title: A grassroots prototype for trauma-informed child welfare system change.
abstract: The development of trauma-informed child welfare systems (TICWSs) that advance individual agency practice to target transformation of the system as a whole has been conceptualized but not documented. A grassroots effort to build a TICWS with key participants (e.g., Department of Human Services, Community Mental Health, Family Court, schools) in nine Michigan communities provides a field tested model for implementation. This article described what emerged as the core elements for a TICWS, which includes (1) development and support of a project champion, (2) trauma identification, (3) comprehensive assessment of traumatic impact, (4) evidence based trauma treatment, (5) establishing a common trauma language, and (6) trauma-informed decision-making. Several new instruments for assessing aTICWS are identified. Lessons learned are highlighted for consideration of communities seeking to develop TICWSs.
authors.affiliation: Western Michigan University, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Black-Pond
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sloane
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atchinson
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hyter
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008603:Mental Health / Q000193:education*; D008824:Michigan; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016730:Program Development; D040921:Stress Disorders, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D000078329:Workforce