- DTCare in Ukraine | Staff Capacity Building -
Building Capacity in the People Who Carry the Work Forward
At DTCare, our work begins with people.
Dedicated staff, volunteers, and partners make every shipment, program, art therapy session, and act of care possible for communities facing extraordinary hardship. Because of this, we believe capacity building is not only about strengthening programs—it is about investing in the people who make healing, dignity, and hope possible.
Across Ukraine and beyond, DTCare continues to support employee development, professional learning, team connection, and trauma-informed practice. These efforts help our staff and partners grow in confidence, strengthen their skills, and continue serving children, families, veterans, and frontline communities with compassion and care.
Down to the Numbers
- 113
- English sessions delivered
- 17
- art therapists participated
- 3
- parallel learning groups
- 15
- BRAVE specialists trained
- 100%
- reported stronger belonging
Why Staff Capacity Building Matters
The people who serve others also need support.
Many DTCare team members and partners work in deeply challenging environments. They support individuals and families affected by war, displacement, loss, trauma, and uncertainty. Their work requires professional skill, emotional resilience, and a strong sense of connection to one another.
DTCare’s capacity-building efforts are designed to help staff and partners:
Strengthen professional communication skills.
Access international mental health and psychosocial support resources.
Build confidence in trauma-informed and experiential approaches.
Prevent burnout and support emotional wellbeing.
Deepen team connection across cities and regions.
Share knowledge with colleagues and partner organizations.
Grow as leaders within their fields.
This work reflects one of DTCare’s core beliefs: when we care for the people providing support, we strengthen the care they can give.
English Language Learning for Art Therapy Staff
From January through May 2026, DTCare Charitable Foundation organized an English language learning program for art therapists across Ukraine.
The program strengthened professional communication skills, improved access to international MHPSS resources, and supported staff engagement and retention. Classes were held online, allowing art therapists from different cities to participate consistently while remaining connected to their local work.
Program Highlights
100% of participants reported a stronger sense of belonging to DTCare
90% of participants reported feeling more connected to colleagues from other cities
100% of participants reported a positive psychosocial impact overall
The classes focused on language skills directly connected to the therapists’ professional roles, including vocabulary and communication related to trauma-informed care, psychosocial support, safeguarding, emotional regulation, and resilience.
Just as importantly, the program created a meaningful space for connection. For a geographically dispersed team, the online learning groups offered a supportive routine and a shared environment outside of daily operational work.
As one participant shared:
When I read academic articles in English, I can now understand the main ideas without a translator. That feels significant.
Another art therapist reflected:
The course materials were well-structured. I feel that DTCare invests in us — and that matters.
For DTCare, this kind of feedback is deeply meaningful. It shows that staff development is not only about technical learning. It is also about belonging, encouragement, and helping team members feel seen and supported.
Explore the art therapy programs this training supports.
Supporting Professional Growth and Team Wellbeing
The English language program also had a clear psycho-emotional impact.
Participants reported increased confidence, reduced fear of making language mistakes, and a stronger sense of connection to the wider DTCare team. Several participants shared that the learning process itself created a positive routine during a period of sustained professional stress.
Survey results showed:
7 therapists experienced strong positive psychosocial impact
6 therapists experienced moderate and growing impact
4 therapists experienced emerging positive change with clear potential for continued growth
Psychosocial impact — all 17 participants
- 7 strong positive impact
- 6 moderate and growing
- 4 emerging positive change
These results remind us that capacity building can strengthen both professional skill and emotional resilience. When staff feel more confident, more connected, and more supported, they are better equipped to continue offering compassionate care to others.
BRAVE Training for Frontline Support Specialists
DTCare’s commitment to capacity building also extends to the professionals and partner institutions serving Ukraine’s defenders, veterans, and families.
From May 25–28, 2026, a BRAVE training program was conducted for representatives of the moral and psychological support units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. The training brought together 15 specialists from different regions of Ukraine who support service members, veterans, and the family members of fallen, captured, and missing defenders.
The training followed the BRAVE approach and the T4 model: Trust, Challenge, Try, Transform. Participants explored practical tools for creating psychologically safe environments, building value-based agreements, facilitating group reflection, and using experiential learning methods in military and veteran support settings.
Key Results from the BRAVE Training
100% of participants reported exposure to new methods and approaches for supporting post-traumatic growth
100% of participants said they would recommend the training to colleagues
Participants gave the highest ratings to psychological safety, facilitator performance, and the atmosphere of trust within the group.
Participants identified key challenges including burnout prevention, support for families of fallen and missing service members, and communication with service members experiencing post-traumatic stress reactions.
The training created a trusted space where participants could speak openly about the emotional weight of their work, share experiences with peers, and explore new approaches together.
This kind of professional exchange is essential. The specialists supporting service members and families often carry a significant psychological burden themselves. Continued training, peer connection, and follow-up support can help strengthen not only individual professionals, but entire systems of care.
Growing Leadership Through Experiential Education
DTCare is also proud to recognize the professional leadership of Dimitry Terpylo, who manages DTCare’s Veteran’s Hero’s Compass program in Ukraine.
Dimitry has been selected as a 2026 ActivatEE Speaker for the Association for Experiential Education’s 2026 Experiential Education Conference, taking place November 12–14, 2026, at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado.
ActivatEE is AEE’s TED-style storytelling event and one of the conference’s most anticipated gatherings. Dimitry’s selection reflects the growing recognition of DTCare’s work in experiential education, veteran support, and trauma-informed programming in Ukraine.
For DTCare, this is more than an individual honor. It is a meaningful example of how investing in staff leadership strengthens the entire organization. When team members have opportunities to share their experience, learn from others, and participate in international professional communities, that knowledge returns to the programs and people we serve.
Capacity Building That Strengthens Care
DTCare’s staff development and training efforts share a purpose: to empower the people who strengthen communities. Whether through English language learning for art therapists, BRAVE training for frontline support specialists, or international leadership opportunities in experiential education, each initiative helps build a stronger foundation of care.
These programs support:
Better access to global best practices
Stronger trauma-informed and psychosocial support skills
Greater staff confidence and retention
Healthier team connection across distance
Expanded leadership within DTCare and partner networks
More sustainable support for veterans, service members, children, and families
Capacity building is not separate from DTCare’s mission. It is part of how the mission grows.
Investing in People, Strengthening Communities
We are grateful for every staff member, volunteer, donor, and partner who helps make this work possible.
By investing in the professional growth and wellbeing of our team, DTCare can serve with greater care, skill, and resilience. These investments help ensure that those offering support are also supported — and that communities affected by war and hardship continue to receive compassionate, dignified, and meaningful care.
Together, we are building capacity not only for today’s needs, but for the long road of healing ahead.