Harnessing the Learning Community Model to Integrate Trauma-Informed Care Principles in Service Organizations.

The McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research at New York University Silver School of Social Work recently partnered with the National Council for Behavioral Health to facilitate a yearlong Learning Community (LC), a promising methodology for helping organizations adopt and sustain practices and principles of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC). A total of 32 behavioral health organizations were enrolled in the LC, 92% of which reported having implemented trauma-informed care in at least six of the National Council’s seven TIC domains by the end of the LC, and 100% of which reported improving some area of their trauma-informed principles and practices. This report discusses the development of the LC and the effectiveness of the training. Information is provided on the components of TIC, core principles of TIC, the prevalence of trauma and its effects, and implications for service organizations. Challenges the organizations faced in adopting TIC principles are explained, as well as the usefulness of the Organizational Self-Assessment and the coaching calls received from the LC. 55 references.