Hanna Institute

Sharing our knowledge.

Helping our community understand trauma-informed care.

Learn More

Celebrating culture & strength.

Uniting our community through learning and events.

Upcoming Events

Reaching out.

Empowering kids and families affected by trauma.

Becoming Resilient

Sharing Our Knowledge, Growing our Influence.

As a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Sonoma County and Northern California, Hanna Institute is dedicated to advancing nonviolent communication, social justice and trauma recovery. We do this by brining trauma-informed care to the people and places most impacted by trauma and violence. By raising public awareness, transforming agency practices and culture, and teaching strategies for self-care and recovery, we are helping transform our communities.

To do all of this we are convening events, training educators and community leaders in trauma-informed care and partnering with other leading organizations to expand our impact. In 2019 we were the proud to host numerous events, bring in great speakers, and reach a wide audience in our community. In 2020 and beyond Hanna will continue to grow its reach and lead the national effort to bring trauma-informed practices to organizations and communities across our country.

Since 2018, we’ve trained more than 1,300 people across 100 agencies in trauma-informed care.

Thank you to all who attended the inaugural Hanna Institute Summit!

Thank you to all who attended the inaugural Hanna Institute Summit! Throughout the course of the conference more than 400 educators, school administrators, clinicians, care providers and community leaders joined us to learn, discuss and engage with each other about new and proven practices in trauma-informed care and models for resiliency.

Click here to visit the conference web page for reference materials, speaker presentations and images.

SAVE THE DATE – 2021 Hanna Institute Summit – January 27-29, 2021

Building Resilience Through Trauma-Informed Practices

We envision a world where every child grows up resilient and healthy, regardless of personal circumstances. We raise awareness about child trauma and early adversity while promoting the resilience and recovery of children and adults. As a leading provider of trauma-informed care training in Sonoma County and Northern California, Hanna Institute’s mission is to support parents and child-serving systems with resources that build resilience and hope.

Keep Me Informed

Hanna Institute awarded $650K Grant from SF-based Tipping Point Community

Hanna Institute, in partnership with the International Trauma Center (ITC), a Boston-based nonprofit and early proponent of trauma-informed care, will serve as both a think-tank on trauma-informed community support and leaders of a strategic collaborative of Sonoma Valley organizations who serve residents still struggling with the impact of the wildfires–from school sites and mental health providers to children’s homes and emergency shelters.

(pictured at right: Consultant Dr. Robert Macy of ITC, Hanna Institute Assistant Director Nick Dalton, and Hanna Institute Acting Director / HBC CEO Brian Farragher)

See the News Release

Brian Farragher, Nick Dalton & Robert Macy (photo credit: Sonoma Index Tribune)

What are Trauma and Resilience?

What is Trauma?

What is TIC?

What is Resilience?

Trauma is an emotional response to a terrible event like an accident, rape or natural disaster. Immediately after the event, shock and denial are typical. Longer term reactions include unpredictable emotions, flashbacks, strained relationships and even physical symptoms like headaches or nausea. While these feelings are normal, some people have difficulty moving on with their lives. Psychologists can help these individuals find constructive ways of managing their emotions.
– Adapted from the APA Help Center article, “Recovering emotionally from disaster.”

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) and Trauma-Informed Practices are tools varied professionals use in their work helping survivors of trauma. By placing an emphasis on a holistic culture of health through collective physical, emotional, mental and spiritual safety, survivors can empower themselves to rebuild their life with a sense of control and purpose.

Resilience is a quality that allows us to adapt in the face of change, cope well with adverse conditions, and remain in present time with emotional equilibrium. Psychologists have identified some of the factors behind resilience, including optimism and the ability to regulate our emotions. Research has shown that many of these factors can be built through restorative practices.

Learn More

How can we help our communities build the resilience that will help everyone, and especially youth, survive and thrive through adversity?

Learn more about Sonoma's Self Healing Community initiatives

Partnership with International Trauma Center

ITC is dedicated to advancing nonviolent communication, social justice and trauma recovery. They do this by building the heart of trauma-informed care into social networks most impacted by trauma and exposure to violence. They are dedicated to excellence in the design and development of psychosocial and clinical trauma focused interventions.

Hanna Institute partners with organizations like International Trauma Center and other leaders in the field of trauma-informed care to provide a range of training, events and outreach.