Trauma Awareness Month

May 2022

Join us in discussing Delaware’s trauma landscape, past and present, and support our state’s efforts along the trauma continuum.

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What is Trauma Awareness Month?

In 2018, Governor Carney issued Executive Order 24 prioritizing efforts for Delaware to become a trauma informed state and incorporating Trauma Awareness Month as a key initiative. The Family Services Cabinet Council and Trauma Matters Delaware are hosting Delaware’s fourth annual Trauma Awareness Month in May 2022. 

This year, we will host a suite of events, learning opportunities and moments for celebration during Trauma Awareness Month. This is a time to celebrate the exceptional work done to date, share best practices and resources for trauma-informed care, and learn how trauma-informed practices can enhance your organization’s services.

Trauma Awareness
Events

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Compassionate Champions

Awards and Winners

The First
Champions

First Chance Honorees

Upcoming Trauma Awareness Month Events

This year, the Family Services Cabinet Council and Trauma Matters Delaware are hosting several virtual events.

Events include:

Trauma Awareness Month Information Session

April 27th from 3 PM – 4 PM, TAM Information Session

We are offering this space to share the events underway for Trauma Awareness Month, how to participate in TAM events, how to spread the word, how to get your own events on the calendar, and to answer any questions you may have. Join us to hear about all the amazing events happening during Trauma Awareness Month 2022 and learn how your organization can participate.

This event is open to the public.

Register for this information session by clicking this link. 

Coffee and Conversations

Date: May 11th
Time: 12:30pm

Details: The discussion will engage members of the higher education community in thoughtful conversation about why a trauma-informed approach matters and how it may positively impact students, faculty and staff at their institution of higher education as well as how to expand and enhance their capacity as a trauma-informed college or university.

Video Introduction to Trauma-informed Approaches in Higher Education

Compassionate Champion Awards

The Compassionate Champion Awards recognize individuals and organizations across the state of Delaware providing trauma-informed services. Categories include Government, Community Organizations, First Responders, Education (P-20), Health Care, and Other.

The nomination period closes at 5:00 p.m. on April 29, 2022, and winners will be announced during Trauma Awareness Month and a celebration held in early June.

Nominate an individual or organization using this link.

State Agency Summit

This Summit is for state agencies of the Family Services Cabinet Council to share their work regarding trauma, best practices, challenges and resources. 

This event is restricted to government agencies in the Family Services Cabinet Council. 

TMD Webinars

TMD will be hosting four public webinars during the month of May. Each week, there will be a facilitated webinar in which all Delawareans will have the opportunity to learn about the current state of trauma in Delaware and trauma-related topics.

These events will be open to the public. Scroll down to see the events listings.

Add your event!

Add your event using this link!

If you have any questions about Trauma Awareness Month and the scheduled events, please contact [email protected].

Event Calendar

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The Compassionate Champion Awards

The Compassionate Champion Awards recognize individuals and organizations across the state of Delaware providing trauma-informed services. Categories include community partner, education (P-20), family/caregiver, government agency or department, healthcare, first responder, and other. 

The 2022 nomination period closes at April 29, 2022 at 5:00pm, and winners will be announced as part of Trauma Awareness Month on May 20, 2022.
Nominees selected as award winners will be recognized through the press and at an awards ceremony in June.

Nominate an individual or organization for a 2022 Compassionate Champion award!

View the State Press Release.

2021 Compassionate Champion Award Ceremony

2021 Compassionate Champion Award Recipients

  • Sarah Pyle Academy
  • New Castle County Division of Police, Hero Help Behavioral Health Unit
  • ChristianaCare, special recognition to Dr. Stacey Boyer, PsyD and Megan O’Hara, LCSW
  • Children & Families First Trauma Response Team
  • Erin Connelly, Victim Services Coordinator, Delaware Department of Correction

Due to the extraordinary nominees this year in the education and first responder categories, we are proud to recognize the Compassionate Champion Award First Runners Up:

  • Education 1st Runner Up: The Bancroft School
  • Education 1st Runner Up: Evan G. Shortlidge Academy
  • First Responder 1st Runner Up: Melissa Pennachi, Newark Police Department

The First Champions

In May of 2019, just before the first annual Compassionate Champion Awards were presented, First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney announced a one-time recognition, the First Chance Foundation awards. The awards were presented to, as Tracey said, “individuals, organizations, and partnerships, who were leading trauma-informed work long before [Governor] John [Carney] and I came on the scene.” 

Several of the recipients were involved in designing the annual Compassionate Champion awards program, and all were essential in building the foundation for trauma-informed work in Delaware.

The First Chance Foundation Honorees (with their affiliations at the time):

Wilmington University

Trauma Matters Delaware

Casey Family Programs

Superintendent, Red Clay Consolidated School District

Office of the Child Advocate/Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative

University of Delaware

Delaware Department of Education/Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative

Office of the Governor/Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative

Polytech High School

Children and Families First

Nemours Children’s Health System

(Student Support Team)

DSEA/Compassionate Schools Learning Collaborative and Compassionate Connections Partnership

Family Services Cabinet Council

GIFT