THE VICTIM’S SAFETY AND WELL-BEING TAKE PRIORITY IN ALL MATTERS 

APPLYING A TRAUMA-INFORMED APPROACH 

A Trauma-Informed Approach 

A trauma-informed approach begins with understanding the physical, social, and emotional impact of trauma 

on the individual, as well as on the professionals who help them. Trauma-informed care includes victimcentered practices and incorporates three elements— 

1. Realizing the prevalence of trauma, 

2. Recognizing how trauma affects all individuals involved, and 

3. Responding appropriately. 

An organization that is trauma-informed1 recognizes the potential impact of trauma on victims and 

understands potential paths for healing; identifies the signs and symptoms of trauma in clients, staff, and 

others involved in responding to victims; and responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, 

procedures, practices, and settings. A trauma-informed approach is designed to reduce the risk of 

inadvertent re-traumatization. 

Key Principles of a Trauma-Informed Approach 

While there is no prescribed set of policies or practices for a trauma-informed approach, there are general 

principles that promote recovery and resilience for individuals impacted by trauma. 

• Safety – Staff and the clients they serve feel physically and psychologically safe. 

• Trustworthiness and transparency – Organizations conduct operations with transparency, building 

and maintaining trust with clients, family members, staff, and others. 

• Peer support – Support from other trauma survivors helps a survivor establish safety and hope, build 

trust, enhance collaboration, and share experiences to promote recovery and healing. 

• Collaboration and mutuality –Recognizing that clients are partners in their treatment and 

1 Please refer to the trauma-informed care resources document available from the Center for more information. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project Trust in partnership with Office for Victims of Crime – Human Trafficking Capacity Building Center 

purposefully levelling the power dynamics between clients and staff contributes to safety and 

healing. Likewise, sharing power and decision making within the organization (e.g., from 

administrative personnel to director-level) creates a more resilient organization. 

• Empowerment, voice, and choice – Clients are supported in self-advocacy, shared decision-making, 

and goal setting; staff are the facilitators, rather than the controllers, of recovery. 

• Cultural, historical, and gender issues – The organization offers access to gender-responsive 

services, acknowledges the survivor’s racial, ethnic, and cultural identity, and recognizes and 

addresses trauma stemming from a survivor’s lived experiences. 

Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach 

Implementing a trauma-informed approach requires change throughout an organization. These areas include— 

• Governance and leadership • Cross-sector collaboration • Training and workforce 

• Policy • Financing development 

• Physical environment • Screening, assessment, • Progress monitoring and quality 

• Engagement and and treatment assurance 

involvement • Evaluation 

Creating a Trauma-Informed Organization 

Creating a trauma-informed organization is a fluid process, requiring thoughtful attention to applying key 

principles throughout an organization. Consider these steps as part of an ongoing process to create a 

trauma-informed organization. 

• Review organizational policies and procedures; 

• Engage staff to determine if any current policies and procedure interfere with a trauma-informed 

approach and make changes as needed; 

• Engage survivors and trauma experts and develop a plan to implement trauma-informed care; 

• Partner with organizations who provide trauma-specific treatment services; 

• Implement the plan; and 

• Reassess the plan periodically and make adjustments as needed. 

Contact the Center at contact@ovc-htcbc.org or 1-844-682-0411.