Trauma-informed approaches to community building
Trauma-informed approaches to community building use a comprehensive, multi-stakeholder, and multilevel approach to support and strengthen residents and communities who have experienced trauma and distress and address the effects of unresolved community trauma such as historical community disinvestment, poverty, inadequate and insufficient housing, violence, social isolation, and structural racism. Trauma-informed community building includes a comprehensive set of individual-, interpersonal-, community-, and system-level efforts; for example, community building activities (e.g., gardening, group exercises, and community art projects), housing development, leadership training, supports for residents with low incomes, and mixed-income culture building opportunities1, 2.
What could this strategy improve?
Expected Benefits
Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:
Improved health outcomes
Increased social connectedness
Potential Benefits
Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:
Improved mental health
Increased physical activity
Improved neighborhood safety
What does the research say about effectiveness?
Trauma-informed approaches to community building are a suggested strategy to improve health outcomes and social connections in communities with low incomes2, 3. Available evidence suggests these initiatives may improve mental health and increase physical activity, increase connections among individuals from different cultures and generations, and increase feelings of safety among participants3, 4. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects as this approach is implemented and studied more widely.
A trauma-informed youth community development initiative appears to improve emotional health (e.g., self-confidence and self-worth) in boys of color5. Trauma-informed community building activities may increase service connections and external help-seeking behaviors among community members4. A trauma-informed community building initiative in Tarpon Springs, Florida shows increased cross-sector collaboration among community partners6.
Community development initiatives that include trauma-informed approaches, capacity and power building plans, and network development may increase community resilience in response to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and adverse community environments7, 8. Trauma-informed community building can also help address trauma and increase community resilience in communities affected by natural disasters: example efforts include assisting communities with organizing community-led coalitions, providing trauma-informed care and infrastructure support, and creating climate change dialogue9.
Public housing and community spaces can be designed with an awareness of residents’ trauma and purposefully provide physical environments that promote healing for residents and support positive interpersonal relationships10, 11. Community-based participatory research, community leadership and peer role modeling, support networks to cope with recurring trauma, and creative outlets to express residents’ collective trauma (e.g., community-engaged art) are recommended strategies for effective trauma-informed community building and resident engagement2. Successful trauma-informed community building efforts engage community residents in decisions about initiative design and implementation11.
Community-wide efforts to build a trauma-informed community system of care require collaboration, shared common language, understanding of and adopting trauma-informed principles across multiple sectors along with organizational policy and funding focused on trauma. Such efforts can improve coordinated community responses to trauma exposure12, 13. Researchers also recommend establishing stronger inter-agency and system supports, including financial support and continuous learning, for trauma-informed practice in the service system and in the broader community14. Communication sharing resources, trauma-informed knowledge, and strategic network leadership can help build successful partnerships between community organizations15.
How could this strategy advance health equity? This strategy is rated potential to decrease disparities: suggested by expert opinion.
Trauma-informed approaches have the potential to enhance community engagement and reduce re-traumatization for communities impacted by collective trauma and health inequities22. An Ohio-based initiative of trauma-informed youth community development shows increased self-confidence, improved academic outcomes, and positive behavior changes among participating Black boys living in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and exposure to violence. This initiative also highlights the importance of reforming school, law enforcement, and social service systems and addressing structural discrimination toward youth of color5. Historical and ongoing structural oppression and racism, as well as lack of ownership opportunities in community change efforts are barriers to engagement among residents in trauma-impacted communities23.
Trauma-informed, culturally responsive approaches help refugee resettlement programs support the mental health and wellness needs of refugees. For example, trauma-informed, culturally responsive programs can improve system building and services for refugees and provide staff with culturally sensitive, trauma-informed training24. Such approaches can also benefit rural areas in creating trauma-informed healthcare systems and providing staff training in opioid overdose treatment programs25, 26.
What is the relevant historical background?
