What is Trauma-Informed Care?
The goal of trauma-informed care is to...(1,2)
- Recognize signs/symptoms of trauma in patients, families, and staff
- Understand the multifaceted impacts of trauma on a life and facilitate recovery
- Incorporate trauma-informed approaches into policy, procedure, and practice
- Avoid re-traumatization or any additional harm
Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
![The CDC’s Office of Readiness and Response (ORR), in collaboration with SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC), developed and led a new training for CPR employees about the role of trauma-informed care during public health emergencies. The training aimed to increase responder awareness of the impact that trauma can have in the communities where they work. Participants learned SAMHSA’s six principles that guide a trauma-informed approach, including: Safety Trustworthiness & transparency Peer support Collaboration & mutuality Empowerment & choice Cultural, historical & gender issues Adopting a trauma-informed approach is not accomplished through any single particular technique or checklist. It requires constant attention, caring awareness, sensitivity, and possibly a cultural change at an organizational level. On-going internal organizational assessment and quality improvement, as well as engagement with community stakeholders, will help to imbed this approach which can be augmented with organizational development and practice improvement. The training provided by CPR and NCTIC was the first step for CDC to view emergency preparedness and response through a trauma-informed lens.](https://libapps.s3.amazonaws.com/accounts/300712/images/principles_of_TIC_infographic.jpg)
(3)
The Guiding Principles in Action
The trauma-informed care framework highlights 6 key principles, expanded upon in the table below(4):
Principle |
Description and Examples |
Safety
|
- The physical setting of the office or clinic promotes feelings of safety.
- Patients, staff, and professionals feel mentally and physically safe from harm.
|
Trustworthiness and Transparency
|
- Operations and care decisions are made transparently.
- An importance is placed on the building and maintenance of trust with patients and patient's family.
|
Peer Support
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- Establishing connections between patients and others who have also experienced trauma (peers).
- Utilizes lived experience of patient and peers. Works to decrease feelings of isolation.
|
Collaboration and Mutuality
|
- Staff and patient/client work together in a partnership - the playing field is leveled.
- Removes the hierarchy of power between clinician and patient, which can be intimidating (even moreso for survivors of trauma).
- Power is shared and patient's input is valued in decision-making.
|
Empowerment, Voice, and Choice
|
- Importance is placed on the strengths, resilience, and experiences of the patient.
- Empowerment initiatives are led to strengthen both staff and clients, including workforce development, shared decision-making, choice, and goalsetting.
- Give patients a sense of agency and opportunities for self-advocacy.
- Staff are able to work well with organizational supports.
- When staff feel safe, patients feel safe.
|
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues
|
- Acknowledging that certain cultural groups have, historically, have experienced medical trauma due to stereotype, bias, and policies.
- Encourages culturally responsive care for all races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, ages, religions, and gender identities.
- Facilitate protective and responsive policies and practices that emphasize this.
|
Resources on Trauma-Informed Care
The following linked books, articles, and websites provide additional information on TIC's importance, goals, and implementation.