ST. CLAIRSVILLE — People with disabilities experience more abuse than others, yet their needs often go undertreated or minimized. That means the trauma continues to have an impact on their lives years after the abuse occurred.

The Belmont-Harrison-Noble County Boards of Developmental Disabilities understands the role trauma plays in the lives of many of the people it supports and adopted a Trauma-Informed Care approach some time ago. TIC requires a system-wide understanding of trauma and how it affects people, which is why the BHN Alliance has invited two leading authorities on trauma-informed care to the Ohio Valley.

Mary Vicario and Carol Hudgins-Mitchell of Cincinnati-based Finding Hope Consulting will conduct an all-day training for Alliance staff and invited partners at Thoburn United Methodist Church, St. Clairsville, on March 28.

Vicario has trained on trauma worldwide for 25 years. Through her ongoing trauma training at Harvard Medical School, Vicario takes the latest trauma research to share and develop interventions that can be used in a variety of settings by those who work most closely with traumatized people of all ages and abilities.

Hudgins-Mitchell is a certified trauma specialist who works with children and families around issues of trauma, grief and facilitating attachment. She has more than 30 years of experience in trauma treatment with a specialty in early childhood, relational and play therapy.

Corianne Cain, a service and support administrator for the BHN Alliance, said this training had a positive impact on her life.

“Mary and Carol sparked my interest and made trauma-informed care relatible to my life,” Cain said. “I realize that everyone can be affected by trauma in some way. This knowledge allows me to be more intentional in my interactions with others, which makes me a better person and a better SSA.”

A limited number of seats are available to provider partners across the Alliance. Call Darlene Pempek at 740-695-0407, ext. 330, or email dpempek@bcbdd.org.