• Childhood trauma exposure is a public health concern
• Most U.S. children are exposed to trauma or adverse childhood experiences (ACES), including violence, physical/sexual abuse, accidents, neglect, parent mental illness, etc.)
• Most childhood trauma exposure is unreported; screening can improve early identification of children
• Childhood trauma exposure is associated with problems with physical and mental health, suicide, substance abuse, school performance, and employment through adulthood
• The costs for children maltreated in a single year are estimated to be $124 billion in future healthcare and social service costs
• “Trauma-informed care” or a “trauma-informed approach” refers to strategies that a state, organization, system, or program can use to prevent, identify, and intervene early for children who may be exposed to trauma
• Trauma-informed care is relevant to, and has been applied in, all child-serving settings, including behavioral health, child welfare, pediatrics, juvenile justice, education, law enforcement, early care and education, and home visiting
• Trauma-informed care strategies include:
  • Workforce development/staff training and support
  • Screening and assessment to improve early identification of children
  • Access to evidence-based trauma-focused prevention and intervention programs
  • Organizational and policy changes to reflect research about trauma and consumer input
• Barriers to implementation of trauma-informed care strategies include:Limited local/in-house expertise in childhood trauma
  • Limited funding to support training and implementation activities
  • High rates of staff turnover

Key Resources

• This brief summarizes child trauma and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)
• Recent legislation related to trauma-informed approaches
• Recent GAO report on Children Affected by Trauma
• This brief describing CT’s trauma-informed child welfare system