York County Office of Children, Youth and Families has begun the process of becoming a certified Sanctuary Model ® agency.  The Sanctuary Model is a non-hierarchical, “trauma-informed and evidence-supported” operating system.  It is about working with people instead of doing things to them or for them.  The aims of the Model are to guide an organization in the development of a trauma-informed culture with seven dominant characteristics which relate to recovery from trauma spectrum disorders while creating a safe environment with measurable goals:  Culture of Nonviolence, Emotional Intelligence, Inquiry & Social Learning, Shared Governance, Open Communication, Social Responsibility, and Growth and Change.  The initial training and consultation occurred in June 2011.  Additional training and consultation for this Model will continue over the next two years (2011-2012 & 2012-2013).  Expected outcomes will be a positive organizational culture shift and increase agency accountability when serving the families.  More specifically, by using the Sanctuary Model, our agency is looking to work more effectively and therapeutically with the traumatized clients, improve treatment outcome, reduce intimidating practices, create high functioning multidisciplinary teams, improve staff morale and employee retention, as well as re-establish the mission of the agency.

York County Office of Children, Youth and Families has begun the process of becoming a certified Sanctuary Model ® agency.  The Sanctuary Model is a non-hierarchical, “trauma-informed and evidence-supported” operating system.  It is about working with people instead of doing things to them or for them.  The aims of the Model are to guide an organization in the development of a trauma-informed culture with seven dominant characteristics which relate to recovery from trauma spectrum disorders while creating a safe environment with measurable goals:  Culture of Nonviolence, Emotional Intelligence, Inquiry & Social Learning, Shared Governance, Open Communication, Social Responsibility, and Growth and Change.  The initial training and consultation occurred in June 2011.  Additional training and consultation for this Model will continue over the next two years (2011-2012 & 2012-2013).  Expected outcomes will be a positive organizational culture shift and increase agency accountability when serving the families.  More specifically, by using the Sanctuary Model, our agency is looking to work more effectively and therapeutically with the traumatized clients, improve treatment outcome, reduce intimidating practices, create high functioning multidisciplinary teams, improve staff morale and employee retention, as well as re-establish the mission of the agency.