Year-End Report on Signature Project

Author: Tricia Wheeler, 2003-2004 Signature Project Chair

First, let me take this opportunity to thank my fantastic committee. Even though much of the challenges facing the project were outside our influence, they continued to be supportive and willing to volunteer their time and share their talents. Second, I would like to clarify that the Trauma Intervention Program is not the same as the Greater Portland Trauma Assistance Network (also known as the Signature Project). The Trauma Intervention Program (also known as TIP) will be the first service offered by the Trauma Assistance Network, but it is not the only service that will be offered. Third, I’d like to answer some Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the Trauma Assistance Network? It is a division of the Community Counseling Center. It is legally owned and operated by the Community Counseling Center. The Trauma Assistance Network serves the Greater Portland area similar to the Community Counseling Center.

What will the Trauma Assistance Network do? It will connect individuals and families impacted by trauma to supportive community services. “Supportive community services” will include, but is not limited to services offered by other divisions of the Community Counseling Center and other agencies within the Greater Portland community. Some of the services that the Trauma Assistance Network will offer is TIP and an Outreach Program that will assist individuals and families impacted by trauma with day to day life management such as finding housing, paying bills, finding transportation and finding childcare. The Trauma Assistance Network will also connect individuals and families impacted by trauma to services offered by other agencies such as, Ingraham, Red Cross, and Sweeetser.

What is TIP? TIP is one service that will be offered by the Trauma Assistance Network. It happens to be the first service that is scheduled to be offered (thus the confusion that TIP and the Signature Project are the same thing). TIP is a national model for immediate practical care to individuals and families impacted by trauma.

What is JLP’s involvement in the Signature Project? JLP is a Co-Founder with the Community Counseling Center. JLP provides consulting, business and administrative services to our collaborator, the Community Counseling Center at no charge. JLP provides Project Management including but not limited to chairing and managing the monthly Steering Committee meetings including preparing agendas and approving minutes as well as scheduling regular monthly meetings. This past year in addition to providing Project Management services, JLP also developed, with assistance from Community Counseling Center staff, a Five Year Strategic Plan, a Timeline, a Work Plan, a name for the “trauma center”, prepared materials for the Advisory Committee meeting as well as provided administrative and clerical support to the Community Counseling Center including phone calls to the Advisory Committee members. Additionally, JLP has performed extensive research including, but not limited to facilitating and summarizing findings from three Focus Groups; surveying several TIP Chapters across the U.S.; grant research and writing, and research on TIP and similar trauma models across the U.S. These services would have cost the Community Counseling Center significant dollars to pay a Consultant to manage the project for them and to provide all the services that our volunteers have provided. Further, JLP has attended several meetings with the Children Who Witness Violence Coalition as well as attended at least one meeting with Chief Chitwood to obtain his support for the Trauma Assistance Network.

Has JLP donated any money to the Signature Project? Although our contract with the Community Counseling Center does not require us to donate any money, JLP donated $1,800 in 2003. Additionally through JLP sources, the Community Counseling Center has received other funds including but not limited to $3,500 from the Banknorth Charitable Foundation.

What is delaying the launch of the Project? The first service to be offered by the Trauma Assistance Network is TIP. The Community Counseling Center must negotiate and sign a contract with TIP National to become an Affiliate. The Community Counseling Center is in the process of negotiating that contract to which JLP is not a party. Also the Community Counseling Center has determined that they need approximately $80,000 to launch TIP and they currently do not have the funding. However, there are several JLP members who have volunteered their time to help the Community Counseling Center to research and write for various grants and the Community Counseling Center is working on some federal funding sources.

What has been accomplished in the last year? Much has been accomplished in 2003 - 2004. Signature Project webpage was created and maintained to give JLP members easy access to information about the project and to keep themselves educated about the project, two Focus Groups were facilitated for individuals impacted by trauma, Five Year Strategic Plan, Timeline and Budget was developed and approved, a formal name was given to the project “Greater Portland Trauma Assistance Network”, TIP model was chosen as first service to be offered by the Trauma Assistance Network, Chief Chitwood agreed to sponsor and support the Trauma Assistance Network; Advisory Committee agreed to sponsor and support the Trauma Assistance Network, the Children Who Witness Violence coalition agreed to support and use the TIP service offered by the Trauma Assistance Network, Surveys were conducted of TIP Chapters in U.S., research performed on various grants, and funding obtained from the Banknorth Charitable Foundation.

Why is this project important to the community? There is a gap in the services today for individuals and families impacted by trauma. The statistics are staggering to see those who do not receive assistance at the time of a traumatic event or soon thereafter. For example, there are many individuals who lived through the 9/11 attacks and have experienced symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have not received any clinical care and are experiencing depression as well as PTSD. Traumatic events happen every day such as car accidents, accidental death, natural death and suicide. There is a need for the community to respond to those individuals and families. The Trauma Assistance Network was created to help those in need and connect them to supportive community services. The number of agencies participating on the Advisory Committee as well as the support of the Portland Police Department demonstrates that there is a recognized need for this project and for the services that will be offered by it. As a Co-Founder of the Greater Portland Trauma Assistance Network, the Junior League of Portland will make a significant impact on our community.

Finally, I would like to thank Sharon, Laurilyn, Kristin, Susan, and Cathy for their support and guidance. I am proud of what we accomplished this year and so should all of the members of the Junior League.