The following resources help administrators and managers implement changes in policies and procedures and work collaboratively with other service providers to make systems more trauma-informed. Resources include State and local examples.
Advancing Trauma-Informed Care Within and Across Child-Serving Systems
Brennan, Guarino, Axelrod, & Gonsoulin (2020)
Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago
Presents a guide, in partnership with the American Institutes for Research, for child welfare agencies and community partners to develop a multisystem, coordinated response to child trauma. The guide concludes with recommendations for practice improvement.
Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2020)
Guides caseworkers and supervisors in implementing trauma-informed language and practices into organizational culture.
Creating Trauma-Informed Systems
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Provides explanations for the importance of trauma-informed child- and family-service systems, including resources.
Episode 13: Collaborating Between Child Welfare and Mental Health [Podcast]
Child Welfare Information Gateway (2017)
Emphasizes the importance of building cross-system collaborations between child welfare and mental health systems. This podcast also discusses practical steps that professionals can take to better support children, youth, and families who are experiencing traumatic stress symptoms.
Recommendations for Trauma-Informed Care Under the Family First Prevention Services Act
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Details provisions in the Family First Prevention Services Act that require trauma-informed approaches in casework practice and provides recommendations for better understanding Family First.
SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) (2014)
Presents a working concept of trauma and a trauma-informed approach that is acceptable and appropriate across an array of service systems. This paper utilizes research, practice, and survivor knowledge to generate a framework for improving the capacity of multiple service systems and public institutions to better address the trauma-related issues of their communities.
Trauma Informed Child Welfare Systems—A Rapid Evidence Review
Bunting, Montgomery, Mooney, MacDonald, Coulter, Hayes, & Davidson (2019)
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(3)
Reviews various implementation strategies designed to create trauma-informed practices at State and local child welfare agencies.
What is a Trauma-Informed Child and Family Service System?
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2016)
Details essential components of a child and family service system that incorporates trauma-informed practices.
What Steps Can Our Agency Take to Become More Trauma Informed?
Casey Family Programs (2018)
Explores how child welfare agencies can become more trauma informed in all areas of practice. The article outlines strategies for becoming trauma informed and lists the benefits of doing so, including increased retention of staff and higher workplace satisfaction.
State and local examples
Going the Distance: Implementing Child Welfare Trauma Training Toolkit in Three Organizations [Webinar]
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) (2016)
Provides information about experience of three child welfare organizations in adapting the NCTSN trauma training toolkit to their locality and population.
Multiplying Connections
Health Federation of Philadelphia
Offers tools to help organizations build trauma-informed systems of care that respond to children suffering from trauma in ways that "do no further harm."
A TARGETed© Approach to Working With Traumatized Youth and Families Program Manual for the Illinois PII Project
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (2016)
Details the implementation process of the Illinois Trauma Focus Model for Reducing Long-Term Foster Care project in order to assist others in adapting the process for local use. This manual discusses staff and client recruitment strategies as well as data-driven decision-making related to program implementation.
Trauma-Informed Innovative Practices: Insights From Children’s Bureau Discretionary Grantees on Addressing Trauma in Child Welfare
Murphy & Ingoldsby (2020)
James Bell Associates
Highlights common approaches, successes, and lessons learned from 20 Children’s Bureau discretionary grantees that received funding to identify and support children in the child welfare system who are impacted by trauma. The report highlights the grantees’ activities and innovations across five core programmatic components: universal screening, functional assessment, child- and system-level monitoring, service array expansion, and data-driven implementation.