By Whitney Marris, Trauma Therapist and Director of Trauma-Informed Practice & System Transformation
NOTE: The enclosed is sample legislation from CTIPP’s 2022 Trauma-Informed Policy Development Highlights. It is meant to be educational and aspirational for trauma-informed advocacy.
Sample Legislation: Federal House of Representatives 3467 & Senate 4332
CTIPP Policy Dimension: Grow the evidence base for trauma-informed, trauma-responsive, and trauma-specific practices and programs (17% of trauma-informed bills ITTIC analyzed were aligned with this dimension)
Summary: Though not signed into law in 2022, this bipartisan measure is entitled the “Improving Data Collection for Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Act.”
It seeks to add to the research base to enhance our broader understanding of trauma and adversity. This would be accomplished through the federal government authorizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to utilize relevant public health surveillance systems and surveys to conduct longitudinal research and collect data (concerning privacy/confidentiality and in cooperation with the states) connecting ACEs with various public health outcomes with an emphasis on addressing the equity concerns in the original ACE study by including a more diverse, nationally-representative sample.
Among hoped-for outcomes when it comes to enhancing our collective understanding to build resilience and prevent future trauma would be a more thorough understanding of the relationship between adversity and various health outcomes, the ways that intensity, frequency, and chronicity of adverse experiences might impact such outcomes and experiences, as well as the relative strength of particular risk and protective factors.
The CDC can provide technical assistance directly or through grants/agreements with relevant public or nonprofit entities to support this work.
Explore CTIPP’s 2022 Trauma-Informed Policy Development Highlights