Heartland Community College hosts Trauma-Informed Care conference

 

[September 26, 2022] 

Heartland Community College is presenting a conference for health care professionals to learn more about supporting vulnerable and marginalized populations.

The Trauma-Informed Care for Vulnerable Populations conference is presented by the Heartland Community College Nursing program beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27. The conference is free of charge with pre-registration.

A diverse group of local professionals will discuss topics such as trauma-informed healthcare practices, gender diversity, LGBTQ+ identities, and accessibility and advocacy for vulnerable or historically marginalized populations.

The conference is organized by Heartland Interim Director of Nursing Susan Carl. She is a 2019 recipient of the 2019 Nurse Educator Fellowship, awarded by the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) and the Illinois Nursing Workforce Center (INWC) Advisory Board. The Fellowship was established to help provide resources to train more highly-skilled nurses in Illinois by retaining qualified faculty.

“Practicing trauma-informed care helps traditionally marginalized people or people who have experienced trauma to trust their healthcare providers,” said Carl. “By taking into account a person’s life experiences, and how those experiences influence the responses they have, practitioners can help patients be better equipped to manage their own health, engage with their healthcare providers, and feel comfortable accessing care.”

Guest speakers will cover a variety of topics including an introduction to trauma-informed care, supporting gender expression through communication, living with HIV, and support for those with adverse childhood experiences.

Registration for the Trauma-Informed Care for Vulnerable Populations conference is available by phone at 309-268-8160. For more information visit heartland.edu.

[Steve Fast
Assistant to the President, Public Information and Communication
Heartland Community College]