A goalpost we’ve had our sights on ever since The Center became the Trauma Informed Care (TIC) certifying body in Bexar County has been awarding our first Level 1 certification. We are pleased and proud to announce that Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. (MHM) received that honor on August 25 as part of our pilot program.
MHM is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing medical, dental, and health-related human services to people who may not be able to afford health insurance. President & CEO of MHM of South Texas Jaime Wesolowski said, “By earning this certification, we are enhancing the relationships we build with the patients and clients we see in our own clinics and ultimately improving their health outcomes, as well as supporting the efforts and well-being of our own team members through a more trauma-informed workplace.”
Reducing trauma and recognizing the influence of childhood trauma on adult violence and health status have been identified by the CDC as crucial strategies for improving the nation’s health. TIC practices can improve client, patient, and employee relationship and help organizations avoid retraumatizing of those who have experienced trauma in the past. Any organization or business, not just those in the health care industry, can become TIC-certified.
We encourage you to spread the word of how a TIC certification could benefit a nonprofit, school or business you’re involved in. Once the two other organizations going through our pilot program complete the certification, we will begin certifying the 35 organizations on our waiting list.
The Center will continue to develop certifying standards that ensure the highest level of adherence to trauma informed approaches in all interactions with the community. We are grateful to MHM for stepping up to pilot our TIC program and congratulate them on this major accomplishment!