Trauma-Informed Policy & Advocacy Training Series!

May 10, 2022 

The SUSTAIN Wellbeing COMPASS Coordinating Center has partnered with the Black Futurists Group (BFG) to create a video training series on Trauma-Informed Policy and Advocacy!

Featuring BFG’s Founder and Executive Director Devin Barrington-Ward and Georgia State Representative Park Cannon, this video training series is designed to support and strengthen the advocacy efforts of HIV service organizations to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. South.

The series includes 5 videos (~5 min each) that cover the following topics: 

• Intro to Advocacy for Community-based Organizations: This video describes the difference between advocacy and lobbying, discusses why it is important for HIV service organizations to engage in advocacy efforts, and provides 8 characteristics of trauma-informed advocacy efforts. 

• Trauma-Informed Policy and Advocacy Competencies: This video takes an in-depth look at trauma-informed advocacy, including the definition, competencies for HIV service organizations, and real-world examples from BFG’s work in the field. 

• What’s a Power Map and How to Create One: This video explores what power maps are, why they are important in HIV advocacy work, and details 6 steps for creating your own power map.

• Building a Coalition: This video describes what coalitions are and why they are imperative in HIV advocacy work, as well as steps for building a coalition, best practices, and characteristics of a successful coalition.

• Preventing Burnout Among Advocates and Organizers: This video defines burnout and compassion fatigue, then features a list of specific strategies HIV advocates and organizers can use to take care of themselves to prevent burnout and compassion fatigue.

This video series is freely available at https://bit.ly/TIPnA.

In the coming months, BFG and SUSTAIN will have several ways for you to learn more about the series and engage with us, so be on the lookout!