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Equipping Communities to Champion Survivors

The Wellspring Living Training Institute provides trauma-informed education and empowerment strategies to strengthen individuals, organizations, and communities in the fight against human trafficking.
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About the Institute

Knowledge That Sparks Change

Closeup Of A Notebook Open With The Word Hope Handwritten On A Page

When survivors are met with understanding, safety, and dignity, healing begins. Through the Training Institute, we equip professionals and community members with tools to respond to trauma, advocate for justice, and lead with compassion. Each training is built from our 20+ years of front-line experience.

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Empowering Every Advocate

We provide dynamic, real-world training for:

  • Law enforcement and first responders
  • Teachers and school staff
  • Community Members
  • Corporate Organizations
  • Social workers and therapists
  • Faith leaders and volunteers
  • Healthcare providers
  • Government and nonprofit professionals
Wellspring Living Training Sessions From The Training Institute

Whether you're on the front lines or just beginning your journey, our trainings help you become a trauma-informed ally.

Trainings That Meet You Where You Are

From entry-level workshops to in-depth certificate programs, the Training Institute offers:

  • Customized onsite trainings
  • Webinars and virtual workshops
  • Survivor-informed consultation
  • Continuing education credits (CEUs) for eligible fields
  • Annual Advocates Conference

The Activate Conference is interactive, research-based, and rooted in the lived experiences of survivors.

Meet The Trainers

We believe in equipping organizations with the tools they need to succeed to create long lasting programming for survivors of exploitation. Our number one priority is to help provide organizations with structure, relational help, philosophy, reporting, and ongoing troubleshooting that will create a safe place for healing to begin in new recovery programs.

Latasha Norris, Msw, Lswaic Tall
Training Services Manager

Latasha Norris, MSW

Greetings! My name is LaTasha Norris, a proud Atlanta native driven by a deep commitment to social change and the empowerment of individuals impacted by trauma, exploitation, and systemic inequities. I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from the illustrious Clark Atlanta University’s Whitney M. Young Jr. School of Social Work, where I developed a strong foundation in trauma-informed care, advocacy, and holistic healing practices. As the Training Services Manager for the Institute at Wellspring Living, I have the privilege of supporting the organization from both an internal and external standpoint. In this role, I cultivate partnerships with community-based organizations and corporate partners while leading educational initiatives that provide foundational knowledge about sex trafficking, exploitation, and the pathways to healing.

With over a decade of experience in direct service, leadership, and training, my approach is collaborative, strengths-based, and trauma informed. I believe that true empowerment happens when individuals are provided with the tools, resources, and support they need to reclaim their voice, autonomy and purpose. My work in program development, staff mentorship, and compliance has consistently contributed to creating safer, more supportive environments for youth and adults navigating complex trauma. I view healing as a journey that honors resilience, fosters self-discovery, and embraces growth. I am committed to walking alongside individuals as they uncover their strengths, break through barriers, and create the lives they envision for themselves. Through education, advocacy, and trauma-responsive care, I aim to inspire hope, healing, and transformation—ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive.wi

Brandie Palmer
Client Services Manager

Brandie Palmer

Brandie Palmer is a Client Service Manager at Wellspring, a non-profit organization that helps survivors of sex trafficking. She grew up in Portsmouth, VA, as the youngest of two siblings. Her parents, who worked in the mental health field, inspired her to dedicate her life to helping others. She graduated from Fort Valley State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology in 2008 and started her career working with at-risk youth. She has since worked in various roles, from case management to foster care, residential programs and supporting others. Despite facing many challenges along the way, Ms. Palmer never gave up on her dreams. She believes that everyone should do their best and pursue their goals, because they might inspire someone else.

Dionysia Ambrose, Director Of Institute Services
Director of Institute Services

Dionysia Ambrose

Dionysia ( Dee Dee) Ambrose Add a photo of Dionysia Ambrose, Director of Institute Services. photo in folder and bio- Dionysia Ambrose serves as the Director of Institute Services at Wellspring Living, bringing over a decade of experience in social services with a focus on mental health advocacy and the prevention of sexual exploitation. Her career has been driven by a deep passion for supporting vulnerable populations and creating spaces where healing, empowerment, and transformation can thrive. Dionysia is a proud graduate of Spelman College, where she earned her degree in Psychology with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. She later received her master’s in Organizational Leadership from Mercer University, graduating summa cum laude and earning induction into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Her work with Wellspring Living began in direct care as a coach in the Girls’ Program, where she witnessed firsthand the resilience of survivors and the power of trauma-informed support. She later served as Program Coordinator at the Youth Academy, working closely with youth at risk of exploitation. These experiences deepened her commitment to prevention and inspired her continued leadership within the organization. Now in her role as Director, Dionysia oversees training, education, and advocacy initiatives that equip professionals, empower communities, and expand awareness around issues of exploitation and vulnerability. She is known for her thoughtful leadership, compassionate approach, and dedication to uplifting others.

At the heart of her work is a belief that every person deserves the opportunity to live as their fullest, most authentic self. Dionysia remains committed to breaking down barriers and building pathways to freedom, restoration, and lasting change.

Wellspring Living Training Institute Testimonial
Knowledge That Sparks Change

Trainings

Training Services

The Organizational Mentorship Program allows organizations to establish a comprehensive partnership with Wellspring Living. We collaboratively design a well-defined work plan tailored to your organization, encompassing milestones, task lists, resources, and access to expertise.

