Duke Center for Health Informatics: Understanding Context: A Culturally Sensitive Approach to Treating Trauma in African American/Black Communities

Seminar Abstract: The presenters will examine historical and current contextual factors that have impacted African American/Black communities. Furthermore, the presenters will discuss collective psychological trauma and various responses to these events, with a centering of the Black experience. The presenters will conclude with a discussion of strategies and principles for trauma-informed care. Instructor Biosketch: Jonathan Livingston, Ph.D., MS is a Professor of Psychology in North Carolina Central University's Psychology Department. Dr. Livingston received his MS from Florida A&M with focus on African and African American psychology. His areas of interest are African American psychological well-being and the cumulative effects of racism and social inequalities on African American youths' mental health and health disparities. Additional areas of interest include program evaluation, community development, and education reform. His current research focuses on social and psychological factors associated with positive mental health outcomes. He has served as Co-Director for the Institute for Children, Youth, and Families and was also the Director of Outreach for the Export Grant, a project of the Julius Chambers Biomedical Biotechnical Research Institute (BBRI) at NCCU. More recently he has served as co-Project Director on a partnership project with Duke that is evaluating the effectiveness of efforts to reduce health disparities and to educate the African American community about Covid 19, alcohol and substance abuse, cervical cancer, and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Milicia Tedder Ph.D., LPA is a Clinical Faculty member in the NCCU Psychology Department. Dr. Tedder received her MA in Clinical Psychology from North Carolina Central University and her Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies from The University of Tennessee Knoxville. Dr. Tedder has spent nearly the last two decades working in child, adolescent, and adult mental health. She has served on various county committees to examine factors that buffer against the risk of abuse against women and children. Her work is integrative, acknowledging the mind-body-spirit connection in treating mental wellness. Dr. Tedder has a special interest in working with individuals who have experienced relational and attachment trauma. Zoom Meeting link: https://duke.zoom.us/j/92005527024?pwd=azFIZmlNdVJiOVVjN0djNWRiT0wzdz09 Meeting number (access code) 920 0552 7024, Meeting password: 128631