The Sanctuary Model Solutions for a Healthy Workplace

The Sanctuary Model: Solutions for a Healthy Workplace Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, COO, YWCA Utah Ibet Hernandez, LCSW, Andrus Institute

OUR MISSION: The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.

YWCA Utah • Safety Services for Victims of Domestic Violence • Crisis Line: 801 -537 -8600 • Walk-in services through the Salt Lake Area Family Justice Center • Crisis Shelter (181 beds) • Supportive Housing (48 units) • Specialized services for children

YWCA Utah • Young women’s leadership development via the YW Empowered Young Women’s Council and the annual Young Women’s Leadership Summit • Political leadership training via Real Women Run • Nationally accredited Early Education for children ages 6 weeks – 8 years • Issue education, advocacy and public policy on behalf of women and girls across the state of Utah.

Every week… • 250 people live and receive services at the YWCA • 100 children from the community come to Early Education every day • 100 individuals in crisis come to the Family Justice Center • 110 staff members provide services to the community • Leadership and Young Women volunteers receive training and support

Challenges… • Program participants with increasingly complicated needs and overwhelming trauma • Increasing needs with flat public support • Young and eager, yet untrained staff • 46% turnover, primarily within domestic violence services • Struggling to keep up with the current labor market • Struggling to be effective in staying true to our commitment to eliminate racism

What Do You See? • Tell us what you see.

Another Perspective

Another Example

“Creating Sanctuary” refers to the shared experience of creating and maintaining safety within a social environment - any social environment.

SANCTUARY Organizational Change Based on Safety for both those who receive services and those who provide them

TRAUMA THEORY THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS S. E. L. F SANCTUARY TOOLKIT

TRAUMA Coping Adversity Low Resource Stress Supports Skills Exposure Events

Sanctuary Beliefs #1 Adversity is Universal

Sanctuary Beliefs #2 What’s Happened to you? (not “what’s wrong with you? ”)

ACES Scores of Staff • 85% of YWCA employees have an ACE score of 1 or more. • 35/98 = 36% have a score of 0 -1 • 36/98 = 37% have a score of 2 -4 • 27/98 = 28% have a score of 5+ The two above combined means that 64% of YWCA staff have a score of 2 or more.

Helpless Overwhelmed Inadequate Entitled M I T C I V R E S PERSECUTOR Denies vulnerability Critical, blaming Rigid, bullying C Martyr Harried Guilt-trips Only I can help U E R

Focuses on choice, connects with own passion R O T A E R C C O CHALLENGER Focuses on learning and growth as well as accountability A Focuses on vision, demonstrates compassion with questions C H

TRAUMA THEORY THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS S. E. L. F SANCTUARY TOOLKIT

Growth & Change Nonviolenc e Emotional Democracy Intelligence Social Learning Responsibil ity Open Communicati on

Creating a Culture to Counteract Trauma’s Effects Nonviolence Counteracts experiences of violence and feeling unsafe Emotional Intelligence Counteracts experiences of feeling disrespected and mistreated Social Learning Counteracts experiences of helplessness by encouraging people to rely on others and learn from mistakes Open Communication Counteracts experiences of secrecy Democracy Counteracts experiences of disempowerment Social Responsibility Counteracts experiences of abandonment and disconnection Growth and Change Counteracts experiences of hopelessness

Creating a Culture to Counteract Racism Nonviolence Counteracts experiences of violence and feeling unsafe Emotional Intelligence Counteracts experiences of feeling disrespected and mistreated Social Learning Counteracts experiences of isolation by encouraging people to rely on others and learn from their mistakes Open Communication Counteracts experiences of secrecy; encourages dialogue around hard conversations Democracy Counteracts experiences of disempowerment; encourages all voices to be heard Social Responsibility Counteracts experiences of disconnection and encourages a shared commitment to racial justice Growth and Change Counteracts experiences of racism by a continued commitment to be better together

TRAUMA THEORY THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS S. E. L. F SANCTUARY TOOLKIT

Assessing and Resolving Problems

A way of organizing complexity Dynamic and nonlinear Phases you move in and out of, not stages you climb An accessible language Gets everyone on the same page Applicable to children, adults, families, staff and organization

USES FOR S. E. L. F.

TRAUMA THEORY THE FOUR PILLARS OF SANCTUARY COMMITMENTS S. E. L. F SANCTUARY TOOLKIT

The Tool Kit Community meetings Core Team Red Flag Meetings Safety Plans Team Meetings

The Tool Kit (cont. ) Supervision Training Psychoeducation Self-Care Plans Service Planning Meetings

NONVIOLENCE SAEETY PLANS SOCIAL LEARNING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE DEMOCRACY COMMUNITY MEETING RED FLAG REVIEWS OPEN COMMUNICATION S. E. L. F. SELF-CARE PLANS SOCIAL RESPONSIBIILITY GROWTH AND CHANGE

New and more complex things emerge from groups of similar parts.

Successes … • An investment in trained staff on a common language and culture setting, has brought trusting effective working relationships across the entire organization • A platform for engaged conversations and common interest in problem solving • 29% turnover (down from 46%) • Leadership opportunities for diverse staff at all levels of the organization • Successful EAP Utilization

Next steps … • Further reduced turnover • Additional funding opportunities • A culture and toolkit informing program participants for increased safety and reaching of goals • Common tools for staff to address racism and work towards racial justice together

QUESTIONS? Ibet Hernandez, LCSW EMAIL ihernandez@jdam. org WEB www. thesanctuaryinstitute. org Keri Jones-Fonnesbeck, LCSW EMAIL kjones@ywcautah. org PHONE 801. 537. 8625 WEB www. ywcautah. org