Trauma-Informed Approach Integrated into Care
Youth-Friendly Practices
Many children and adolescents have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as abuse, neglect, or another type of trauma. Care team members should integrate a trauma-informed approach into pediatric and adolescent health care as needed, to open opportunities for treatment. A trauma-informed approach requires health centers to identify the signs and symptoms of trauma, acknowledge the prevalence of trauma in their patient populations, and integrate information about trauma into all health care practices.
Strategies
Implementation Tips
- Form a diverse staff committee, and include adolescents when possible, such as from a youth advisory council, to discuss current and historical trends/events in the community that could lead to trauma among patients
Tools & Resources
Screening tools, special considerations, and tips to create a more trauma-informed environment
Infobrief with practical steps and recommendations for health care organizations to become trauma-informed
Screening tool to assess and monitor progress toward becoming a trauma-informed organization
Paper that provides a framework for trauma and a trauma-informed approach for a variety of sectors that have the potential to ease or exacerbate an individual’s capacity to cope with traumatic experiences
Infobrief on considerations for screening for adverse childhood experiences and selecting the right tool
Implementation Tips
- Engage behavioral health staff or external organizations with skills to deliver training on trauma-informed care in a manner in which staff who may have experienced previous trauma can feel physically and psychologically safe
- Keep trauma trainings to smaller groups (5-10) rather than all-staff so that it is easier to facilitate and respond to individual needs
- Establish that care team members screening for trauma must have a clear strategy in place for utilizing the information in a way that supports patients’ health, including an established referral network, and that care team members should be well trained prior to conducting any screening
- Create a comprehensive referral guide that includes a range of services that those who experienced trauma might need. Include local, state and national resources available (e.g., family therapists, hospitals that specialize in sexual assault, national sexual assault hotline) to share with staff and patients
- Provide on-boarding trauma-informed care trainings for all new staff
- Provide ongoing trauma-informed trainings for all staff (e.g., clinical staff, front desk, referral coordinators, pharmacy techs)
Tools & Resources
Training to prepare pediatricians to identify and manage traumatized patients and families and connect them to evidence-based interventions and/or provide support for families
This first resource package in the Trauma-Informed Approach in Adolescent Health: Team Meeting Series supports facilitation of team conversations about trauma and adverse childhood experiences and offers ways to incorporate trauma-informed approaches for youth; free registration required
This second resource package in the Trauma-Informed Approach in Adolescent Health: Team Meeting Series supports facilitation of team conversations about the journey from trauma-aware to trauma-informed to help identify program strengths and opportunities for improving the use of trauma-informed approaches to support youth; free registration required
Recorded presentation on delivering strength-based, trauma-sensitive care and strategies to use when working with youth; free registration required before being directed to video
Summary of online module for pediatricians accompanied by presentation in Appendix A that provides clinical tools to recognize patients at risk for the negative impacts of adverse childhood experiences and approach their care in a way that is mindful of their unique history and needs
Online courses that address topics related to adverse childhood experiences and toxic stress, including screening, evidence-based interventions, and trauma-informed care
Online course on the prevalence and impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences, trauma informed care principles, and interactions between care team member and patients
TED Talk on how trauma has tangible effects on the developing brain and health consequences
Guide with tips for conducting a trauma-informed exam and sample language to use with patients
