Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” Trauma Informed Care is an approach that explicitly acknowledges the role trauma plays in people’s lives. Trauma Informed Care means that every part of an organization or program understands the impact of trauma on the individuals they serve and adopts a culture that considers and addresses this impact. Adopting trauma-informed practices can improve client engagement, health outcomes and staff wellness. It can help reduce avoidable care and excess costs for both the health care and social service sectors.
The Guiding Principles of Trauma Informed Care
Safety
Clients and staff feel physically and psychologically safe
Trustworthiness & Transparency
Decisions are made with transparency, and with the goal of building and maintaining trust
Peer Support
Individuals with shared experiences are integrated into the organization and viewed as integral to service delivery
Collaboration
Power differences — between staff and clients and among organizational staff — are leveled to support shared decision-making
Humility & Responsiveness
Client and staff strengths are recognized, built on, and validated — this includes a belief in resilience and the ability to heal from trauma
Empowerment Choice & Voice
Client and staff strengths are recognized, built on, and validated — this includes a belief in resilience and the ability to heal from trauma
Cultural, Historical, Gender Issues
The organization actively moves past cultural demonstrating that healing happens in relationships stereotypes and biases
Adapted from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. For more information SAMHSA’s concept of Trauma Informed Care Click here For additional SAMHSA resources click here