Community Needs: Shaping Trauma Informed Programs Together

ticadvocatesforms
Aug 18
8 min read

Updated: Oct 6

In Chicago, the wounds of violence run deep and wide. In 2023, domestic violence deaths in Illinois more than doubled compared to the prior year, rising by 110%. With firearms playing a role in over two-thirds of those cases. Meanwhile, in Chicago, domestic shootings alone increased 19% in 2023, disproportionately impacting Black women and families already carrying generational trauma. Even as things shift, the reality persists: many survivors never reach out to support services until the cycle becomes deadly.

Street violence compounds the burden. In 2024, Chicago recorded 581 homicides, with 2,815 shooting incidents a violent crime rate of over 20 per 100,000 residents. Violent crime in this city continues to include aggravated assaults, robberies, and firearm use, all of which ripple trauma into neighborhoods where residents already swim in grief, hypervigilance, and suppressed fear. These numbers aren’t just statistics unfortunately they are stories, families forever changed, and communities that bear the heavy cost of healing alone.

TIC Advocates was born from the truth that too many people in our city are hurting with nowhere safe to land. We’ve seen what trauma does when it goes untreated. How it becomes silence, anger, addiction, self-blame, or another name on a headline. We started this organization because healing shouldn’t depend on luck, access, or who you know. Everyone deserves a space to be seen, to be understood, and to start again.

TIC Advocates Trauma-Informed Programs (WHAT WE OFFER)

At TIC Advocates, every program is built on one belief: healing should be accessible, real, and rooted in community. We meet people where they are — in schools, circles, and safe spaces across Chicago. Helping them see that growth after trauma is theirs to enjoy.

Happy, Healthy, Whole (10-Week Curriculum)

For youth ages 12–30

Happy, Healthy, Whole is a trauma-informed, social-emotional learning experience designed to help young people unpack what they’ve lived through and rebuild from the inside out. Across ten weeks, youth explore emotional regulation, self-worth, boundaries, consent, conflict resolution, and healthy relationship skills.

Through guided storytelling, real-life scenarios, and creative reflection, participants learn how to identify triggers, practice empathy, and build personal accountability. The program closes with each participant earning a Happy, Healthy, Whole Certificate recognition of the time, heart, and growth they’ve invested in themselves.

Beyond the Moment

For youth impacted by violence, grief, or instability.

Beyond the Moment is designed for young people navigating trauma in real time. Those who have lost friends, demonstrated violence, witnessed violence, or carry the invisible weight of survival. This program uses healing circles, reflection, and open conversation to help youth slow down, process pain, and rediscover hope.

Participants learn how to regulate emotions in the moment, build coping strategies that don’t rely on harm, and create new language for what peace looks like in their lives. Every circle reminds them: you can heal while still living in hard spaces because your environment doesn’t get to define your outcome.

The Growth Habit

Grief to Growth Circles

Grief is a revolving door and it doesn't have to be. The Growth Habit gives people space to move through loss because moving around it keeps you in that door. Using journaling, mindfulness, and guided discussion, participants learn how to honor pain while building new meaning. These sessions remind participants that grief and growth can coexist, and that healing doesn’t mean forgetting it really means transforming.

Be The Shift: Youth Voices Against Bullying

Peer-Led Advocacy and Certification

Be The Shift empowers youth to become peer advocates and voices for change in their schools and neighborhoods. Participants learn about empathy, accountability, and the real impact of bullying both online and in person. This certification helps young people turn awareness into action, creating safer spaces for themselves and others. Teaching a sense of pride in their own actions and thoughts.

Partner Abuse Prevention & Education (PAIP)

Currently in development

TIC Advocates is preparing to launch a 26-week Partner Abuse Prevention & Education Program. A trauma-informed model focused on compassion and accountability. This program will work with individuals who’ve caused harm, helping them understand the roots of violence, emotional control, and responsibility.

The goal is not punishment, but giving people the tools to unlearn harm, rebuild trust, and become part of healing instead of continuing the cycle. We’re building this program to meet Illinois PAIP standards while infusing it with the heart of our community-centered approach.

The Importance of Community Involvement

Community involvement is crucial in shaping trauma-informed programs. When we engage with community members, we gain valuable insights into their needs and experiences. This collaboration can take many forms, including:

Surveys and questionnaires: Gathering feedback from community members can help identify specific needs.
Focus groups: Bringing together diverse voices allows for deeper discussions about trauma and its impact.
Workshops and training: Educating community members about trauma can foster understanding and empathy.

By involving the community, we ensure that programs are relevant and effective. We call it "Comprehensive Help" meaning in order for us to help someone we need to know what they need help with from their own understanding.

Understanding Trauma

Trauma can arise from many sources. It can be a result of abuse, neglect, violence, or even natural disasters. Each person's experience of trauma is unique, and its effects can vary widely. Some common effects of trauma include: (Trauma is not just physical.)

Emotional & Psychological Signs

Feeling numb but angry at the same time — like your emotions never line up.
Snapping fast over small things because life already keeps you on edge.
Knowing you should rest, but your mind won’t stop replaying everything that’s gone wrong.

