Trauma Training for DYS

Pamela Dire

The Belize Youth Counseling and Wellness arm of the Department of Youth Services has held training for the staff on how to properly assist youths who have faced some kind of trauma. Especially in crime-ridden communities, many young people are dealing with gang violence, dysfunctional families, and poverty.

Pamela Dire, Coordinator

“Understanding all the issues that our country is facing that was one of the brainchildren of our director and minister to really help with the psycho social issues.  So with that our counseling and wellness area has then been formed.”

Kendra Carter

Dr. Kendra Carter, Facilitator

“I think it is important for participants to know how trauma impacts a child’s life. And really, the life outcome that they have when don’t learn how to cope adequately and really learn to build resiliency to overcome a lot of challenges that they face. I think a lot of times we don’t always think about those implications, and we just kind of just let it hang. And, a lot of times we see kids that end up committing crimes, and end up dying early, and kids that end up being very defiant and not understanding why.”

Darby Reyes

Darby Reyes, Counselor

“I enjoyed when the facilitator informed us that trauma can be healed in relationships, and in consistent relationships, especially in the service that we will be providing to our clients, and in showing them something different, that they haven’t experienced all their lives. We could create that impact in their lives.”