Trauma Informed Care in Haiti - Post Training Thoughts

In January I helped to organize a training Back2Back held in Haiti on Trauma Competent Caregiving for our staff, caretakers, and other local orphan care organizations. Trauma Care Specialist, David and Jayne Schooler, traveled with us to embark on an experience that would break cultural boundaries and impact Haitians that are caring for vulnerable children. On the first day all of the participants introduced themselves and said what they were thankful for. I was struck, when Johnny, the caretaker of the Lighthouse home, said he was thankful for this training…and he said he felt like dry land waiting for the rain. Our Haitian staff tell us that this is the first time anyone has ever attempted to bring a training like this to help caretakers of orphans. The feeling of gratitude they are expressing is moving. Here we are in impoverished half of an island that is home to 750, 000 orphans, and a young man among many, caring for ten orphans in his home, is ready for his thirst to be quenched. Experiencing lessons on how to lovingly connect with a child that has been abandoned, along with people who have experienced similar trauma and hardship themselves, was eye opening. The first day of the training was the anniversary of the 2010 earthquake, we bowed our heads with our Haitian brothers and sisters in silence before we began and I thought in my heart how intentional God's timing is. Here's a picture of some of the children Johnny cares for and staff getting ready for the training.

Throughout the ten day training, I was impressed by the participants that attended, who with little to no support are running their own orphanages and outreach programs in the most impoverished country. I found them to be eager to learn and take it back to the areas where they served. I was equally impressed with how Jayne and David met every question and conversation with grace, inclusiveness and encouragement. One woman named Pedrine traveled hours to attend, felt the training enlightened her on how to be more intentional with the ten little women that were in her daily care. Another man, Joseph, ran an outreach in cite de Soleil to the youth in this very dangerous and poor community. He also had begun a transitional program to help teen boys find a “foster” type home that had aged out of the orphanage. He expressed his trials with their behavior and asked dynamic questions on how he could better understand them. Participants from an orphanage called Imagine Missions, who care for 103 children, were struggling to connect with all of the kids in their home having just a handful of staff. Recently robbed and dealing with orphans who are scared, they soaked in encouragement, prayer and support from this community of trainers and participants. This director, teacher, dorm mother and pastor walked away with tangible ways they could improve the type of care they were providing.


We often worked in small groups as well and toward the end created action plans for the participants to take back to their homes. I had the joy of working alongside Brent, Jimmy the captain of Harvest Care, and the caretakers Kelly and Madame Kelly. As we put in a plan for them to be sure to feed and hydrate the children every two hours (another way to help traumatized children regulate their systems and feel safe) they were very open to change. Even though changes like this would take more effort, more time, and more money I was moved to see how adaptable and open to learning and practice the caretakers were.

We had the opportunity mid-week to visit Imagine Missions, it was beautiful and sad all rolled into one. The sun was setting and the breeze was enticing over the big piece of land that housed the many orphaned children Imagine cared for. A soccer game took place on one side, and the teenage girls braided hair and giggled at the tables nearby. Many of the children knew English and it was easy to see that education and nutrition program were a big part of this orphanage. I also got to hear the director’s heart, to keep parents united with their children by finding them work and a transitional home. This struck a chord with me, as orphan prevention is very much on my heart! As I surveyed my surroundings, little ones wandered freely, shoeless, un-attached...and the girls dorm which was barn like with rows of beds…and though I know the director was giving them more than what they had before, I couldn’t help but think how far it was from family life. We are looking toward working them in the future, sharing what we’ve learned to help her meet the needs of the children on a more holistic level.


The highlight of my week was visiting the orphanages we work with, Harvest Care and Lighthouse, to celebrate three birthdays! It was an honor to be a part of the Haitian tradition where anyone in the home is welcome to say something kind and encouraging to the birthday boy or girl as they sat dressed in their Sunday best in the middle of the room. We smiled as one by one the little and big ones got up to speak kind words into their “sibling’s” lives. We also got a chance to say something we love about the child, and I smile just thinking about that moment. Kneeling down in the dusty ground, making eye contact with the sweet beautiful face staring back at me, and telling them they are special, that I love them, their sponsors love them and God loves them and we are so proud of who they are and who they will be. It brought all of us joy to see them be celebrated and feel loved on a day that many orphans, don’t know about and certainly aren’t recognized for.


On the last day of the training we had a time of open comments, suggestions, and sharing. How beautiful to hear the honest struggles, the practical take-away, and the attitude of praise and thanks to a God that has heard their cries and met them here. With knowledge and understanding in their belt, the participants were motivated to understand better the behaviors of the children they work with, to increase their patience, and they were reminded that they are the significant and safe person in the orphans’ lives. They must connect with them and be the attachment that the child was never given. I was so moved by God’s presence under this tent of workers, and the strength that rose to continue to harvest the fields in their lives, the vulnerable children we are fighting for.