Behavioral Signs

Staying busy all the time so you don’t have to sit with your thoughts.
Acting like you don’t care, just so nobody sees how much you actually do.
Risk-taking — fights, driving fast, quitting things early — because stability feels foreign.

Physical Signs

Your body stays tense like it’s still in the moment that hurt you.
Stomach or chest tightness every time something reminds you of loss or fear.
Always tired, even after sleep — because surviving burns energy you don’t get back easy.

Relational & Social Signs

Keeping distance from people who love you because closeness feels dangerous.
Trusting nobody fully, not even when they’ve earned it.
Needing control in relationships just to feel safe.

Spiritual & Existential Signs

Wondering why you’re still here when others didn’t make it.
Feeling disconnected from your faith, but still searching for meaning.
Knowing deep down there’s more to you than your pain, but not always feeling strong enough to reach it.

Recognizing these effects is the first step in creating effective programs.

Building Partnerships

Creating effective trauma-informed programs often requires collaboration with various stakeholders. Building partnerships can enhance the reach and effectiveness of these programs. Consider the following potential partners:

Local government: They can provide resources and support for program development.
Nonprofit organizations: Many nonprofits focus on mental health and trauma, and they can offer expertise and funding.
Healthcare providers: Collaborating with healthcare professionals can ensure that programs address both physical and mental health needs.
Schools and educational institutions: Partnering with schools can help reach children and families who may be affected by trauma.

By working together, we can create a more comprehensive approach to trauma-informed care.

Listening to Voices of the Community

One of the most effective ways to shape trauma-informed programs is to listen to the voices of those who have experienced trauma. Their insights can guide program development and ensure that services are relevant and effective. Here are some ways to amplify these voices:

Storytelling: Encourage individuals to share their stories in safe and supportive environments. This can help others understand the impact of trauma.
Advisory boards: Create boards that include individuals with lived experience. Their perspectives can inform program decisions.
Feedback loops: Establish mechanisms for ongoing feedback from participants. This can help programs adapt and improve over time.

Listening to the community not only empowers individuals but also strengthens the programs we create.

Training and Education

Training and education are essential components of trauma-informed care. All staff and volunteers involved in programs should receive training on trauma and its effects. This training can include:

Understanding trauma: Educating staff about the different types of trauma and their impact.
Crisis intervention: Teaching skills to manage crises and support individuals in distress.
Cultural competence: Ensuring that staff understand and respect the diverse backgrounds of community members.

By investing in training, we can create a knowledgeable and compassionate team that is better equipped to support individuals affected by trauma.

Measuring Success

To ensure that trauma-informed programs are effective, it is important to measure their success. This can be done through:

Surveys and assessments: Collecting data from participants can help evaluate the impact of programs.
Focus groups: Gathering feedback from participants can provide insights into what is working and what needs improvement.
Outcome tracking: Monitoring changes in participants' well-being can help assess the effectiveness of programs.

By measuring success, we can make informed decisions about program development and improvement.

The Role of Technology

Technology is one of the most powerful tools of our time but like any tool, it can build or it can break. In trauma-informed care, we recognize both sides: the ways technology helps us reach, teach, and protect and the ways it can isolate, retraumatize, and expose people to harm.

How Technology Supports Healing

Access & Connection: It lets us reach survivors and youth in real time through mobile care, digital forms, and online communities that make help feel closer.
Education & Awareness: Social media and online platforms help spread trauma-informed language, turning understanding into prevention.
Anonymity & Safety: For some, technology offers a safe way to seek help, take assessments, or connect without fear of being seen or judged.

Data & Impact: It helps us track progress, measure outcomes, and advocate for change in systems that rely on evidence to move resources.

How Technology Can Cause or Reinforce Trauma

Digital Violence: Recording, sharing, or threatening to share personal moments or violence creates new layers of abuse and humiliation.
Cyberbullying & Harassment: Online attacks can reopen old wounds, magnify fear, and make healing harder, especially for youth.
Surveillance & Control: Abusers often use phones, GPS, or social media to track and intimidate survivors.
Desensitization to Harm: Repeated exposure to violent content, fights, and loss online can numb communities to real pain, especially in neighborhoods already grieving.

In our work, we teach people to use technology consciously not as a weapon or escape, but as a bridge. Healing in the digital age means learning to protect your peace even while staying connected to the world around you.

A Collective Journey

Healing doesn’t happen in isolation surprisingly it happens in motion, in community, and in connection. That’s why TIC Advocates chooses to stay mobile and collaborative. We go where the people are: into schools, neighborhoods, and spaces that often go unseen because trauma doesn’t wait for an appointment.

Being mobile allows us to meet people where safety feels real, and working collectively keeps us accountable to the communities we serve. Every partnership, every circle, every conversation becomes part of a larger movement toward healing. Our journey isn’t about showing up, it’s about walking beside them as they learn to feel whole again.

Moving Forward Together

In conclusion, shaping trauma-informed programs is not just about addressing the needs of individuals; it is about building a supportive community. By listening to voices, collaborating with partners, and investing in training, we can create programs that make a real difference.

Let us continue to work together, embracing the principles of trauma-informed care. Together, we can create a brighter future for those affected by trauma, fostering healing and resilience in our communities.