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.
Child Welfare Toolkit for Early Childhood Professionals (PDF - 23,091 KB)
Partnership for Resilient Infants + Toddlers (2014)
Outlines a collaborative approach between early childhood professionals and the child welfare system in order to implement trauma-informed practices in work with parents and children.
Conceptualizing a Trauma-informed Child Welfare System for Indian Country (PDF - 224 KB)
Caringi & Lawson (2014)
Journal of Family Strengths, 14(1)
Provides information on a comprehensive design of trauma-informed systems that use evidence-based, culturally competent interventions for affected children and families that should be used in American Indian communities because of the documented incidence and prevalence of trauma.
Creating Trauma-informed Child Welfare Systems: A Guide For Administrators (PDF - 5,106 KB)
Chadwick Center for Children and Families, Chadwick Trauma-Informed Systems Project (2012)
Discusses how trauma can affect children and families in all aspects of the child welfare system and gives practical implications for child welfare administrators in each chapter.
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.
Going Beyond Trauma-informed Care (TIC) Training for Child Welfare Supervisors and Frontline Workers: The Need for System-wide Policy Changes Implementing TIC Practices in All Child Welfare Agencies (PDF - 179 KB)
Heffernan & Viggiani (2015)
The Advanced Generalist, 1(3/4)
Reviews current efforts to train child welfare workers in trauma-informed practices and argues that trauma-informed care adaptation and training must transcend case workers and supervisors in order for true systemic change to occur. This article asserts that trauma-informed care agencies will result in better outcomes for children and families served while preventing vicarious traumatization of agency staff.
Harnessing the Learning Community Model to Integrate Trauma-informed Care Principles in Service Organizations (PDF - 166 KB)
Morrison, Alcantara, Conover, Salerno, Cleek, Parker, McKay, Sharp, & Ligenza (2015)
McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, New York University Silver School of Social Work
Discusses the development of the Learning Community and the effectiveness of the training. Information is provided on the components of Trauma-informed care (TIC), core principles of TIC, the prevalence of trauma and its effects, and implications for service organizations.
Helping Young Children Who Have Experienced Trauma: Policies and Strategies for Early Care and Education
Child Trends (2017)
Discusses the effective implementation of trauma-informed practices into child care and preschool programs.
Preparing for a Trauma Consultation in Your Juvenile and Family Court (PDF - 468 KB)
Marsh, Dierkhising, Decker, & Rosiak (2015)
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Explains why juvenile and family courts should be trauma-informed and describes the conceptual and operational framework of the Trauma Consultation Team. Questions are then posed that courts can consider in deciding whether their juvenile or family court is ready for a trauma consultation.
Preventing and Mitigating the Effects of Childhood Violence and Trauma: An Interview With Carl C. Bell, MD
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Health Care Innovations Exchange Team (2012)
Describes the impact childhood violence and trauma can have on mental health well-being. Dr. Bell also suggests ways to incorporate and promote the protective factors to prevent the effects of violence.
A Social Worker's Tool Kit for Working With Immigrant Families: Healing the Damage: Trauma and Immigrant Families in the Child Welfare System (PDF - 944 KB)
American Humane Association & Migration and Child Welfare National Network (2010)
Describes strategies to build an organization's capacity to better respond to the needs of immigrant families exposed to child maltreatment, domestic and community violence, and other traumatic stressors.
Trauma and Justice
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Presents efforts to reduce the pervasive, harmful, and costly health impact of violence and trauma by integrating trauma-informed approaches throughout health, behavioral health, and related systems.
State and local examples
Advancing Trauma-informed Systems for Children (PDF - 3,994 KB)
Lang, Campbell, & Vanderploeg (2015)
Impact: Ideas and Information to Promote the Health of Connecticut's Children
Provides a framework for developing a comprehensive and integrated trauma-informed system of care for children and is intended to help child-serving systems advance trauma-informed care in order to provide more effective and cost-efficient services that result in better outcomes for all children. Examples and recommendations are provided from Connecticut's child-serving systems for implementing and improving trauma-informed programs and services.
Building Trauma-informed Systems of Care for Children in Ohio (PDF - 1,116 KB)
Children's Defense Fund Ohio (2014)
Provides an overview of trauma-informed care and examples of screening/identification, assessment, and evidence-based treatment—three key elements that have been found to mitigate and prevent trauma symptoms. The brief highlights examples of some of the many promising trauma-informed initiatives taking place in Ohio and gives recommendations for how communities and child-serving institutions can work together to build trauma-informed systems of care throughout the State.
Compassionate Schools
State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Provides training, guidance, referral, and technical assistance to schools wishing to adopt a Compassionate Schools model. Compassionate Schools benefit all students who attend but focus on students chronically exposed to stress and trauma in their lives.
Creating a Trauma-informed System of Care: Partnerships, Facilitative Factors, Barriers, Special Considerations. Presentation at the Council of Social Work Education's 60th Annual Program Meeting. October 24, 2014. Tampa, Florida (PDF - 4,854 KB)
Middleton, Josiah-Martin, & Esaki (2014)
Presents information on a trauma-informed system of care implemented in Maine. This project aims to utilize a trauma-informed system of care approach in serving children and families affected by substance abuse to increase well-being, improve permanency, and enhance the safety of children ages 0-5 and their families.
Implementation of a Workforce Initiative to Build Trauma-informed Child Welfare Practice and Services: Findings from the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project (PDF - 296 KB)
Fraser, Griffin, Barto, Lo, Wenz-Gross, Spinazzola, Bodian, Nisenbaum, & Bartlett (2014)
Children and Youth Services Review, 44
Describes the development and implementation of the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project (MCTP), a statewide initiative to enhance the capacity of child welfare workers and child mental health providers to identify, respond, and intervene early and effectively with children traumatized by chronic loss, abuse, neglect, and violence. The article address key lessons learned.
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."