TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE AS AN INTERVENTION AND ORGANIZATIONAL APPROACH: AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/humanitas/2025.4.1Keywords:
medical-social services, posttraumatic stress disorder, the effects of trauma on an individual, traumainformed careAbstract
The purpose of the article is to introduce to trauma-informed care within American practice of trauma-informed intervention and treatment. Research methods applied: analysis and synthesis of scientific literature (to clarify the key concepts of the study), systematization (in order to identify existing scientific approaches to solving the problem), theoretical generalization (to formulate the final provisions and conclusions). Trauma-informed care is an intervention and organizational approach that focuses on the impact of trauma on individuals and how it influences their response to behavioral health services throughout the prevention and treatment process. While there are various definitions and models for implementing trauma-informed care in medical-social organizations, it typically incorporates three key elements: recognizing the prevalence of trauma; understanding how trauma affects everyone involved with the program, organization, or system ‒ including the workforce; and applying this knowledge in practical ways. Trauma-informed care is a commitment to enhancing medical-social staff competence and establishing programmatic standards and clinical guidelines that facilitate the delivery of trauma-sensitive services. A key principle of trauma-informed care is community engagement, involving clients and staff in the ongoing development and delivery of trauma-informed services. When these groups are included in the process, they are more likely to feel empowered, invested in, and satisfied with the care they receive. Implementing trauma-informed care can significantly enhance processes related to screening, assessment, treatment planning, and placement, while also reducing the risk of retraumatization. By improving communication between clients and treatment providers, trauma-informed care clarifies misunderstanding on the client’s reactions, ensuring that appropriate referrals for trauma-specific treatment are made.
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