Everyday Superheroes: Trauma-Informed Care for Professionals Supporting Individuals with Complex Behavioral and Physical Health Needs
Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network Presents:
Everyday Superheroes: Trauma-Informed Care for Professionals Supporting
Individuals with Complex Behavioral and Physical Health Needs
DATE: August 20, 2026
TIME: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
LOCATION: Zoom Meeting
https://dwihn-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/QYHtl9OPQLiNTMKzE7FwjA
Course Objectives:
Describe the impact of trauma on brain development, behavior, physical health, and interpersonal relationships. Differentiate trauma responses from willful noncompliance and identify behavioral cues that may indicate underlying trauma. Apply trauma-informed principles to reduce conflict, increase safety, and strengthen engagement with individuals experiencing complex behavioral and physical health needs. Recognize the signs of secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and burnout while implementing evidence-informed self-regulation and resilience strategies.
Course Description:
Professionals working in residential settings regularly encounter individuals living with the effects of complex trauma, serious mental illness, substance use disorders, developmental disabilities, chronic medical conditions, and intersecting social determinants of health. Challenging behaviors often represent adaptive survival responses rather than intentional noncompliance or resistance. Participants will examine how environments influence behavior, identify strategies for responding to distress without escalation, and develop practical interventions that promote psychological safety, dignity, and recovery.
Timed Agenda:
9:00 am - 9:30 am: Community agreements, review of learning objectives.
9:30 am - 11:00 am: Defining trauma, types of trauma, ACEs, complex trauma, trauma prevalence in residential settings, neurobiology of trauma, stress response.
11:00 am - 12:00: Behavior as communication, trauma triggers, survival adaptations, impact of trauma on physical and behavioral health, recognizing trauma responses, trauma-informed communication.
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: SAMHSA's Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care, de-escalation strategies, co-regulation, person-centered engagement, avoiding re-traumatization, and team collaboration.
Continuing Education Units:
MI-CEC: 4 Hours of Social Work credits are awarded.
QBHP: 4 Hours of Qualified Behavioral Health Professional credits are awarded
QIDP: 4 Hours of Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional credits are awarded.
QMHP: 4 Hours of Qualified Mental Health Professional credits are awarded.
Registration / Walk-In Policy
Registration is required. Walk-ins WILL NOT be permitted. Register to ensure your attendance.
Photo Consent
By joining us at this event, attendees consent to Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network's Detroit Wayne Connect photographing, videotaping and using your image and likeness.
ADA Accomodations
If you have individual requirements or need special services to participate in this training, please notify T.Sanford at (313) 409-7865 or tsanford@dwihn.org. Please make arrangements at least two weeks before the event date.