Trauma-Informed Training for Service Providers
PIRS has been committed to trauma-informed practice since its early days. We recognize the high levels of stress and trauma experienced by immigrant and refugee women and their children pre, post and during the migration process.
Our approach is rooted in deep community work and is built on listening to and responding to the needs of our participants with compassion, courage, and accountability. PIRS’s dedication has been recognized with numerous awards over the years.
Research, training and resources are needed for educators and social services practitioners to better understand the effects of migration trauma and how community-based programming can be a safe space for healing. To achieve this, we provide customized workshops, webinars, and resource guides on trauma-informed practice in settlement and social service organizations:
Trauma-informed practice training
PIRS’ Trauma-Informed Practice Training equips service providers with practical tools and applied knowledge to effectively support immigrant, refugee, and other vulnerable populations across diverse community settings.
Grounded in nearly 50 years of frontline experience, this interactive training goes beyond theory—helping teams integrate trauma-informed approaches into everyday practice in ways that are responsive, culturally aware, and sustainable.
The training combines focused presentations with case studies, guided reflection, and small- and large-group discussion. It also incorporates mindfulness-based practices and provides resources to support ongoing learning and professional development.
Since 2019, PIRS has trained hundreds of practitioners across Canada working in settlement, language instruction, early childhood education, public legal education, mental health, and other community and public services.
Topics Covered
- Understanding Trauma and its Impact
- Being a Trauma-Informed Service Provider
- PIRS Approach: Developing Control, Connection and Meaning
- Self- and Co-Regulation
- Vicarious Trauma and Burnout
- Practitioner Wellness
Facilitators
Our facilitators are experienced front-line practitioners, instructors, and managers who have designed and delivered trauma-informed programs in diverse community settings. Many bring lived experience of migration, grounding the training in both professional expertise and real-world insight.
Delivery Format
Training can be delivered online or in person, depending on your needs.
Extended workshop: 4 hours (for deeper learning and application)
Standard workshop: 2 hours
Custom Training
We can tailor the training to your organization’s context, sector, and team needs—ensuring relevance and immediate applicability.
Public webinars and presentations
Building Foundation for Feminist Recovery: Trauma-informed and Healing-centered Approach to Settlement Programming for Immigrant and Refugee Women
At the 2022 IRCC BC/Yukon Summit hosted by AMSSA, PIRS presented the emerging challenges facing immigrant and refugee women because of COVID-19 pandemic and the work we do to meet the challenges. Our focus was to present a trauma-informed healing-centered approach that is based on the principles of connection, meaning and control.
Resource guides
PIRS guides offer practical strategies, resources, and ideas that can be integrated into classroom and community settings in order to support immigrants and refugees who have experienced trauma.
Download the resource guides in PDF format.
Book a training workshop
For more information and to book the training for your team, please book a discovery call here or contact us using one of these ways:
| Contact | |
|---|---|
Email: training@pirs.bc.ca | Phone: 604-298-5888 |
27,502
Women and children served
Since 1975, PIRS served 17,716 women and 9,116 children and counting.
84
Women trained
84 women completed training programs in 2023 to become more effective leaders in their codmmunities.
3,679
Food hampers distributed
448 people continue to be served weekly through the emergency Food Hub.
