1. Trauma Informed Services The Evolution of a Concept
Maxine Harris Ph.D.
July, 2004

2. What Is A Trauma-Informed Service System?
A human services or health care system whose primary mission is altered by virtue of knowledge about trauma and the impact it has on the lives of consumers receiving services

3. Why Trauma? The Extent of the Problem
60-75% of women in treatment for drug or alcohol abuse
43-81% of adult psychiatric inpatients
22-54% of women receiving outpatient mental health services
50-70% of women in domestic violence shelters

4. INFORM: to educate and make. knowledgeable about
INFORM: to educate and make knowledgeable about (Harris and Fallot, 2000)
Basic education for staff about trauma and its relationship to mental health symptoms and substance abuse
Consumer awareness campaign
Standard assessment of trauma and PTSD symptoms

5. INFORM: to educate (cont)
Trauma skills assessment as part of an employment interview for all clinical staff
Trauma champions within the agency
Elimination of overtly abusive practices
Administrative support for training and treatment innovations

6. INFORM: to give character to (Elliot, Bjelajac, et. al., 2004)
Services should maximize consumer safety, choice and empowerment
Eliminate practices that have the potential to re-victimize
Collaborate in all aspects of treatment
Provide needed emotional and practical support to facilitate recovery
Maximize choice and consumer control
Emphasize consumer strengths
Acknowledge and respect the role of culture

7. INFORM: to be the formative principle of
A paradigm shift in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment that identifies trauma as the core event
Wider use of trauma-related diagnoses
Identification of trauma-related skill deficits
Self-awareness, self-soothing, accurate labeling
Treatment to address trauma and the related skill deficits specifically
Appreciation of the impact trauma dynamics have on all relationships
Betrayal, power, blame and trust

8. Choosing a Definition Assess the needs and values of the organization
Assess the resources available
Assess the potential opposition
Consider staging the transformation