Haiti experienced a 7.0 earthquake on January 12, 2010, which caused massive destruction to densely populated areas.   It is estimated that over 200,000 people have lost their lives and millions of people have been displaced.   Traumatic stress symptoms that incapacitate individuals and communities are estimated to be as high as 40% after a natural disaster of this magnitude.  It is feared that the rates may even be higher in Haiti because of the degree of disruption trauma.   The mental anguish that accompanies post traumatic stress symptoms is an enormous barrier to rebuilding and recovery. 
The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) contacted TRI to help conceptualize a response to meet the mental health needs of adults, children, and responders affected by the earthquake.  The Haiti Earthquake Relief Project (HERP) co-sponsored by UUSC and TRI embarks on its first phase on March 12, 2010, led by Laurie Leitch and Elaine Miller-Karas, TRI’s co-directors.  This is the first phase of what we hope will be many phases to train community leaders, doctors, nurses and aid workers in the Trauma Resiliency Model.

The project currently has three stages: Planning Phase, Training Phases 1 and 2. Funding permitting the training modules will be expanded over an 18 month period to extend TRM training to more individuals and enhance sustainability. 

In Stage 1, a four person TRI team will orient Haitian NGOs and other grass-roots organizations to TRM, the biological treatment and training model, conduct community-wide workshops in stabilization skills, and provide TRM stabilization treatment to first responders (including humanitarian aid staff and volunteers).

In Stages 2 and 3, an eight person TRI teams will spend 10 days per trip providing 2-3 days of TRM training  to 60 participants plus 1-2 days of supervised fieldwork for each group providing TRM treatment to earthquake survivors in resettlement camps, hospitals, orphanages, etc. Included in the TRM training will be the use of therapeutic games to assess and treat children.  In Phase 2 team members will spend 5 days providing 1-2 day refresher training and consultation to trainees from Phase 1 Training. The focus will be on deepening the skills of the previously trained individuals to create sustainability. In addition, fieldwork will be conducted as in Training Phase #1 with a combination of observed treatment demonstrations and supervised treatment by trainees. Trainees and TRI team members will present community-wide workshops in stabilization skills. Finally, in collaboration with TRI trainers each trainee will develop a future plan for utilization of TRM skills with earthquake survivors which will include specific ways to use TRM with the relevant population(s).

Contributions for TRI’s work in Haiti can be made via our website using the Donate button located on each page or by mailing a check to TRI,  270 Loma Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87501