ACE Informed Police Training

This is more of a question, rather than a concrete help, but I'm reading your post just a day after being at a neighborhood community meeting in which police presented to the community on safety. What struck me is how much the general community is responsible for deploying police.

The officers were there to tell residents the research and work they had done on complaints that were voiced at a previous meeting. The community members did not possess trauma-informed language- they were very punitive and blaming in the way they described the problems they saw: transience, prostitution, bad teenagers playing basketball in the park after dark.

It made me realize that once police do become trauma-informed, they will need skills for dealing with this kind of public accountability- the people who write letters, the woman who said she called code enforcement 24 times about a neighbor whose car has an out of state registration (!).

In order for police to effectively transform their practices, their demanding publics are also going to need training. And police will need skills for talking to the demanding public about why police are taking a more trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive approach to resolving issues in the neighborhood. 

Really great work you're embarking on, I look forward to following the progress and results and hope you will post them on ACEs! 

Hi folks,

I am glad this topic has been raised. It is one that I have been thinking about recently, as I work with young people in Washington DC and hear their stories about encounters with police. I have a background in the youth development curriculum and have been wondering how to weave portions of the trauma informed curriculum into a package, that can be delivered to police and front line staff; so there is a more conscientious approach to safety and well being. There also has to be a space for police to vent about their own hang ups per say. They do an overwhelming amount of service and that certainly takes a toll.

Hi Meredith,

You might want to check out SAMHSA.  Our county was recently awarded a grant for the "How Being Trauma-Informed Improves Criminal Justice System Responses" Train-the-Trainer Event.  The even has not yet happened, so afterwards I may be able to share whether or not the training is geared towards law enforcement interactions with adults or juveniles.

http://www.samhsa.gov/gains-ce...ustice-professionals

Hope this helps

Thanks for the encouragement! will check out the SAMSHA site.  Where are you located, Emily, when you say "our county?"  Would love to hear how it goes 

Two "Trauma-Informed Intentional [police] Peer Support" programs are affiliated with the On-Site Academy in Gardner, Massachusetts-which [now] provides Crisis/Respite services to First Responders AND Human Services personnel from planet Earth (last I heard, but check their website). Boston and Cambridge, Mass police are the two affiliated departments with Intentional Police Peer Support, since I last checked.

There are some references that may be helpful: [juvenile] Judge Steven Teske wrote an article for JJIE (Juvenile Justice Information Exchange) on Dec. 8, 2015 entitled: "States Should Mandate School-justice Partnership to End Violence Against Our Children". ( http://jjie.org/states-should-...our-children/163156/ ).

The Center for Public Integrity published: "A state-by-state look at students referred to law enforcement" (last updated on October 29, 2015).

There was an email thread on this same topic December 15, 2015. Not sure if you can go back and find it. I'm going to try to provide a link here.

https://www.pacesconnection.com/...ma-informed-policing

I did find it, Luanne. Thanks so much. there are some really good resources identified there.

That's great Meredith.  I also reached out to someone with the Michigan State Police to see if there are trainings or resources being use with law enforcement. I'll post if I hear back.

thanks, Luanne.  Do you know my colleague and friend there, KP Pelleran? Formerly the Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids MI.

Hi Meredith,

I would love to be involved and be of any service I can to this project.  I am a resident physician in southern california, and finishing my training in Preventive Medicine focused on Attachment, Trauma, and Addictions.  I adopted a traumatized boy from the foster care system back in 2008 and had a number of encounters with police enforcement, so have personal investment in a project like this as well.

In my years reaching out to other families with children with attachment disorders, I gained a friend who is a police officer and major crimes detective who adopted a foster child.  He has been willing to do trainings and talks with other adoptive families around engaging with police and law enforcement, and I imagine would be very happy to participate in a training for fellow police officers. 

If you are interested at all, let me know!

Aimie (Apigian)

503-308-0230

thanks, Aimie.  We are just giving birth to this project, so I am glad to hear of your interest in both the professional and personal aspects in this undertaking. I will definitely put your information in the mix.  I'm not at all sure of the shape of this yet, but will be looking to link up with colleagues and allies as we move forward.

Thank you for raising this topic.  I'm involved in a project looking to work with police who are in schools, specifically to help them relate better to girls of color.  Being trauma-informed is a key part of such an effort.  Would you (and others reading this) please share any trauma-informed police trainings/resources that focus on girls?  

Rebecca, I recall one text, on trauma-informed peer support for Women; I believe Sharon Wise did the illustrations, and I don't immediately recall the exact title, but I found it a helpful text. If any ACEsConnection members from Hawaii have access to anything at their state prison for women-which I understand is now using a trauma-informed model--whatever training materials used in staff training there may possibly also be useful in law enforcement training for dealing with girls, and young women.

Meredith Wiley posted:

thanks, Luanne.  Do you know my colleague and friend there, KP Pelleran? Formerly the Director of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids MI.

Hi Meredith,

I've met KP in years past, but have lost touch with her once she left Fight Crime, Invest in Kids.

Luanne

Dr. Bruce Perry had a wonderful statewide campaign with California then state attorney general Jerry Brown to educate law enforcement and community stakeholders about the neurobioligical impact of trauma specifically witnessing domestic violence on children. How it effects their brain development, mental health, learning, physical growth of their brain.  He was talking ACEs before it was called ACEs. He was tireless in his efforts. He travelled EVERYWHERE to speak personally and spread his message  I think much of his work with that campaign can be replicated and adapted to use to train law enforcement. The materials are available from the attorney generals office and from Dr. Perry. He would be so awesome to work with. Also, NAMI has curriculum for working with law enforcement and providers 

Just wanted to add this to the mix!

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