Engage and Establish Core Implementation Teams

Following our introductory webinar, California community colleges were invited to participate in the Sustaining Futures Community of Practice. With the goal of implementing sustainable and broadly defined trauma-informed and resilience-building change initiatives in their prison education programs, interested participants committed to this year-long effort and created a small Core Implementation Team (CIT).

Guide the Organization Evaluation Process

After committing to participating in Sustaining Futures, each college was provided with the opportunity to evaluate their current program and identify meaningful and achievable goals that reflect trauma-informed and resilience-building values.

To guide their evaluation and decision-making process, the Sustaining Futures Resource Team developed the Organizational Decision Guide (ODG). The ODG is a practical tool comprising of three broad goal areas with unique objectives that address different ways CITs can implement trauma-informed and resilience-building practices

• Goal 1: Increase faculty and staff understanding of the impact of trauma and resilience on an incarcerated students’ academic performance
• Goal 2: For faculty and staff working with incarcerated students, increase their understanding of and ability to address the factors that contribute to their own personal wellness, professional success, and job satisfaction
• Goal 3: Increasing faculty and staff skills in implementing trauma-informed and resiliency-supporting educational practices for incarcerated students

Provide Training and Technical Assistance

Throughout the Sustaining Futures Community of Practice, the Sustaining Futures Resource Team facilitated several webinars and hosted regional trainings across California to provide foundational and pragmatic information on trauma-informed and resiliency-building practices.

After CITs identified the goal(s) they wanted to accomplish, the Sustaining Futures Resource Team facilitated individual and group consultation calls to guide each CITs’ progress toward their goals.

The Impact of the Community of Practice

The CITs who joined Sustaining Futures consisted of faculty and staff with a common felt need to improve their college education programs.

Over the course of the year, each CIT committed to developing at least one change initiative aimed at integrating the principles and practices of trauma-informed care and resilience in their work.

Members of the Community of Practice shared their common and unique concerns, challenges, and successes in their programs. In addition to receiving guidance and support from the Sustaining Futures Resource Team, CITs helped each other problem solve and build their collective knowledge.

After Sustaining Futures, CITs implemented a variety of projects including new faculty handbooks, campus-wide trauma-informed and resilience-based trainings, weekly check-ins with faculty, newsletters about their program, and more!