SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach
"SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach" responds to and recognizes the impact of trauma on many sectors in behavioral health and beyond. The paper introduces the concept of trauma and offers a framework for how organizations, systems, and service sectors can become trauma-informed.
The paper also expands on the following topics:
- Definition of trauma (the three “Es”):
- Event(s)
- Experience of the event(s)
- Effect
- Definition of a trauma-informed approach (the four “Rs”):
- Realize
- Recognize
- Respond
- Resist retraumatization
- Six key principles of a trauma-informed approach:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness and transparency
- Peer support
- Collaboration and mutuality
- Empowerment, voice, and choice
- Cultural, historical, and gender issues
- Ten implementation domains:
- Governance and leadership
- Policy
- Physical environment of the organization
- Engagement and involvement of people in recovery, trauma survivors, consumers, and family members receiving services
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Screening, assessment, and treatment services
- Training and workforce development
- Progress monitoring and quality assurance
- Financing
- Evaluation
- Sample questions to consider when implementing a trauma-informed approach
By cross-walking the key principles with trauma-specific content, this paper aims to provide a viable and unified framework that can be used to support the work of consumers, communities, and stakeholders. The engagement process with the public was a critical piece in creating such a framework for the many sectors who serve survivors and their families.
Download the digital version of “SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.”