Institute Training Photo

Trauma-Informed Care

In this session we will discuss detailed Trauma-Informed Care Competencies, the six elements of trauma-informed care throughout organizational culture, and share ideas and suggestions to help shift organizations to become more trauma informed. We will also include content and information from the survivor perspective.

Strengths-Based Training

Are you familiar with strengths-based work? If not, or if you need a refresher, this is the session for you. In this session we define strengths and strength-based work, discover strength-based training skills, learn how to incorporate strengths-based trainings in your work, and methods of moving from problem-focused to solution-focused using these skills.

Strengths-Based Consequences

In this session we will learn and practice strengths-based consequences and gain some new tools for everyday use. We will discuss modalities for both direct care staff, middle management, and leadership positions.

Human Trafficking and Cultural Competency

This session is designed to discuss and present human trafficking from the socio-cultural lens from which we have seen at Wellspring Living. We will also provide a deep dive into the parts and roles of human trafficking from the lens of survivors, buyers, exploiters, and advocates.

CSEC/Human Trafficking Research & Studies

Are you new to the human trafficking field? This session would be a great way to kick off your knowledge in this area. We will discuss the federal (and local) response to trafficking, elements of trafficking, HT resources (United Nations TIP Report and Polaris Report findings), and the most current statistics, laws, and trends in the human trafficking field.

Boundaries

Do you know how to ensure you are setting professional boundaries? This session will help with that. In this session we will review types of boundaries, boundary roles, why we set professional boundaries, the difference between personal and professional boundaries, and how we can best balance these professional relationships.

Organizational Mentorship Program

The Organizational Mentorship Program allows organizations to establish a comprehensive partnership with Wellspring Living. We collaboratively design a well-defined work plan tailored to your organization, encompassing milestones, task lists, resources, and access to expertise.

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Organizational Mentorship Program

Program Planning & Development

Guidance on mission, vision, values, nonprofit setup, board development, and strategic planning.

Advocacy & Field Orientation

Support in understanding survivor needs and defining advocacy approaches.

Organizational Structure & Operations

Assistance with HR policies, staffing models, internal processes, and recruitment.

Fundraising & Resource Development

Help creating a case for support, donor engagement, and fundraising strategies.

Compliance & Reporting

Support in establishing record-keeping, reporting systems, and intake/referral processes.

Partnerships & Community Engagement

Guidance on building partnerships, managing volunteers, and formalizing MOUs.

Performance Metrics & Staff Development

Developing program evaluation methods, KPIs, and staff performance goals.

Ongoing Support & Training

Continuous consultation, process refinement, and new staff training.

Additional Services

One-on-one consultation calls and immersive site visits for deeper learning.

Thursday Talks at the Table

Thursday’s Talk at the Table is a monthly online initiative that is designed to facilitate meaningful and insightful discussion with communities on diverse and relevant topics. Our mission is to cultivate a culture of continuous learning by fostering open communication among diverse communities.

WSL passionately believes that through education, learning and sharing stories and perspectives, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and extend support to those we encounter. The guiding theme for this initiative is encapsulated in the phrase “Each One…Teach One…Until we are all Taught.

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Monthly Webinar Trainings

Trauma-Informed Care

In this session we will discuss detailed Trauma-Informed Care Competencies, the six elements of trauma informed care throughout organizational culture, and share ideas and suggestions to help shift organizations to become more trauma informed. We will also include content and information from the survivor perspective.

Strengths Based Training

Are you familiar with strengths-based work? If not, or if you need a refresher, this is the session for you. In this session we define strengths and strength-based work, discover strength-based skills, learn how to incorporate strength-based opportunities in your work, and methods of moving from problem-focused to solution-focused using these skills.

Strengths Based Consequences

In this session we will learn and practice strengths-based consequencing and gain some new tools for everyday use. We will discuss modalities for both direct care staff, middle management, and leadership positions.

Human Trafficking and Cultural Competency

This session is designed to discuss and present human trafficking from the socio-cultural lens from which we have seen at Wellspring Living. We will also provide a deep dive into the parts and roles of human trafficking from the lens of survivor, buyers, exploiters, and advocates.

CSEC/Human Trafficking Research & Studies

Are you new to the human trafficking field? This session would be a great way to kick off your knowledge in this area. We will discuss the federal (and local) response to trafficking, elements of trafficking, HT resources (United Nations TIP Report and Polaris Report findings), and the most current statistics, laws, and trends on the human trafficking field.

Boundaries

Do you know how to ensure you are setting professional boundaries? This session will help with that. In this session we will review types of boundaries, boundary roles, why we set professional boundaries, the difference between personal and professional boundaries, and how we can best balance these professional relationships.

Family Systems

In this session we will describe the theory of family systems, describe its relevance to the life of a survivor, identify issues that arise with families in residential care settings, and strategies to mitigate family issues.
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Attend the Wellspring Activate Conference

Our annual Activate Conference brings together professionals, policy-makers, and advocates for two powerful days of learning, collaboration, and strategy-sharing. Grounded in the 4 Ps of anti-trafficking (Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, and Partnership), this conference is a cornerstone for change-makers.

Learn More

Past Clients

Ready to Bring Trauma-Informed Care to Your Space?

Let’s equip your team to make a lasting difference. Whether you’re training a small group or planning a large-scale initiative, our team will walk with you every step of the way.

Contact the Institute