally. 

mfordg@uwo.ca, www.ihealapp.ca