Trauma-Informed Care

Presented by: Wendy Norris, Texas LODD Task Force

Room 203

First responders, 911 telecommunication specialists, members of the military, chaplains, and other ancillary support staff of the emergency services are subjected to situations and scenarios that involve trauma. These traumatic situations can be extreme and intense and often leave an imprint on the individual’s psyche.

Trauma-Informed Care understands and considers the depth and pervasive nature of trauma and the impact it has on individuals. Trauma-Informed Care promotes spaces of healing and recovery rather than practices and services that may inadvertently re-traumatize.

To be trauma-informed means that as a front-line worker, there is an assumption that any individual we come in contact with through our work, whether that individual is someone they serve in the field or a fellow co-worker, is more likely than not to have a history of trauma. Trauma-Informed Care allows the individual providing care the awareness of an individual impacted by trauma. It also allows them to recognize the presence of trauma symptoms and acknowledges the role trauma may play in that individual’s life.

Being educated in trauma-informed care strategies has numerous benefits. Knowledge in this area helps us with our day-to-day interactions with our loved ones, friends, and even strangers. And, for those individuals that are exposed to traumatic situations on a regular basis, such as first responders, being trauma-informed gives us the ability to offer specific and strategic support and care to our co-workers who may be struggling with the fallout of chronic stress and trauma.