The Importance of a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System

This issue brief discusses the importance of cultivating a child welfare system that recognizes and responds appropriately to trauma. After providing a brief overview of trauma and its effects, the brief explores steps that are involved in transitioning to a trauma-informed system and features examples from State and local programs incorporating trauma-informed practice. The brief concludes by highlighting how cross-system collaborations can help promote trauma-informed child welfare practice.