Authored by Whitney Marris, LCSW, CTIPP’s Director of Trauma-Informed
Practice and System Transformation
Co-produced by Lori Hardie, MSN, RNC, CHSE, Director of Health Sciences, transfr, and Doctor of Nursing Practice Candidate, The George Washington University
Foreword by Cherrell Triplett, M.D., educator and specialist in
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Designed and edited by Laura Braden, CTIPP’s Director of Communications
(Content advisory re: sexual assault and medical trauma)
This toolkit concerns the power and positioning of the healthcare system as a setting to promote trauma-informed policies and practices, with particular attention to responding to the unique challenges and needs to address disparities and constellations of disadvantage concerning women’s health.
The toolkit provides information to bring awareness to the nature and impacts of trauma related to women’s health issues as well as resources and considerations for change agents, advocates, and activists who wish to target this area for trauma-informed transformation to shift our society towards one that honors lived experience and supports recovery, healing, and well-being for all.
We delve into the realm of women’s health, acknowledging the unique challenges and experiences faced by those who identify as women. We embrace and respect the fluidity and diversities of personal identities and thus use the term “women” to encompass all who claim it.
We recognize, though, that issues related to topics explored can impact individuals beyond the boundaries of gender identity and expression. In this toolkit, you may notice language such as “pregnant and parenting people” and other gender-neutral terms in places where it is relevant to encompass diverse healthcare journeys.
We work to honor the richness of narratives, seeking to provide support and understanding for all individuals in the realm of women’s health. We encourage readers to approach this toolkit with openness, recognizing the varied perspectives and needs that intertwine within this realm in ways essential to moving toward healing, justice, and well-being for all.