SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) hosted a series of three 75-minute webinars in September 2014 that introduced key concepts in NCTIC’s day-long Trauma-Informed Peer Support (TIPS) training. The primary audience are people who provide peer support - including people working as peer specialists or in similar roles, people involved in independent peer support groups, and people working in or receiving services from peer-run programs. The series is also of interest to administrators, clinicians, and supervisors in organizations that employ peer specialists and people in similar roles, or those interested in incorporating trauma-informed peer support into their programs.

September 9: Trauma and Its Impact/Cultural Considerations
Presenters will define trauma and discuss its impact on individuals and communities, as well as the prevalence of trauma histories among people who use services. This session will also address how the experience of trauma and healing is strongly affected by cultural considerations such as race and ethnicity, gender, age, language and family history.
Presenters: Cathy Cave and Darby Penney
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September 16: Peer Support Basics/Trauma-Informed Practices
This session will introduce the basic concepts, values and principles of genuine peer support as developed and practiced by the consumer/survivor/ex-patient movement over the past 40+ years. The basics of trauma-informed practices, which can be applied in any setting, will also be described.
Presenters : Darby Penney and Leah Harris
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September 23: Applying Trauma-Informed Practices to Peer Support .
This session will conclude the series with a discussion of the application of trauma-informed practices to authentic peer support through the development of mutual, reciprocal relationships. The discussion will be illustrated with examples of issues that may arise in trauma-informed peer support, such as understanding self-injury as a coping strategy, and the effective use of personal narrative in healing from trauma.
Presenters : Darby Penney and Mike Skinner
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