On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Israel entered an unprecedented state of war—the “War of Iron Swords.” The state of emergency spread across the length and breadth of the country, and its residents are exposed every day and every hour to life-threatening danger and to numerous and severe losses. This war and its consequences have led to complex and ongoing exposure to trauma for many people, as well as prolonged displacement and the fragmentation of support networks. Recognizing the impact of trauma on mental health, it is of great importance to train professional managers and senior staff in trauma-sensitive interventions at the individual, organizational, and community levels.

These senior executives will educate and train their teams and ensure the implementation of evidence-based practices for interventions with individuals, communities, and organizations directly or indirectly affected by trauma. By equipping them with the necessary tools and knowledge, it will be possible to bring about significant change in the fields of mental health rehabilitation, promoting recovery, integration, and building resilience among those affected by trauma.

The training program was developed by the Israeli Trauma Coalition, which was established in 2001 and brings together numerous partners, including organizations, nonprofit groups, and government ministries working in this field.

Together with partners in Israel and around the world, the Coalition develops responses for emergency and post-emergency care, as well as training for professionals from various fields and volunteers—in emergency preparedness, emergency response, and post-emergency recovery. The Coalition focuses on trauma among the population: providing direct support in the areas of community resilience, emergency preparedness, and training and guidance for intervention teams.

The training is free of charge and funded by the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health Division.

Training Structure:

 6 sessions, each lasting 6 hours. Each session will include a knowledge-sharing component, a hands-on workshop component, and a peer discussion component. The final part of each day will be devoted to coaching.

Participants:

40 senior managers and executive coaches (supervisors) in the field of mental health rehabilitation.

Key Topics in the Training:

Basic Concepts in Trauma and Resilience.

Trauma-sensitive care in one-time emergencies and ongoing emergencies.

The roles of support and guidance in response to trauma and emergencies.

Community Trauma: Approaches and Practices for Community Work in Normal Times and Emergencies.

Loss and Grief During a Prolonged Emergency.

The Impact of Exposure to Trauma on Staff, and Staff Retention During an Ongoing Emergency.

Tools for training and conveying the material covered to the organization's employees.