AIM is committed to empowering the residents and staff of Sunlight Home by providing comprehensive, trauma-informed education and support. Our collaboration reinforces Sunlight Home’s vital mission to break cycles of poverty and trauma for pregnant women and their children. Through a multi-faceted approach, we equip residents with essential skills and resources, fostering their journey towards independence and well-being.

AIM’s Trauma-Informed Education and Skill Building Model:

AIM has developed a specialized trauma-informed model tailored to the unique needs of Sunlight Home residents, many of whom have histories of abuse, neglect, and limited supportive resources. This strength based model focuses on providing comprehensive education and guidance, utilizing the inherent strength and resilience of these women.

Comprehensive Assessment and Individualized Support

• Two-Part Comprehensive Assessment: Upon admission, residents undergo a thorough assessment to understand their current mental health, medical, academic, social, and developmental history, as well as trauma experiences and family patterns.
• Self-Report Questionnaires: These evaluate levels of need in areas such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and executive functioning skills, creating a holistic clinical picture.
• Trauma Trigger Safety Plan: Developed for Sunlight Home’s Director, this plan identifies a resident’s protective and risk factors and outlines specific methods to help them regulate emotional states.
• Goal Coaching: Weekly sessions help residents set and achieve personal goals related to housing, employment, financial stability, and more, breaking down objectives into actionable steps and providing psychoeducation for emotional growth.

Group-Based Trauma Education and Skill Building

• Trauma Education and Post Traumatic Growth Group: This group educates from the science view of trauma to learn and understand how trauma impacts the brain and how this manifests in their everyday lives   The residents begin to increase their awareness of how trauma has affected their thoughts, emotions, and behavioral reactions. Resilience skills are taught and processed to support their beginning steps to modify ingrained trauma patterns to create movement in the shift from victim to survivor with the ultimate goal of thriver. 
• Attachment and Parenting Group: This group educates and supports mothers in developing secure, emotionally attuned relationships with their children.  Key topics include attachment styles, the impact of personal attachment patterns on parenting, and the importance of consistency, gentle discipline, and emotional co-regulation.  Sessions offer psychoeducation, discussions, and interventions to foster healthy parent-child bonds.
• Trauma-Sensitive Yoga and Skill Building: Led by a Registered Yoga Teacher, these sessions help women manage stress, reconnect with their bodies, and build healthy coping strategies. Includes gentle movement, breathwork, and reflection, adaptable for all stages of pregnancy and postpartum.  Integrates four core skill areas from Dialectical Behavior Therapy: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotional regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness.  Incorporates psychoeducation to help participants understand stress responses and apply practices daily.
• Psychoeducation Skills Group:  This is a skill based group that promotes awareness and practice of the basics of emotional intelligence.   Skills such as feelings identification, assertive communication and boundary setting are a few examples of skills that are addressed.   Having a strong connection and understanding of psychoeducation skills can minimize the negative impact of stressors and can improve the likelihood  for an individual to maintain a more direct path towards their goals with resilience.

• Sunlight Wellness Retreat: Once monthly, The residents travel to the AIM Suite 106 location for a three hour wellness experience.  Refreshments are provided while they participate in Trauma Sensitive Yoga, Attachment or Trauma Education Group and a Creative Expression Activity with an empowerment theme.

Staff Training and Wellness Consulting

• Trauma-Informed Staff Training Workshops: AIM team members facilitate workshops for Sunlight Home staff, providing an introduction to mental health education and skills for safe, supportive, and effective resident interaction.
• Individual Staff Training Sessions: Available as needed to provide ongoing support and guidance to staff.

Wellness Consulting: AIM provides resources and consultation to staff to reinforce a trauma-informed environment and enhance overall well-being within the Sunlight Home.