Impacts on my practice: allowing time to listen so the student can get on with learning, taking care of myself so that I can hear, finding ways to use the student's story to enhance learning if that's what the student needs/wants to focus on, or finding materials/methods that help the student focus on other aspects of learning.

The emphasis on self-care throughout the Project had an impact in that all participants had become more aware of the importance of self-care, for themselves and others. However, the extent to which they had been able to incorporate self-care practices into their lives varied considerably. For some, this had been a significant outcome of involvement in the Project. Others came to appreciate the importance of self-care but struggled with trying to make it part of their lives.

It's the first time in my life that I've accepted the idea of taking care of myself as a good idea. I've learned that it's okay to take the time to treat myself well—not run myself into the ground. I'm paying more attention to how I'm sleeping. I've instituted boundaries at work that make me feel much better.

I'm a lot better at self-care. I've had a truckload of stress in these last few months. I could have put a lot of pressure on myself but I decided not to do that and I feel okay saying that.

I'm still really bad about self-care. I do it in the classroom for others but I don't really do it for myself. I've changed in little ways but I haven't really focused on this.

I've found that I've used lots of what I've learned in my own life. I'm more mindful of comfort and when I'm not comfortable and more conscious of what I'm feeling about things. I sense when I need to do something differently. I've incorporated a lot of the strategies into my own life.

4. Broadening the Impact of the Learning

Through taking their learning into other contexts in their communities, participants have broadened the impact of the VALTA learning beyond their own practices. In many cases, they have established mutually supportive connections with other services in their communities with a focus on addressing the impacts of violence. Learning has also been shared in schools and other settings. Participants have become change agents in their communities, generating discussion and action that is having a ripple effect.