Policy

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Our Policy Vision

CTIPP’s vision is for public policies at the federal, state, local and tribal levels to build on the science of trauma and resilience and to reflect the practical realities of implementation. To accomplish that goal, we educate policymakers, assist in policy development, and provide support to trauma leaders and advocates.

CTIPP embraces a public health framework, addressing the social determinants of health and supporting the integration of promotion, prevention, resilience-building, and healing activities. Our work to create an equitable, just, and trauma-informed society requires the development of broad-based, systemic solutions and structural reform in addition to new partnerships and funding mechanisms.

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CTIPP’S Policy Agenda includes:

  • Trauma-preventive policies that reduce trauma exposure and enhance resilience,
  • Trauma-informed policies that mitigate the effects of trauma exposure, and
  • Trauma-specific policies that improve access to trauma-focused services.

Ongoing Activities

Policy partnerships CTIPP works in partnership with aligned organizations to support our policy agenda.

CTIPP-CAN CTIPP hosts monthly conference calls to solicit suggestions for policy changes, share information about legislative activities, discuss strategy, and facilitate state-to-state sharing.

Congressional briefings and educational activities CTIPP educates policymakers about the science of trauma and resilience, and helps to draw out implications for policy and practice. We have hosted general informational briefings for all legislative staff, targeted briefings for key committees, and public forums and webinars.

Policy Briefs, Science Notes, and Advocacy Tips CTIPP develops Policy Briefs on priority issues, Science Notes summarizing key research findings, and Advocacy Tips.

Past Policy Priorities

Congressional resolutions on trauma-informed care. In 2018, CTIPP supported the Congressional work of Reps. Gallagher and Davis by reviewing and adding insights to develop HR 443, a trauma-informed resolution that passed in February with unanimous bi-partisan support in the House. A companion resolution was prepared by Senators Heitkamp and Johnson, SR 346, and passed in May. CTIPP board members were integral advisors on both resolutions and also supported the development of the Trauma-Informed Care Caucus.

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Response to opioid epidemic. In the spring of 2017, the CTIPP working group on the opioid epidemic issued a policy brief entitled Trauma-Informed Approaches Need to be Part of a Comprehensive Strategy for Addressing the Opioid Epidemic. (Link to document on Resources page) The brief was distributed to Congressional staff at several briefings, and by the end of 2018, had been downloaded over 14,000 times. When Senators Durbin and Heitkamp signaled that they intended to advocate for the inclusion of provisions from their trauma-informed bill in the opioid legislation, CTIPP got behind their effort. We connected staff from the Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee, who work for Chairman Senator Alexander from Tennessee, with members of CTIPP from trauma-informed programs in Tennessee. Committee staff made visits and saw firsthand the effectiveness of trauma-informed approaches. These visits likely contributed to the decision to support inclusion of Senators Heitkamp and Durbin’s trauma-informed provisions in the final bill. The bill was signed into law in December, 2018.

Evidence-Supported Practices. In 2018, CTIPP issued a Policy Brief on the use of empirical evidence in decisions about policy and practice. 

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Current Policy Agenda

In 2019, CTIPP will be focusing on the following policy issues:

  • Screening/inquiring about trauma history and impact.
  • Defining and measuring “trauma-informed” approaches.
  • Implementation of the Family First Act, with an emphasis on intergenerational approaches to treatment and prevention for families.
  • Justice reform.
  • New trends in homelessness.