trauma-informed care
A treatment approach that recognizes and responds to the impact of trauma on individuals and organizations.
Full Definition
Trauma-informed care is an organizational and treatment approach that recognizes trauma's widespread impact and integrates knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices. This approach emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural humility in all interactions. Trauma-informed care appears throughout behavioral health documentation as both a treatment modality and an organizational framework. The approach requires specific training documentation, policy implementation records, and outcome measurements that demonstrate trauma-sensitive practices across all levels of service delivery.
Usage
Usage note: Hyphenated when used as an adjective; represents both individual treatment and organizational culture.
In Context
- "All staff receive annual trauma-informed care training to ensure consistent implementation across programs." — Staff development documentation
- "The facility's trauma-informed care policies prioritize safety and choice in all client interactions." — Policy and procedure manual