Using the STAIR Model and Critical Race Theory when Working with Black Youth and Families

The STAIR model is a skills-focused approach designed to develop and strengthen emotion regulation, interpersonal skills while promoting resiliency. Participants will address how “loss” shows up in trauma survivors, and it will enhance skill building resources to provide “safety” for clients. With a Critical Race Theory lens, participants will further examine how prejudice and complex injustice further perpetuates trauma in the media, law, and access to resources of care and healing. This will be an opportunity to gain psychoeducational building blocks using the STAIR model infused with principles of ‘Sankofa’, an Afro-centered philosophy that means ‘reclaiming past knowledge’.

This training will be interactive and discussion-based with the use of videos and hands-on activities as learning tools that participants can use to support their professional development of trauma-informed practices when working with racialized individuals and families.

Learning Outcomes

Apply Critical Race Theory to understand how varying systems further perpetuate trauma and harm.

Utilize self-reflection to identify and challenge personal biases to better support the needs of clients and families.

Examine how to support clients in developing safety and rebuilding ‘loss resources’ due to traumatic experiences.

Identify ‘loss resources’ for clients and how to use clients’ strengths to build this resource.

Explore different forms of safety that can support an individual or family who have experienced trauma.

Employ self-care when supporting and addressing the vicarious effects of trauma narratives.