Headington Institute eNews

Helping Thousands Access & Understand Our Message

New Website Launches This Month

Photo: Screenshot of our new website

Each month, more than 15,000 people visit our website, blog, YouTube channel, Facebook page, and mobile app. They come from all over the world and access our free online resources at all hours of the day and night. Most are humanitarian aid workers, although caregivers of all kinds also use our resources (medical professionals, social workers, firefighters, law enforcement, attorneys, chaplains, etc.) While we eventually meet some of these individuals in-person or by email, most who receive our online help remain anonymous visitors. Those who do contact us often stress the value of the information and support we provide this way. At this point, we believe it may be one of the most important things we do.

So, we’re excited to announce the complete overhaul of our website and online resources.
This will enable visitors to find what they need more quickly and easily, providing a seamless stream of written, visual, and audio information that promotes their personal resilience and trauma recovery. With the help of the talented web design firm of Ludlow Kingsley, and generous financial support from the Conrad Hilton Foundation and the Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation, we’ve reorganized and updated our growing collection of educational resources. We hope this will enable us to provide better assistance to the thousands who turn to us for information and support. Our new site will go live in the next few weeks.

Visit us at www.headington-institute.org and let us know what you think. - Jim

Karen Osborne: Why I'm Involved

When asked to serve on the Headington Institute Board of Directors, I was admittedly a bit reluctant to add such a big responsibility to my already overflowing plate of commitments. As a full-time attorney, wife, mother of two, and freelance voice over artist, my time is always very limited and highly demanded. So when deciding whether or not to accept the challenge, my head said “No” but my heart said an overwhelming “YES!” Thankfully, my heart prevailed!

My experience on the Headington Board has been one of the most fulfilling things I’ve ever done. Having worked in the criminal justice system for nearly two decades, I know firsthand the reality of secondary trauma. Vicarious trauma is one of the hidden costs in my job as a public defender and one that has affected me quite intensely at times over the years. It is also an aspect of my profession not readily acknowledged by others-- both within and outside of the justice system. Moreover, how to cope with and prevent the effects of secondary trauma was not at all a part of the training I received after being hired. Instead, the justice system fosters the “suck it up” mentality which, as expected, leads to the “burnout expressway”. Thus, the immense value of resilience training, stress management techniques, and general awareness of the effects of trauma on the brain and body resonated highly with me.

Since serving on the Board, I have had the opportunity to learn about how the Institute accomplishes its mission of “Caring for Caregivers Worldwide”. I have personally benefitted from the extensive resources HI makes available online—all of which are completely free to anyone who’s interested!

The mission to care for caregivers worldwide is a vital one. The resources and training the Institute provides enables a wealth of dedicated humanitarians to continue doing the very necessary and important work they do every day. My hope is that as knowledge and support of the Institute’s work continues to grow, others will see that in order to truly take care of ourselves, our families and communities throughout the globe we, too, must begin to care for those who take care of us.

- Karen Osborne