Trauma-Informed Care

The National Child and Traumatic Stress Network presents a series of briefs that address how to create a trauma-informed program within the juvenile justice setting. Topics of interest range from trauma-informed assessment and interventions and family engagement to how to create a cross-collaboration between service providers.

This package from the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments can guide educators and practitioners in creating learning environments that are safe, where students feel supported and challenged. Creating a climate of acceptance allows students to engage more fully in the classroom curriculum and exhibit positive behaviors.

This report was developed by the National Center for Mental Health and Juvenile Justice (NCMHJJ), in partnership with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC), to discuss child trauma in the juvenile justice setting. It describes nine essential elements for creating a trauma-informed juvenile justice diversion program.

This resource highlights SAMHSA’s six key principles for implementing a trauma-informed approach that can easily be generalized across multiple settings. In addition, SAMHSA provides brief descriptions on some trauma-informed programs that are commercially available, although they do not specifically endorse any of the programs.

These resources, produced by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), clearly define trauma-informed care, the importance of trauma awareness, and an understanding of the impact of trauma on behavioral health services. These protocols provide additional resources for practitioners to find more information, including an extensive literature review.