New Perspectives on Trauma-Responsive Care

Dear Colleagues,

The Adverse Childhood Experiences study in 1998 (Felitti et al., 1998) spawned significant research and practice focused on how best to provide trauma-informed services. While much funding and emphasis has been devoted to evidence-based clinical interventions, there has also been increasing attention paid to establishing and maintaining trauma-informed organizations and communities. Legislation such as the Family First Prevention Services Act (First Focus Campaign for Children, 2018) underscores the importance of organizational culture in the delivery of evidence-based clinical trauma-informed services.

More recently, we have witnessed increased violence perpetuated against marginalized communities and increased attention being paid to the issue of the historical and current trauma experienced by oppressed groups. There has been renewed acknowledgement of how long-standing structural impediments to equitable treatment under the law can cause profound and intergenerational harm to many of our citizens. Without looking beyond the lens of individual trauma, professionals, organizations and systems risk the re-traumatization of individuals and communities who have experienced trauma resulting from interpersonal, systemic, and structural racism and oppression (Im & Swan, 2021; Koury & Green, 2021).

We welcome contributions on the following potential topics (among others): new and emerging perspectives on mezzo and macro trauma-responsive care (TRC), including thought-provoking manuscripts about factors that are being overlooked in the development and implementation of such interventions; the importance of mezzo and/or macro factors in the successful delivery of micro interventions; studies examining mezzo and macro trauma-responsive practice; thoughts on the current measurement practices of TRC and recommendations for possible improvements; the effectiveness of existing trauma-responsive policies as well as thoughts on those being considered at the state and federal levels; and thoughts about the current availability and focus of funding to develop effective mezzo and macro trauma-responsive interventions and suggestions for improvements. Both research-based, including systematic analyses, and thoughtful conceptual manuscripts that contribute to the development of the field are welcome.

References

Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., Koss, M. P., & Marks, J. S. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14(4), 245-258.

First Focus Campaign for Children. (2018, March). Family First Prevention Services Act Bill Summary. Retrieved July 30, 2018 from https://campaignforchildren.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/06/FFCC-Short-Summary-FFPSA.pdf

Im, H., & Swan, L. E. T. (2021). Working towards culturally responsive trauma-informed care in the refugee resettlement process: Qualitative inquiry with refugee-serving professionals in the United States. Behavioral Sciences, 11(11), 155. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/11/11/155

Koury, S. P., & Green, S. A. (2021, October). Trauma-Informed organizational change manual. The Institute on Trauma and Trauma-informed Care. Retrieved November 15, 2021 from http://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care.html 

Dr. Nina Esaki
Dr. Shanti Kulkarni
Guest Editors

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