Building A Culture Of Safety To Transform Care: The Traumatic Stress Institute & RWJBarnabas Health Case Study

August 03, 2026

1:00 – 2:00 pm ET

Many provider organizations struggle to effectively serve individuals with high rates of traumatic life experiences. Traditional, compliance-driven cultures often misinterpret trauma-related behaviors, leading to overreliance on restrictive interventions such as physical restraints and increasing risk for both consumers and staff.

Trauma-informed care (TIC) offers a different approach. By recognizing the widespread impact of trauma and aligning care delivery to meet consumers where they are, organizations can reduce re-traumatization, improve safety, strengthen outcomes, and support workforce well-being.

In this one-hour live presentation, Nicole Powasnick, Chief Nursing Officer of RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center and Vice President of Clinical Operations for the Behavioral Health Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health, and John P. Engel, Associate Director of the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers, Inc, will share how their organizations partnered to implement the Risking Connection® Change Model (RCCM) across behavioral health units and emergency departments at eight RWJBH sites.

The speakers will outline how this model leveraged leadership engagement, staff training, and a train-the-trainer approach to build a culture of trust and safety, increase workforce engagement, and reduce workplace violence.

What This Case Study Explores

This session examines a practical framework for understanding and responding to trauma in clinical settings, including:

  • How individual and organizational responses can mitigate the effects of vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue
  • How TIC serves as a strategic investment in long-term organizational performance, workforce stability, and care quality
  • How the RCCM model and partnership provide a replicable roadmap for reducing harm and promoting healing across complex behavioral health systems

 

What Executive Attendees Will Learn

  • The core components for implementing RCCM across behavioral health service lines and emergency departments
  • Strategies to build safety and trust, increase workforce engagement, and reduce workplace violence
  • Leadership approaches to drive system-wide adoption and sustain trauma-informed practices across complex care environments

 

Featured Speakers

  • Nicole Powasnick, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CEN, Chief Nursing Officer of RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center & Vice President of Clinical Operations for the Behavioral Health Service Line at RWJBarnabas Health
    In her dual role, Ms. Powasnick provides strategic and operational oversight across the continuum of care. She leads with a deep commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care and is recognized for improving patient experience through strong interdisciplinary collaboration and clinical leadership. Holding a Master of Science in Nursing, Ms. Powasnick is board certified as a Nurse Executive Advanced (NEA-BC) and a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN). She also serves as the Secretary of the New Jersey chapter of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association (APNA), demonstrating her commitment to advancing the profession of psychiatric nursing at the state level. Her clinical background, paired with executive leadership capabilities, allows her to bridge frontline care with system-level innovation. She champions a culture of accountability, trauma-informed care, and continuous improvement. Under her leadership, key initiatives have strengthened care coordination, enhanced patient safety, and elevated the voice of nursing in organizational decision-making. She is known for cultivating high-performing teams and driving sustainable change aligned with the mission of behavioral health recovery.
  • John P. Engel, Doctoral Candidate in Change Leadership, Associate Director of the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers, Inc.
    Mr. Engel oversees all aspects of TSI’s training and consultation services, including sales and delivery of the Rising Connection Change Model. He supports departmental operations, including strategic planning, organizational development, staffing, and budgeting. Additionally, he has been an advocate for mindfulness in the workplace. He envisioned and implemented Monthly Risking Connection (RC) Mindfulness sessions for the RC community as a method for both helping clients and supporting treaters’ self-care.

Registration is free and requires an OPEN MINDS Circle account, which you consent to OPEN MINDS creating on your behalf if one does not exist. For access to the full line of market intelligence, including executive briefings, industry news, state and organizational profiles, RFPs, and datasets from the specialty health and human services market, contact us at 855-559-6827 or info@openminds.com to become an OPEN MINDS member.

Building A Culture Of Safety To Transform Care: The Traumatic Stress Institute & Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Case Study

8/3/20261:00pm EDT1 hour