Trauma Informed Care Summit “Rooted in Resilience”- On May 20th and 21st, local leaders represented Ashtabula County at the 13th Annual Trauma-Informed Care Summit. The summit was hosted by the Ohio Children’s Alliance in partnership with the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and brought together professionals from across the state to learn, collaborate, and strengthen trauma-informed practices within their communities.
This year’s summit was themed “Rooted in Resilience,” which focused heavily on building trauma-informed and resilience-centered workplaces across multiple professional settings. Sessions and discussions emphasized the importance of supporting staff wellness, reducing burnout and secondary traumatic stress, and creating workplace cultures that promote safety, connection, and resilience for both employees and the individuals they serve. The summit brought together professionals from behavioral health, education, child welfare, first response, healthcare, and community organizations to explore practical strategies for strengthening organizations through trauma-informed leadership and collaboration. Attendees participated in keynote presentations, breakout workshops, and cross-sector conversations centered on workforce wellness, organizational resilience, and innovative approaches to creating healthier and more supportive systems of care.
Stephanie Kush from ACBDD-Early Intervention, Joleen Sundquist from Ravenwood Health, and Christy Fisher from the Ashtabula County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board attended the event to strengthen their understanding of trauma-informed and resilience-centered workplace practices while exploring new strategies that can be implemented within their organizations and throughout the community. Their participation also highlighted the importance of cross-agency collaboration in Ashtabula County, as professionals from different systems came together with a shared commitment to building stronger, more supportive environments for children, families, staff, and community members. By learning alongside one another, these local leaders continue to foster partnerships that promote resilience, wellness, and trauma-informed care across the county.
Ashtabula County also has a trauma-informed care collaborative known as BRT, “Building Resiliency Together,” which brings together community members and professionals from a variety of local agencies and organizations. The group meets monthly to collaborate on ways to increase awareness of trauma-informed care, promote resilience, support workforce wellness, and strengthen community connections throughout Ashtabula County. BRT works to create safer, more supportive environments by sharing resources, encouraging education, and fostering partnerships that help individuals, families, and organizations better understand the impact of trauma and the importance of resilience. The group is open to anyone interested in making a positive impact within the community.
For more information about BRT or to join, please contact Joleen Sundquist at Ravenwood Health: joleen.sundquist@ravenwoodhealth.org.
Pictured from left to right: Stephanie Kush from ACBDD-Early Intervention, Christy Fisher from MHRS Board, and Joleen Sundquist from Ravenwood Health.