Discrimination against marginalized groups increases exposure to traumatic experiences (e.g., hate crimes and police profiling), and residents in communities that are racially and/or economically segregated may be at higher risk of exposure to neighborhood violence and resulting traumatic loss, which can contribute to negative physical and mental health outcomes27. Marginalized groups may also experience historical trauma, the collective, transgenerational emotional and psychological injury of specific ethnic, racial, or cultural groups, and their descendants, who have experienced major events of oppression such as forced displacement or slavery28.
The first model of trauma-informed community building (TICB) was developed to meet the needs of communities experiencing trauma and chronic stressors through collaboration between traditional community development and public health practice5. Traditional models of community building sometimes ignore or exacerbate re-traumatizing triggers from stressors such as concentrated poverty, violence, and historic structural racism29. The TICB model acknowledges that community trauma prevents residents’ participation in traditional community building and therefore helps build the foundation necessary to continue community development efforts, including reducing stress, building social cohesion, and fostering community resiliency1.
Equity Considerations
- What traumatic events have your local community members experienced? Who is more at risk of exposure to collective trauma in your community?
- What resources and partnerships are needed to perform trauma-informed community building efforts in your community? How are community members encouraged to participate in decision-making and implementation efforts?
- What structural barriers and challenges exist to supporting trauma-informed community development? What systemic efforts are needed to overcome those barriers?
- Who can provide trauma-informed training for service providers and community agencies in your community? How can training help providers recognize stereotypes and biases in addition to teaching the impact of trauma on community members?
Implementation Examples
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers guidance on principles and different approaches in building resilient and trauma-informed communities based on community initiative examples in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri; San Francisco, California; Walla Walla, Washington; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Tarpon Spring, Florida16. The City of Cleveland, Ohio has transformed 22 recreation centers into trauma-informed Neighborhood Resource and Recreation Centers and developed trauma-informed standards of practice17.
The Trauma Informed Community Building (TICB) model, developed by BRIDGE Housing Corporation and Health Equity Institute, incorporates housing development and community activities1, 18. Peace4Tarpon, a trauma-informed community initiative in Tarpon Spring, Florida, supports school children from families with low incomes and offers community events in partnership with other community-based organizations19. Peace4Gainesville in Gainesville, FL, which is modeled after Peace4Tarpon20, and the Neighborhood Resilience Project’s trauma-informed community development in Pittsburgh, PA21 are also examples of local efforts.
Implementation Resources
‡ Resources with a focus on equity.
RTI-Johnson-Lawrence 2024‡ - Johnson-Lawrence, V., Sneed, R., Dotson, K., Njoroge, M., & Pugh, P. (2024). Trauma-informed approaches and community engagement: Community engaged research (CEnR) and programming for public health and health inequities. RTI Press. RTI Press Research Brief No. RB-0037-2403.
CTIPP-Marris 2023‡ - Marris, W. (2023). Guide to trauma-informed community change: An exploration of community-led, trauma-informed, prevention-oriented, resilience-building, & healing-centered considerations for strengthening communities. Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP).
Urban-Falkenburger 2018 - Falkenburger E, Arena O, Wolin J. Trauma-informed community building and engagement. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute; 2018.
PI-Community trauma 2016 - Prevention Institute (PI). Adverse community experiences and resilience: A framework for addressing and preventing community trauma. Oakland CA: Prevention Institute; 2016.
Footnotes
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
1 BRIDGE-TICB 2018 - BRIDGE Housing Corporation. Trauma informed community building: The evolution of a community engagement model in a trauma impacted neighborhood. San Francisco; 2018.
2 Urban-Falkenburger 2018 - Falkenburger E, Arena O, Wolin J. Trauma-informed community building and engagement. Washington, D.C.: Urban Institute; 2018.
3 AECF-TICB 2015 - Hope SF Learning Center. Trauma informed community building evaluation: A formative evaluation of the TICB model and its implementation in Potrero Hill. Baltimore, MD: The Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF); 2015.
