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What approach should you take to develop a trusting relationship with a survivor of trauma?

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Final answer:

To build trust with survivors of trauma, it's essential to ensure safety, uphold confidentiality, and cultivate open communication. Education of staff and alignment of priorities among survivors, community partners, and researchers are fundamental. FBWC's trauma-informed care model is an exemplary approach in fostering trust and encouraging survivor participation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Developing Trust with Trauma Survivors

To develop a trusting relationship with a survivor of trauma, an approach centered on education and understanding is vital. Firstly, it's crucial to establish safety, in both a physical and psychological sense, to mitigate any fear of further harm. Mental health staff must be readily available to offer support as needed. Secondly, ensuring confidentiality is critical as many survivors may fear for their lives and value their privacy intensely. Adhering to strict confidentiality protocols fosters trust and safety.

Trust is a multi-faceted aspect that requires clear communication and understanding between all parties: survivors, community partners, and researchers. Misalignments in priorities between these groups can hinder trust, hence it’s important to openly discuss perspectives, and roles, and collaboratively set expectations. Case managers at the Fort Bend Women's Center (FBWC) play a significant role in recruitment by leveraging their existing trust with survivors. This is enhanced by providing case managers with adequate knowledge about programs so they can introduce survivors to new initiatives confidently.

Moreover, incorporating staff into research and project development fosters trust and extends this trust to collaborative efforts with researchers. The trauma-informed care model utilized by FBWC, emphasizing voluntariness and non-judgmental advocacy, also nurtures a culture of trust, safety, and confidentiality, further motivating survivors to participate in and contribute to the center's success.

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