Recognizing the signs of trauma is an important part of trauma-informed and responsive (TIR) care. There are many benefits to identifying children affected by traumatic experiences. Identifying trauma is an opportunity to:
- Understand some of the root causes of a child’s behavioral and physical health concerns
- Reduce some of the long-term impacts of childhood trauma
- Improve families’ engagement in services
- Prevent staff burnout and turnover
- Reduce stigma on the impact of trauma and discuss common misconceptions
These pages will help you incorporate trauma identification into your overall trauma-responsive practices. Knowing the signs of trauma is an important first step. However, identifying trauma without engaging families and connecting them to supports can be harmful. To minimize harm and promote healing, use the sections below to strengthen how you identify and support children with trauma.
Trauma can negatively affect a child’s mind, body, and relationships, so it’s important to identify supports that meet their behavioral, physical, and relational health needs.