TREE Academy Application

The primary purpose of the JDAI Trauma and Racial Equity Empowerment Academy (TREE) is to build statewide capacity for trauma-informed and responsive (TIR) training by developing a cadre of skilled trainers who are TIR champions. This will be accomplished by offering trauma and racial equity training and technical assistance that increases awareness, understanding, and effective response for MA state agency staff. As a result, participating state agency staff will gain the knowledge and skills to enhance overall child wellbeing across the Commonwealth.

TREE Academy curriculum includes both in-person and virtual instruction and learning activities focused on:

• Trauma Foundations
• The Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed and Responsive Practice
• Bias and Racial Equity
• Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Workforce
• Resilience and Protective Factors
• General Training and Facilitation Skills
• Facilitating Difficult Conversations

Requirements for Participation

TREE Academy Train-the-Trainer applicants should have:

• A desire to advance trauma responsive practices across the Commonwealth
• The ability to provide trainings within and across MA state agencies and community organizations serving children, youth, and their families

For this initial cohort, applicants will be considered from child serving state agencies, along with their community partners, including the following agencies:

• Department of Youth Services (DYS)
• Massachusetts Probation Services (MPS)
• Department of Children and Families (DCF)
• Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS)
• Department of Mental Health (DMH)
• Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
• Juvenile Court Judges
• Public Defenders

Please note: Your current agency must support you becoming a trauma trainer, as the Academy is intended to benefit MA state agencies and community organizations who are working to implement and/or promote trauma-informed and responsive practices.