The International Justice Mission (IJM) Ghana and the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development have organised a two-day trauma-informed care (TIC) training for stakeholders in the child protection and justice sectors to provide survivor-centred services.
The training built the capacity of the stakeholders to explore the impact of indirect trauma on professionals and acquire practical self-care strategies to improve their well-being and resilience while carrying out their responsibilities.
The training formed part of ongoing efforts by the IJM to strengthen the country’s child protection and justice systems by equipping stakeholders with the knowledge and skills required to deliver trauma-informed services.
The training was organised in collaboration with law enforcement agencies, Community Child Protection Committees (CCPCs) and the judiciary.
It brought together frontline professionals responsible for supporting vulnerable children and survivors of abuse, exploitation and violence to deepen their understanding of trauma and its long-term effects on survivors.
Workshop
The workshop further provided a platform for stakeholders to strengthen multidisciplinary case management through enhanced collaboration and coordinated service delivery for survivors.
At the training, the participants examined how trauma influences a survivor’s behaviour, decision-making, memory and interactions with institutions and how to create safe, supportive and empowering environments that promote healing and minimise the risk of re-traumatisation.
The training featured members of the Ghana Survivors Network from the Hope in Freedom and Overcomers Chapters, whose lived experiences enriched discussions on recovery and reintegration.
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to applying trauma-informed principles within their respective institutions and working collaboratively to build a more responsive, compassionate and accountable system that supports survivors on their journey to healing and recovery.
Professional skills
Speaking at the closing ceremony, the Aftercare Manager at IJM Ghana, Vida Mamle-Selorm Hodinyah, said trauma-informed care should be viewed as more than a professional skill.
She said it was a commitment to recognising the experiences of survivors and responding in ways that promote healing and dignity.
“When social workers, law enforcement officers, community protection actors and the judiciary share this understanding, survivors are more likely to receive the support they need to recover and rebuild their lives,” she said.
The Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development at the Ada East District, Enoch Bampoe Addy, said the training had equipped participants with practical tools that could be applied immediately in their work.
“Every interaction with a survivor has the potential either to support healing or to unintentionally deepen trauma. This training has reinforced the need for empathy, patience and coordinated service delivery.
Safety
The Head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent William Ayaregah, said effective law enforcement extended beyond gathering evidence to ensuring that survivors felt safe, respected and heard throughout the justice process.
“Understanding trauma helps officers conduct investigations more effectively while minimising further harm to victims.
The collaboration fostered during this training will strengthen our collective response to cases involving vulnerable individuals,” he said.
