Trauma Informed Care for Adults with Disabilities
The TRIAD project provides person-centered, trauma-informed (PCTI) support to adults aged 60 and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), their aging caregivers, and the professionals who support them. Through curriculum development, support sessions, learning communities, workshops, and social events, the project aims to improve emotional well-being and support future planning. Surveys, interviews, observations, and focus groups will be used to measure impact and identify promising practices. Using a train-the-trainer model, NDCPD will share resources and lessons learned to help sustain the program.
Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care (PCTI) Module: A Free, Ready-to-Use Training
When Good Intentions Aren’t Enough: You want your students or staff to practice person-centered, trauma-informed care. But here’s the reality:
- Trauma-informed language gets used loosely.
- Teams lack a shared understanding.
- Faculty and supervisors don’t always have time to build curriculum from scratch.
- Staff want practical tools, not abstract theory.
Without a clear framework, trauma-informed care becomes inconsistent and hard to sustain. That’s where this module comes in.
A Clear, Practical Framework You Can Use Immediately: The Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed Care (PCTI) Module is a free, structured training designed to help educators and organizations build a shared foundation for trauma-informed practice. It focuses on what matters most:
- Everyday interactions
- Communication choices
- Environmental awareness
- Respectful, person-centered support
No specialized clinical training required. Just practical principles that can be applied across roles and disciplines.
Who This Is For: If you teach, train, supervise, or support adults with disabilities, this module was designed with you in mind. The PCTI Modules are well-suited for:
- Direct support professionals and agency staff
- University faculty teaching pre-service professionals
- Healthcare providers
- School-based professionals
- Social workers
- Organizations building trauma-sensitive environments
If you’re responsible for shaping how others provide support, this gives you the structure to do it well.
What You Get: The PCTI Modules are facilitator-ready and include:
- Ready-to-use slide decks
- Pre- and post-tests to measure learning
- A facilitator guide with implementation guidance
- Discussion prompts and reflection questions
- A self-paced participant guide
- Materials in both PPT and PDF formats
No redesigning your syllabus. No building slides at midnight. Just implementation.
Flexible to Fit Your Setting: The PCTI Modules are available in five context-specific versions:
- Direct Support Agencies
- Healthcare / Medical
- School-Based / Educational
- Social Work Settings
- General Work Environments
Each version reflects the language and real-world scenarios relevant to that setting while maintaining the same core principles. You can:
- Deliver it in one lecture or across multiple sessions
- Use it in full or in sections
- Assign it independently or facilitate in a group
It integrates into existing courses and trainings without requiring a structural overhaul.
The Result: After completing the PCTI Module, participants will be able to apply the foundational principles of person-centered, trauma-informed care in everyday practice. Not just understand it. Use it.
Cost and Access: The PCTI Module is free to use. There is no cost to access or implement the materials. Its development was made possible through funding from the Jewish Federations of North America.
Ready to Strengthen Trauma-Informed Practice in Your Setting? If you are a faculty member, trainer, or organization interested in using the PCTI Module, request access today by contacting one of our project members.
Dr. Lori Garnes
TRIAD Principle Investigator
lori.garnes@minotstateu.edu
(701) 858-3139
Ms. JoLynn Webster
TRIAD Project Director
jolynn.webster@minotstateu.edu
(701) 858-3206
Ms. Shelby Clark
Project Coordinator
shelby.l.clark@minotstateu.edu
(701) 858-3814
Ms. Jodi Patchen
TRIAD Project Secretary
jodi.patchen@minotstateu.edu
(701) 858-3546