Why Trauma-Informed?

A majority of our nation's population suffers from trauma, and everyone responds and operates differently under adversity and stress. If temporary, these reactions can save us; but prolonged exposure can create profound negative impacts throughout a lifespan, if not addressed, which can ripple across families, communities, and systems. With strong resilience factors and healing resources in place, the impact of trauma can be less severe.

DEFINITIONS: Trauma is an EVENT, series of events, or set of circumstances EXPERIENCED

by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse EFFECTS

on the individual’s functioning and mental, physical, social, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being. (SAMHSA)

Trauma is "a thing or things that happened either too much, too soon, too fast, or for too long without something being attended to by something reparative or healing." (Resmaa Menakem)

3 Things to Know About Trauma

Trauma is pervasive

70% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event
46% of U.S. children have experienced at least one event by age 18 & more than 20% have experienced at least two

Disproportionate impacts on communities can be caused by historical, racial, and systemic trauma, social disadvantages & cascading disasters

The cost of inaction is high

Major underlying cause of substance abuse, suicide, gun violence, school dropouts and poor health outcomes
Direct correlation between trauma and some of our nation’s most prevalent and expensive health conditions including diabetes, COPD, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure
Impacts every community system, putting more burdens on our under-resourced services (E.G., education, social, legal & housing)