The CDC’s Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR), in partnership with SAMHSA’s National Center for Trauma-Informed Care (NCTIC), developed a training program to educate CPR staff on the importance of trauma-informed care in public health emergencies.
The training aimed to enhance responders’ understanding of how trauma affects the communities they serve.
Participants were introduced to SAMHSA’s six guiding principles of a trauma-informed approach:
- Safety
- Trustworthiness & Transparency
- Peer Support
- Collaboration & Mutuality
- Empowerment & Choice
- Cultural, Historical & Gender Issues
Implementing a trauma-informed approach involves more than following a checklist or a specific technique.
It requires ongoing focus, sensitivity, and potentially a cultural shift within an organization.
Continuous internal assessment, quality improvement, and active engagement with community stakeholders are essential for embedding this approach, which can be further supported through organizational development and practice enhancement.
The CPR and NCTIC training marked the first step for the CDC in adopting a trauma-informed perspective in emergency preparedness and response.