Creating Sanctuary® and a trauma informed environment is more than just a philosophy. Each day, we take specific actions that over time, build a healing community for everyone.

Some of these actions are formalized “tools” that the community uses to build new habits. Like any new habits, these need to be practiced over and over until they become the way the community works.

Safety Plan
 

Every member of the community at Pace School is committed to identifying the behaviors we need to use when we are feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in any of the ways identified in SELF
 

How?

  • Each person has a list of the 5 actions that make them feel better when they are stressed.
  • Preparing a plan for dealing with your fear gives you the power to face it using the actions that work just for you.
Community Meetings
 

In order to have a strong community, we must work every day at building it. By learning about each other we build the social bonds that we need to help each other.
 

How?

  • We come together each day to formally acknowledge that we are a community and that we share responsibility for each other.

We ask 3 questions . . .

How are you feeling? So we can practice putting words to feelings and so the rest of the community can emphathize with us.

What is your goal for today? So we can nuture our vision of the future and our power to create it.

Who can you ask for help? So we learn that the community is a support when things get tough.

  • This doesn’t take long and everyone can and must participate. At Pace School we find ways to empower every member of the community to join in.
Team Meeting
 

We get more done when we work together. Whatever the challenge, two minds (or more) are always better than one. Working together is an on-going process and to be sure that everyone is going in the same direction, it is necessary to check-in each day and plan for tomorrow.
 

How?

  • We close each day with a short check in with the other members of whatever team we areworking with that day.

Again, we use a simple 3 question format.

What went well today? So we can celebrate our success and recognize that every day has success in it.

What did not go well today? So we can identify problems early.

What can we do differently or the same tomorrow? So we can end the day feeling empowered and ready for tomorrow.
Red Flag Meeting
 

Crisis will happen. No matter how well prepared you are or how strong you become, sometimes you just run out of ideas. The important thing is that you can ask for help and the more people who pitch in, the more likely you are to come up with a creative solution. At Pace School we use the Red Flag Meeting when we need help to solve a difficult problem.
 

How?

  • Anyone can call a Red Flag Meeting.
  • Everyone who can come is invited, even if they are completely unfamiliar with the situation.
  • A facilitator is used to keep the meeting solution focused.
  • Follow up is scheduled to evaluate the solutions proposed and to generate more if needed.

We have an unlimited number of tools in our tool kit. Building a trauma sensitive environment is a never-ending, creative process that has the power to change the life of everyone involved in it.