SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

This document from SAMSHA defines trauma, presents key principles and guidance for implementing a trauma-informed approach, and looks at trauma in the context of community. The six key principles presented are safety; trustworthiness and transparency; peer support; collaboration and mutuality; empowerment, voice and choice; and cultural, historical, and gender issues. The resource explains that trauma has to be addressed on a system-wide level by creating trauma-informed organizations and communities, particularly within service delivery systems.