Providing direct services to vulnerable people is exhausting and rewarding work. Many of us come to it because of the ways the mission of our organization has impacted us personally, and all of us have a desire to improve the lives and honor the strengths of those who need our services. Because of the intense connection individual employees bring to their direct service, supervision that is trauma informed and focused on trust and kindness is essential to creating healthy work environments. Supervision should support employees so that they provide exceptional direct service, thereby helping an organization achieve its mission.

In this training, we’ll explore ways that supervisors can contribute to creating healthy workplaces while supporting their co-workers. They’ll be discussed in the context of our diverse organizations; many of which are collaborative, social justice based, and also hierarchical. We’ll focus on both theories of practice as well as tools such as providing direct feedback, evaluations, and addressing work performance issues. Those who are already supervisors or who are working towards becoming supervisors are encouraged to attend.