If you’ve ever wondered why The Institute knows so much about trauma, it’s because we’re part of an organization that weaves awareness and attunement into everything we do!
The Center for Great Expectations was one of the first programs in New Jersey to place trauma-informed care at the center of its philosophy and approach. We realized early on the critical importance of understanding trauma and the impact it has on the lives of those we serve.
In 2019, this deep expertise, and the desire to share it, led to the creation of The Institute—the professional training and consultation arm of CGE. Guided by CGE’s 25 years of experience, The Institute offers an evidence-informed Attuned School Approach and Attuned Workforce Approach to schools and workplaces to help create and maintain more empowered and resilient communities.
And when The Institute’s staff isn’t busy working with other organizations, they’re here at CGE leading specialized training sessions for our staff.
Recently, The Institute’s Chief Business Development Officer Ellen Purtell; together with CGE colleagues Jennifer Unger, Director of Clinical Services; Leigh Rasmussen, Manager of our Adolescent Residential program; Carolyn Flynn, Director of Early Relational Health and Mary Jean DiRoberto, Manager of Katy’s Place, our child development center, held a two-day training session for CGE staff on the ARC (Attachment, Regulation, Competency) model.
ARC is a framework designed for intervention with people who have experienced complex trauma. It’s also an integral part of CGE’s unique Trauma C.A.R.E. model. ARC concepts are woven throughout our daily interactions with the people we serve. Reinforcing this training and refreshing our staff’s skills is an important part of creating and maintaining an environment of healing and empowerment.
The ARC model consists of eight building blocks atop a foundation of Engagement, Education and Routines and Rhythms. Each block represents an aspect of attachment, regulation and competency, with subskills designed to build toward the ultimate goal of trauma experience integration.
During this two-day training we took a “deep dive” into the ARC concepts; covering its application across populations and a lot of practical discussions into how theory translates into practice with our clients.
Sarah Chebly, a clinician in our Adolescent program, said the following about the training, “It helped me to broaden my understanding of the underlying experiences that my clients have endured and understand and use a more productive way to help them heal.”
Whether you’re talking about the ARC model, CGE or The Institute, that’s the one thing they all have in common: It’s all about the healing.