Trauma Informed Spaces Grant Explained
Abiding Presence Lutheran Church has recently become the recipient of a $4,000 grant by the Fairfax County Trauma-Informed Community Network (TICN). This grant that will allow us to create a “trauma-Informed space” in the narthex and entry-hallway.
Everyone’s response to this news is: “Yay! Wait, what does that mean?”
The trauma-informed research shows that our physical space could foster healing or harm.
The goal of this “Trauma-Informed Spaces” grant is to implement those proven ways of providing safe, healing spaces. We’re applying it to our Narthex and entry hallway: the first space anyone who walks in our doors will encounter.
Fun Fact: there were nine grants awarded, and we were the only faith-based organization.
See below for the grant application and proposal that was accepted!
Trauma-Informed Spaces Project Application
Background
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) concept of a trauma-informed approach, “A program, organization, or system that is trauma-informed:
Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;
Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, families, staff, and others involved with the system;
Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices; and
Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.”
A trauma-informed approach can be implemented in any type of service setting or organization and is distinct from trauma-specific interventions or treatments that are designed to address the consequences of trauma.
A trauma-informed approach reflects adherence to six key principles rather than a prescribed set of practices or procedures. These principles may be generalizable across multiple types of settings, although terminology and application may be setting or sector specific:
Safety
Trustworthiness and transparency
Peer support
Collaboration and mutuality
Empowerment, voice and choice
Cultural, historical, and gender issues
From SAMHSA’s perspective, it is critical to promote the linkage to recovery and resilience for those individuals and families impacted by trauma. Consistent with SAMHSA’s definition of recovery, services and supports that are trauma-informed build on the best evidence available and prioritize consumer and family engagement, empowerment, and collaboration.
…
In 2016 the Fairfax County Trauma-Informed Community Network developed the Trauma-Informed Spaces Facility Review Checklist to assist TICN member organizations in examining the facilities used to deliver services using a trauma-informed perspective. Since that time, several agencies have used the tool and the recommendations generated by the process to make improvements to their spaces. Agencies have approached the work in different ways- using a combination of coordination with county Facilities Management staff, partnership with business sector partners, agency dollars, and staff passion and creativity to modify spaces. The TICN is now presenting this opportunity to supplement those strategies to make targeted improvements to priority spaces for county health and human services agencies and their community-based partner organizations.
We want our facilities to:
Promote a sense of safety, calming, and de-escalation for clients and staff;
Recognize that there may be aspects of the physical environment that are re-traumatizing, and work to develop strategies (policies, procedures and practices) to manage that;
Provide space that both staff and clients can use to practice self-care;
Keep the safety of both staff and clients/consumers/participants in mind; and
Tightly guard client confidentiality.
Trauma-Informed Spaces Projects
Background and Funding Available
The Partners In Prevention Fund (PIPF) provides support to the Fairfax County Trauma-Informed Community Network, and is offering Fairfax County Government Health and Human Services agencies a one-time opportunity to complete a project to apply trauma-informed design principles to their space without having to divert existing agency funds. Space improvement projects for community-based partners will be funded by a grant awarded to the TICN by the Family & Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia.
Facilities eligible for consideration are direct service programs serving children, youth, or families and are focused on preventing specific negative outcomes or promoting healthy development or wellness.
Grant Application Essay:
The space we have focused on for this grant is the entry area and hallway, and foyer/Narthex of our church. This space is visible from the parking area through large windows, and it is impossible to enter the church without first going through these spaces. It is the heart of the building and the first impression. In terms of function, it is multi-purpose. Multiple programs pass through this space throughout the week in non-pandemic times, as well as in pandemic times.
The entry way and hallway to the left of the main entrance is in need of organizing. The majority of programming and donations or food ministry begins in this hallway, as it leads to the multi-purpose room at the end. The multi-purpose room currently houses our food pantry as the increased need required larger space for storage and assembly. When it is safe to allow these recipients to enter the building and choose their food items (allowing agency and dignity), the hallway will be their path to the space.
The hallway is tread by nearly everyone who uses our building. Therefore it is imperative that the hallway is clean, welcoming, and uncluttered. Along the hallway there is a nook where donations pile up. Grant money would allow for the purchase of materials to create a contained donation center (modeled after the donation center in Burke UMC). This would contain the clutter and the piles of overflowing donations which can be triggering and chaotic. Everyone from staff to visitors would breathe a sigh of relief if this area became functional and contained.
The main entrance of the church opens to a worn table where (before Covid) volunteers have been staffed to offer directions, a welcome, and a boundary so that building occupants can feel safe knowing that every person who enters has been seen by the front desk person. A grant would provide a commercial-grade desk that is not only welcoming and clear for guests, but also comfortable for our volunteers.
The area to the right of the entry leads to the sanctuary, we call it the Narthex. The grant would allow for the purchase of matching, trauma-informed design to create a lounge space where people may gather. Youth aged students often retreat to this area when worship or other events are sensory overload for them. The Narthex is a common gathering space before and after worship services, to include weddings and funerals. It is a common waiting area for folks who may be waiting to speak to a staff member for pastoral-counseling. The comfort and accessibility of this space is important to visitors, congregants, and staff. Comfortable seating, a water-fountain, a soothing area rug, and multiple plants will help create a safe, welcoming, and calming space for everyone.
The grant will help expand the “pray-ground” area, which is a designated space in the Narthex with a rocking chair and child-friendly toys. We can purchase a second rocking chair (which allows for self-regulatory activity) and a larger area rug that will be easy to clean and safe for children to crawl on (as well as calming and child-friendly). This space is intended to be a welcoming place for children and families who need a place for play and self-regulation. It relieves pressure on caregivers by signaling that we understand that children need to move and play. It is in the communal area, which enforces that we want to see and hear the children in our communal spaces, welcoming them just as they are.
Overall, the grant funding allows Abiding Presence to create a visually soothing and welcoming space for the myriad people who enter our doors. In the coming months when indoor gatherings become safe again, we will be a community center for the many needs that have persisted and grown in this pandemic. Abiding Presence has long been a place that affirms “All Are Welcome” and we are thrilled to have our very space communicate that welcome. This grant process has ignited a passion and awareness for the many ways we can care for others in our physical space. This grant is just the beginning!