We offer training and technical assistance (TTA) to child welfare agencies, substance use and mental health treatment providers, the judicial and healthcare systems, and other family-serving entities to support in-depth knowledge and understanding about the cumulative and often highly intersectional effects of trauma on children, parents, and family members affected by substance use and co-occurring disorders. We believe the success of trauma-informed care hinges on recognition of the extent, reach, and effect of trauma along with an understanding that attending to it requires a coordinated, culturally responsive, cross-system approach among service providers.

Our TTA is designed to help collaborative teams build off their collective capacities to further develop and implement trauma-responsive enhancements throughout their service delivery systems. The consequences of systems not delivering trauma-informed care are well documented: 1) when systems are not designed to screen families for trauma, there’s an even greater likelihood of families being referred to any combination of inadequate or inappropriate services; 2) in the absence of trauma-responsive services, systems’ policies, procedures, and practices can either intentionally or unintentionally trigger or re-traumatize families; and 3) we also know that trauma fundamentally disrupts trust, and it can take just one negative experience to alter a family’s willingness to engage or remain in services.¹ These consequences present significant risks to families affected by substance use and co-occurring disorders including the potential for a return to use or further destabilization. By understanding the effects of trauma and the connection with substance use and co-occurring disorders, collaborative teams can strengthen families by keeping everyone engaged in services to help promote healing and recovery; enhance safety and protective capacities; and improve individual and familial health and well-being.