Vermont

United States

05445

Policy Manager Trauma-Informed Consultant

Vermont Department of Corrections Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership (COTIP) www.cotipusa.com Trauma-informed Design (TiD) Society www.traumainformeddesign.org

Christine is dually certified as a trauma professional by Florida State University and the International Association of Trauma Professionals, and is and a member of the ACEs Connection's Speakers and Trainers Bureau. She has built a career in the human services field, with a focus on criminal justice and family services policy. Through this work, she developed an in-depth understanding of trauma, its possible effects, and what can be done to change the story. Christine earned her Master of Criminal Justice degree from the State University of New York at Albany, while working and interning in a variety of related positions. She then served as a state legislative analyst in both New York and New Jersey, including 10 years in the Law and Public Safety section of the New Jersey Office of Legislative Services. Christine has also worked as a policy analyst for the New York State Division of Parole and a contract and grant specialist for the Vermont Department for Children and Families, where she doubled as the co-chair for the Family Services Division’s racial equity workgroup. She is currently employed as the senior policy and implementation analyst for the Vermont Department of Corrections, where she is helping to implement a Department-wide trauma-informed approach. In her spare time, Christine volunteers in a variety of capacities. She is a member of her local school’s community-based diversity, equity, and inclusion committee, which works towards ensuring a safe environment for all students and families. In addition, she has served as an adaptive sports instructor for the past 19 years through Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports, a year-round program that offers holistic, sports and recreation opportunities to people with disabilities. She is certified as an adaptive ski instructor through Professional Ski Instructors of America, and as an adaptive recreation and sports specialist through Blaze Sports America. Christine is married, and an adoptive mother of two children with traumatic backgrounds. Her personal and professional experiences have led her to a clear recognition of trauma, and its effects throughout our society. It led her to research this phenomenon and how to address it as a specialty area. Driven to share this information with the general public, Christine founded Cowart Trauma Informed Partnership, and dedicates much of her time helping individuals and organizations implement trauma-informed practices. Recognizing that the physical spaces in which we spend time can impact our perceptions, stress levels, and ability to regulate our emotional responses and behaviors, Christine cofounded the Trauma-informed Design Society (TiDS), with Janet E. Roche, MDS CAPS, and J. Davis Harte, PhD, WELL AP. The Trauma-informed Design Society is a transdisciplinary team with a focus on turning research into practice, and back into research. Located across the United States, the Society merges the co-founders’ extensive experience in human services and interior design with an understanding of trauma science, to help organizations implement a trauma-informed approach in their services and create stress-reducing physical spaces.

Vermont PACEs Community