Childhood trauma is directly tied to increased risk for poor health and health-related outcomes in adulthood. Trauma-informed care reflects the knowledge of this relationship so staff can better partner with clients in their recovery. Valorie Carson joins us once again to share some of the experiences of the Task Force in its effort to move to trauma-informed care.
By Valorie Carson, Community Planning Director for United Community Services of Johnson County
Across the country and here in the Kansas City metropolitan area, organizations are considering adopting trauma-informed practices and policies in order to improve outcomes for those they serve, and improve outcomes for their staff. One example of such an effort is the Johnson County Trauma Informed Care Task Force, located in Johnson County, Kan.
The Task Force was created in response to training from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC) in October 2011.
In the spring of 2012, the Task Force was formally assembled with representatives from law enforcement and corrections, mental and behavioral health, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, substance abuse treatment, early childhood learning and development — 11 separate member organizations that wanted to better understand trauma informed care, assess current knowledge and practices among their staff, and discern how best to implement trauma-informed practices and policies.
One thing was immediately self-evident: no organization or agency would ever be “done” implementing trauma-informed care. It is not a four-week program that can be put in place and walked away from. Once begun, it would be a continuous process requiring ongoing reflection on practices and policies, training for new staff and boosters for long-time staff, and an attentive eye on the organization’s culture in order to prevent returning to prior practices.
Additionally, organizations found that:
The majority of people are touched by at least one form of childhood trauma – if not personally, then through their interactions with their loved ones, colleagues and strangers. Multiple studies, most recently in Minnesota, have found that 55–63 percent of adults report at least one adverse childhood event (ACE). Two of five adults report two or more.
Once as a community we recognize that those we work with or serve could be experiencing health problems or engaging in negative health behaviors because of past trauma, we can more effectively intervene and support their recovery — and that of ourselves. Any organization that has human beings as staff can benefit from a trauma-informed perspective — but especially those that work with populations who are at increased risk.
Valorie's third installment about trauma-informed care will examine more closely her third bullet point: how to build resilience — that ability to bounce back from adversity — among children and youth.
HCF's Local Health Buzz Blog aims to discuss health and health policy issues that impact the uninsured and underserved in our service area. To submit a blog, please contact HCF Communications Officers, Jennifer Sykes, at jsykes@hcfgkc.org.
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