Hope Train: A TBRI Initiative  

What Is TBRI?
TBRI^® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. TBRI^® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI^® is connection.
 

What is United Way's role? 
United Way of Gordon County is committed to seeing growth and healing in our children and families. United Way will be conducting trainings for teachers, educators, administrators, counselors, foster parents, social workers, community leaders, and more in an effort to help adults learn how to engage children who have experienced trauma and are trying to cope and navigate life with the impact of that trauma affecting everything they do. TBRI is the number one resource and training curriculum in this area designed to see past behaviors and understand the what and why that is causing those behaviors. 

Chris Hayes, Director of Donor Relations & Strategy at United Way of Gordon County, is one of just two TBRI Practitioners in Gordon County and will be looking to train as many people in the area as possible including school staff, DFCS workers, CPA staff, foster families, and anyone else working directly with children. United Way of Gordon County is developing an advisory board of TBRI practitioners and leaders to assess the needs, provide trainings, and then connect children and families to resources that will continue to invest in them and help them heal and grow. 

What is the Hope Train?
The name, "Hope Train", was created for this program and initiative for various reasons. First, United Way of Gordon County is housed in the historic Calhoun Depot, which used to be a train station. The metaphor of a train represents United Way and other leaders and practitioners of TBRI transporting this training to the various stops such as schools, DFCS, homes, organizations, and more. Trains also transport resources and connect people with where they need to be, which is also a big part of what Hope Train was created to do. Hope is what we are hoping to deliver and bring to our community through this initiative. 

What trainings will be offered through the Hope Train?
1. Trauma Informed Classroom Training 
    - Sonoraville Elementary School - 9/16/22 from 8:30am - 3:30pm
    - W.C. Abney Elementary School - 1/13/23 from 8:30am - 3:30pm
    - Gordon County Schools Leadership - 7/18/23
2. Hope For the Journey Conference - 5/6/23 from 8:30am - 5pm at RockBridge Community Church in Calhoun
3. TBRI: Trauma & the Brain - 8/22/23 from 6pm - 9pm (Location TBD)
4. TBRI: Connecting, Empowering, & Correcting Principles - 9/19/23 from 6pm - 9pm (Location TBD)
5. TBRI: A Sensory World - 10/24/23 from 6pm - 9pm (Location TBD)

To learn more or to request a training, please contact Chris Hayes at chayes@gordoncountyunitedway.org or 706-602-5548.