Trauma Informed Care

Child trauma occurs more than you think.

More than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16 (SAMHSA). Potentially traumatic events include:

• Psychological, physical, or sexual abuse
• Community or school violence
• Witnessing or experiencing domestic violence
• National disasters or terrorism
• Commercial sexual exploitation
• Sudden or violent loss of a loved one
• Refugee or war experiences
• Military family-related stressors (e.g., deployment, parental loss or injury)
• Physical or sexual assault
• Neglect
• Serious accidents or life-threatening illness

The Sandusky County Family and Children First Council works in collaboration with local agencies, providers, families, schools and academic partners to integrate a trauma-informed approach across multiple systems of care.

Trauma-informed care recognizes and responds to the signs, symptoms, and risks of trauma to better support the health needs of patients who have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress.

Trauma-informed care is a framework that involves: 

• Understanding the prevalence of trauma and adversity and their impacts on health and behavior;
• Recognizing the effects of trauma and adversity on health and behavior;
• Training leadership, providers, and staff on responding to patients with best practices in trauma-informed care;
• Integrating knowledge about trauma and adversity into policies, procedures, practices and treatment planning; and
• Avoiding re-traumatization by approaching patients who have experienced ACEs and/or other adversities with non-judgmental support.