-Posted Monday June 23rd, 2008

The Sanctuary Model represents a trauma-informed method for creating or changing an organizational culture in order to more effectively provide a cohesive context within which healing from psychological and social traumatic experience can be addressed. The concept of trauma- informed care was originated by Dr. Sandra Bloom 25 years ago in New York State. It is currently being endorsed by Estelle Richman and the State of Pennsylvania as a part of the restraint reduction/elimination initiative. Wordsworth RTF was selected from a large pool of applicants to receive state grant money as we implement the Sanctuary Model into our program over the next three years. The first stage of the implementation process is currently under way; a Steering Committee of staff spent the first week of May in Harrisburg attending an intensive training on the Sanctuary Model. Since then, the Steering Committee selected a cross section of 27 RTF staff (with representatives from each department) to be in a Core Committee. The Core Committee attends 3 hour meetings twice a month to learn about the fundamental concept of Sanctuary and to be trained in its implementation.
During the last week of June, several of Wordsworth’s Outpatient Directors will also be attending a State sponsored Sanctuary Model training in Philadelphia. This training will be conducted by Sanctuary Model originator Dr. Sandra Bloom.
Additional information about the Sanctuary Model can be found at http://www.sanctuaryweb.com/