Trauma-Informed Care

Through its Trauma-Informed Care/Positive Youth Development initiative, the mission of Family Partnerships of Central Florida is to transform the local system of care into a trauma-informed community of practice. Trauma-informed care is an evidence-based approach and paradigm shift that asks, “What has happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”

A trauma-informed approach refers to how a program, agency, organization or community thinks about and responds to those who have experienced or may be at risk of experiencing trauma. It is a change in the organizational culture.

In this approach, all of the organization’s components incorporate a thorough understanding of the prevalence and impact of trauma, the role that trauma plays, and the complex and varied paths in which people recover and heal from trauma. A trauma-informed approach is designed to avoid re-traumatizing those seeking assistance, focusing on “safety first” and a commitment to “do no harm,” and facilitates participation and meaningful involvement of consumers, families and trauma survivors in planning services programs.

A trauma-informed program, organization or system realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for healing. It recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in staff, clients and others involved with the system. It responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, practices and settings. A trauma-informed approach also understands the impact working with victims of trauma has on responders and service providers.

In October 2012, our agency began developing a system transformation project that established a framework for incorporating trauma-informed care across the community of practice. This transformation initiative was intended to build and foster broad community awareness and knowledge regarding the impact of trauma on children and families and those who serve and care for them. To the extent possible, it also requires closely knit collaborative relationships with other public sector service systems (Harris and Fallot, 2001).

Through its Trauma-Informed Care/Positive Youth Development initiative, Family Partnerships of Central Florida transforms the local system of care into a trauma-informed community of practice. It is our mission to achieve positive youth development by being trauma-informed in our approach to care, to lessen the impact of trauma on children and youth entering our system of care, and to promote resilience, sustainability and the health and well-being of children and youth we serve. We strive to impart hope, motivate youth for successful living, inspire confidence to achieve life dream, and establish critical, meaningful and positive lasting connections for youth aging out of foster care.