Trauma-informed care can help people feel safe, heard, and respected, laying a foundation for genuine healing. This approach can help people engage more fully in their care, develop a trusting relationship with health care staff, and improve long-term health outcomes. Adopting trauma-informed practices can also significantly improve provider and staff wellness, reduce burnout, and enhance staff retention.
Check out these resources to learn about trauma-informed care and practical tips for adoption at the provider, health system, and state level.
1. What is trauma-informed care?
Trauma-informed care shifts the focus from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” This encourages the treatment of the whole person and helps providers see a fuller picture of patients’ life situations — past and present — when providing care. Discover the benefits »
2. How can trauma-informed care promote racial equity?
Trauma-informed care requires a nuanced understanding of not only how trauma impacts the lives and care of patients, but the root causes behind that trauma. Racism is trauma and should be treated as such in any trauma-informed care framework. Understand the connection »
3. What are opportunities to advance a trauma- and resilience-informed health system?
Learn about a large health system in Colorado that implemented an ambitious organization-wide trauma- and resilience-informed approach, while also focusing on addressing systemic racism and biases. Learn about one health system’s journey »
4. What does adoption of trauma-informed care look like at the provider level?
This approach to care does not need to be complicated, and it can be implemented across a range of care and service settings. Lessons from innovators can help other health care organizations and care teams adopt trauma-informed practices. Explore trauma-informed care in action »
5. How can states support trauma-informed care?
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful and potentially traumatic events, such as violence, abuse, or neglect, that occur prior to the age of 18. California and New Jersey are both pursuing strategies to address, prevent, and mitigate the effects of ACEs that can inform other states. Find out how states can promote healing »
Explore More
- Adopting a Trauma-Informed Approach to Improve Patient Care: Foundational Organizational-Level Steps – Based on a CHCS brief, this Better Care Playbook tipsheet can help practitioners understand organizational-level steps to begin incorporating trauma-informed care into a health care organization.
- Trauma-Informed Care Resource Center – This national resource center can serve as a guide for health care organizations adopting best practices for addressing trauma.
- 10 Key Ingredients for Trauma-Informed Care – This infographic/poster outlines clinical and organizational practice changes to support trauma-informed care.
- Encouraging Staff Wellness in Trauma-Informed Organizations – This infographic/poster highlights the impact of chronic stress on staff, and strategies that organizations can use to promote staff wellness.
- Pathways to Resilience – This national forum helps states and communities advance trauma-responsive policies and programs across sectors.
