MasterWord earns first Level 2 trauma-informed certification in Texas

MasterWord Services has become the first organization in Texas to earn Level 2 Trauma-Informed Certification from The Ecumenical Center’s program. The milestone signals a deeper trauma-informed approach in language services, especially for healthcare, courts, child welfare and crisis settings.

Why it matters: - MasterWord’s Level 2 certification puts trauma-informed communication into daily language-services practice, not just policy. - The certification matters for high-stakes settings where interpreters can affect how people in crisis are understood and supported. - The milestone also highlights a gap in trauma training for language professionals who work alongside healthcare, court, school and child-welfare systems.

What happened: - The Ecumenical Center (ECRH) announced that MasterWord Services, Inc. earned Level 2 Trauma-Informed Certification on July 23, 2026. - MasterWord is the first organization to reach Level 2 through ECRH’s nationally recognized Trauma-Informed Certification program. - MasterWord first earned Level 1 certification in 2025 and was the first language services company in the nation to do so. - The certification makes MasterWord the first organization in Texas to reach Level 2.

The details: - ECRH is a Texas-based nonprofit that certifies trauma-informed organizations across the U.S. - The program uses a tiered structure that moves organizations from awareness to integration to transformation. - Level 1 establishes shared language, foundational practices and safer environments for clients, staff and partners. - Level 2 requires documented evidence that trauma-informed principles are embedded in training systems, quality practices, staff support structures and culture. - MasterWord completed a rigorous assessment led by the ECRH certification team. - ECRH said the review covered staff engagement and training, organizational reflection, documented implementation, and ongoing professional development and wellness support for language professionals. - Trauma-informed practice in language services affects how interpreters recognize trauma expressions across cultures and how cultural humility is used so fear, grief and distress are not misread. - The approach is meant to reduce the risk of re-traumatization in healthcare, behavioral health, court, child welfare and trafficking-response settings. - The framework also addresses vicarious trauma, or the cumulative toll of repeated exposure to others’ pain on interpreters. - MasterWord said the certification reflects how the company trains its language professionals, supports staff and serves clients. - Ludmila “Mila” Golovine, MasterWord president and CEO, said trauma-informed awareness strengthens communication and supports everyone involved. - Mary Beth Fisk, CEO of The Ecumenical Center, said MasterWord embedded the approach into how it trains people, supports staff and serves clients. - ECRH said its program was developed with community partners and national experts.

Between the lines: - The certification formalizes a shift from trauma-informed theory to measurable organizational practice. - ECRH is positioning trauma-informed care as a standard of human-centered practice, not a specialty limited to behavioral health. - MasterWord’s certification may set a benchmark for language services providers that work inside systems already investing in trauma training for their own staff. - ECRH argued that when providers work with language professionals who are not trained in trauma-informed communication, the chain of care can break.

What's next: - ECRH is encouraging other organizations, including healthcare systems, schools, courts, businesses, nonprofits and faith communities, to explore certification. - Organizations interested in the program can visit ECRH’s website or contact Sarah Kotzur at Skotzur@ecrh.org. - MasterWord is expected to use the certification as part of its ongoing trauma-informed training, staff support and client service approach.

The bottom line: - MasterWord’s Level 2 certification elevates trauma-informed language services from an internal practice to a public benchmark for the industry.