Track 1: Overcoming Trauma and Adversity

About the Track

Nationally and internationally, the Foundation Trust works to improve understanding and response to complex trauma by developing psychoeducational materials and disseminating them through its social media platforms and its comprehensive resource website: www.complextrauma.org. Locally and regionally in this track, the Foundation Trust partners with small to medium-sized New England nonprofits to provide training and outreach and to develop new trauma-informed programming.

Within this track, the Foundation Trust has special interest in funding implementation, expansion, or piloting of innovative and evidence-based or informed approaches to intervention, including

mind-body approaches
in-home and wraparound services
individual, family, couples and group mental health intervention
strength-based services including tutoring and enrichment programs, educational and vocational rehabilitation, parent-training, as well as youth programs supporting civic, moral or spiritual development
violence prevention programs, and
youth, adult, family or domestic violence shelters, drop-in centers or housing programs.

Resources and Foundation Trust Initiatives

Complex Trauma Resources Website

ComplexTrauma.org: a curated repository of information and resources on complex trauma for consumers and professionals. This comprehensive website was developed by the Foundation Trust to benefit anyone affected by complex trauma, directly or indirectly, and everyone who cares about them.

Among other featured topics, resources include discussions of complex trauma as it pertains to:

Youth
Race
Trauma-informed Residential Services
Schools
Treatment and Intervention Models

Shredded Beauty: Transforming Trauma Through Fashion (November 2022)

Spinazzola Family Counseling Room at the Medford Public Library

Thanks to a grant from the Foundation Trust, the Medford Public Library has a specially furnished counseling room that can be reserved for use by community providers.

“The counseling room at the Medford Library provides a unique opportunity for community providers to meet their clients ‘where they are’ in a private, accessible space," explained Foundation Trust Executive Director Dr. Joseph Spinazzola. "Our hope is that this dedicated room will provide a welcoming and healing respite, and we are grateful to the Medford Public Library for integrating the idea into their beautiful new space.”

Those interested in reserving the Spinazzola Family Counseling Room can do so by calling (781) 395-7950 or visiting the Information Desk at the Medford Public Library, located at 111 High Street in Medford.

The Complexity of Racial Trauma (May 2022)

A Simple Statement About a Complex Thing: The Emergence of my Biracial Identity in the Workplace

Coping with the Added Burden of the Pandemic During the Holidays (Dec 2020)

Coping with the Added Burden of the Pandemic During the Holidays, December 2, 2020

Current events can trigger complicated and painful responses for adults and youth, particularly for those with prior experiences of trauma or life adversity. Given the ongoing nature of the pandemic into the holiday season, individuals and families may be feeling cumulative distress: lost time with loved ones and disrupted routines and annual traditions. In this recorded webinar, we discuss strategies for sustained coping during the holiday season, with a focus on how to build and maintain a sense of safety and connection during uncertain times. Presented as part of the Foundation Trust Speaker Series

COVID-19 Resources for Adults and Youth with History of Complex Trauma (in English, French, and Spanish)

These resources, developed by trauma experts Drs. Jana Pressley and Joseph Spinazzola, clarify how past complex trauma is relevant to current events and suggest several strategies to cope with the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic.