Trauma-Informed Care

Trauma-informed care shifts the conversation from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” Having a complete picture of a person’s life helps professionals better understand what services and supports may be helpful and actively work to avoid re-traumatization.

“By age 16, approximately 25% of children and adolescents in the U.S. experience at least one potentially traumatic event, including life threatening accidents, disasters, maltreatment, assault and family and community violence.”

“Although some children and adolescents may recover quickly after adversity, traumatic experiences can result in significant disruptions in child or adolescent development with profound long-term consequences. Repeated exposure to traumatic events can alter psychobiological development and increase the risk of low-academic performance, engagement in high-risk behaviors and difficulties in peer and family relationships.” Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact you into adulthood. There are resources available to help address any lasting impact and build resilience (ability to bounce back).

“Traumatic stress is also associated with increased use of health and mental health services and increased involvement with other child-serving systems, such as the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.” Read more from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network »

Brain Science: Trauma & The Brain

How Childhood Trauma Can Make You A Sick Adult »
View this seven-minute video on ACEs (includes brief mention of effect of trauma on the brain).
Early Childhood Brain Development »
52-minute video with Bruce Perry
The Trauma & Mental Health Report »
Interview with Kim Shilson on psychological trauma and the brain

Resilience & Protective Factors

Building Resilience in Children – 20 Practical, Powerful Strategies (Backed by Science) »
Hey Sigmund article on resilience and the brain
Risk & Protective Factors from Youth.Gov »
Risk and protective factors for mental, emotional and behavioral disorders in adolescence
Harvard University on Resilience »
Article on resilience from Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University
Harvard University InBrief: Resilience Series »
View three short videos from the InBrief: Resilience Series.

Resources for Clinicians and System of Care Professionals

What is Trauma-Informed Care?»
The Trauma-Informed Care Implementation Resource Center offers resources and policy considerations for organizations working to ensure they are delivering services that honor the principles of trauma informed care.

The Truth about ACEs Infographic »
The lasting trauma of these adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can impact a person’s mental and physical health for a lifetime.

Why are ACEs significant? »
ACEs are adverse childhood experiences that harm children’s developing brains so profoundly that the effects show up decades later; they cause much of chronic disease, most mental illness and are at the root of most violence.

Five-minute ACEs overview »
View this remarkable video primer from KPJR Films, the filmmaking team behind Paper Tigers and Resilience.

How to Manage Trauma Infographic »
“70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives. That’s 223.4 million people.” Explore the whole infographic “How to Manage Trauma” from the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Trauma-Informed Approach and Trauma-Specific Interventions »
SAMHSA’s six key principles of a trauma-informed approach and trauma-specific interventions are designed specifically to address the consequences of trauma in the individual and to facilitate healing.

Please type “Trauma” into the search bar when clicking on the link above.

Extensive Trauma-Informed Care online resources »
The NCTSN Mission is to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, and their families.

SAMHSA’s TIP 57: Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services publication »
Free, downloadable resource assists behavioral health professionals in understanding the impact and consequences for those who experience trauma. Discusses patient assessment, treatment planning strategies that support recovery and building a trauma-informed care workforce.

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