New Resources

My Australian friend Laurel Downey has created a wonderful new resource: From Isolation To Connection: A Guide To Understanding And Working With Traumatized Children And Young People. It is available at: http://www.ocsc.vic.gov.au/

Published by the Child Safety Commissioner, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, November 2009

© Copyright State of Victoria, Child Safety Commissioner, 2009
This resource was commissioned by the Child Safety Commissioner and written by Laurel Downey, previously Manager of Practice Development and Training for Take Two, Berry Street Victoria. Laurel is currently consultant to the learning and development strategy for non-government child protection placement services for Far Northern and Northern Queensland and based at James Cook University, Cairns.
(laurel.downey@jcu.edu.au)

At the same site is her previous work: Calmer Classrooms: A Guide To Working With Traumatized Children
This resource was commissioned by the Child Safety Commissioner. It was written by Laurel Downey, Manager, Practice Development and Training, Take Two, Berry Street Victoria. Laurel would like to acknowledge her Take Two colleagues, Annette Jackson and Lisa McClung for their contribution to her work. Published by the Child Safety Commissioner, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia June 2007 © Copyright State of Victoria, Child Safety Commissioner, 2007

Please check these out and let me know what you think!

I just finished an interesting new book: Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others (Paperback) by Laura Van Dernoot Lipsky, Connie Burk, Berrett-Koehler Publishers (May 1, 2009) which is available at:
http://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Stewardship-Everyday-Caring-Others/dp/157675944X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263142968&sr=1-1

It is interesting that Van Dernoot Lipsky extends her audience to include those who work caring for animals and in ecological preservation. Witnessing the harm done to animals or to our world can also have profound effects on the helper. This book explains in detail sixteen common components of what she calls a "trauma exposure response" The author then adapts a Native American custom to explore five directions to maintain ones self within this work. A daily centering practice is essential to her approach.

The cartoons added a nice touch!

Another book I am reading is Pain, Normality and the Struggle for Congruence: Reinterpreting Residential Care for Children and Youth James P Anglin Routledge; 1 edition (August 22, 2003).
It can be found at: http://www.amazon.com/Pain-Normality-Struggle-Congruence-Reinterpreting/dp/0789021404/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263144143&sr=1-1#noop
This book was recommended to me by Martha Holden, the Director of the Cornell CARE Project. It is an important influence on their work. This author studied many group homes in Canada in an attempt to discover what makes a good group home for children. It is very interesting. He is clear about the tensions between best practices and the many pressures and constraints on programs. He gives specific ideas for creating a healing environment, all of which fit completely our work and message.

All comments are welcome.