4 Gilmer 2021 - Gilmer, T. P., Center, K., Casteel, D., Choi, K., Innes-Gomberg, D., & Lansing, A. E. (2021). Developing trauma resilient communities through community capacity-building. BMC Public Health, 21,1681.
5 Reece 2020 - Reece, J. (2020). Planning for youth emotional health in unruly environments: bringing a trauma informed community building lens to therapeutic planning. Projections, 15(Practices of Health in Unruly Environments).
6 King 2021 - King, L. M., LeBeau, K., Hart, M., & Vacca, R. (2021). Organizational partnerships for a trauma-informed community: a community-wide social network study. Journal of Community Psychology, 49(7), 2658-2678.
7 Cavaye 2018 - Cavaye J, Ross H. Community resilience and community development: What mutual opportunities arise from interactions between the two concepts? Community Development. 2019;50(2):181-200.
8 GWSPH 2018 - George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH). Building community resilience: Coalition building and communications guide. February 2018.
9 Everett 2020 - Everett, A., Sugarman, O., Wennerstrom, A., Pollock, M., True, G., Haywood, C., Meyers, D., Raines, A., Wells, K., Johnson, A., Arevian, A. C., Sato, J., & Springgate, B. (2020). Community-informed strategies to address trauma and enhance resilience in climate-affected communities. Traumatology, 26(3), 285–297.
10 Huffman 2018 - Huffman T. Built community: Architecture, community, and participation in a permanent supportive housing project. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless. 2018;27(1):44-52.
11 Schroeder 2021 - Schroeder, K., Noll, J. G., Henry, K. A., Suglia, S. F., & Sarwer, D. B. (2021). Trauma-informed neighborhoods: Making the built environment trauma-informed. Preventive Medicine Reports, 23, 101501.
12 Clements 2020 - Clements, A. D., Haas, B., Cyphers, N. A., Hoots, V., & Barnet, J. (2020). Creating a communitywide system of trauma-informed care. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 14(4), 499–507.
13 Tebes 2019 - Tebes, J. K., Champine, R. B., Matlin, S. L., & Strambler, M. J. (2019). Population health and trauma-informed practice: Implications for programs, systems, and policies. American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 494–508.
14 Matlin 2019 - Matlin, S. L., Champine, R. B., Strambler, M. J., O’Brien, C., Hoffman, E., Whitson, M., Kolka, L., & Tebes, J. K. (2019). A community's response to adverse childhood experiences: Building a resilient, trauma-informed community. American Journal of Community Psychology, 64(3-4), 451-466.
15 Siantz 2023 - Siantz, E., Lansing, A. E., Center, K., & Gilmer, T. P. (2023). The development of trauma-informed community partnerships: a mixed method social network study. Human Service Organizations: Management, Leadership & Governance, 48(1), 1–18.
16 SAMHSA-TIC 2017 - Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Spotlight: Building Resilient and Trauma-Informed Communities – Introduction. HHS Publication No. SMA17-5014. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2017.
17 Holmes 2023 - Holmes, M. R., King, J. A., Miller, E. K., King-White, D. L., Korsch-Williams, A. E., Johnson, E. M., Oliver, T. S., & Conard, I. T. (2023). Innovations in trauma-informed care: Building the nation’s first system of trauma-informed recreation centers. Behavioral Sciences, 13(5), 394.
18 BRIDGE 2014 - Weinstein E, Wolin J, Rose S. Trauma informed community building: A model for strengthening community in trauma affected neighborhoods. San Francisco: BRIDGE Housing Corporation (BRIDGE), Health Equity Institute; 2014.
19 Peace4Tarpon - Peace4Tarpon. Trauma informed community initiative.
20 Peace4Gainesville - Peace4Gainesville. A trauma responsive community initiative.
21 NRP-TICD - Neighborhood Resilience Project (NRP). Trauma-informed community development (TICD).
22 RTI-Johnson-Lawrence 2024 - Johnson-Lawrence, V., Sneed, R., Dotson, K., Njoroge, M., & Pugh, P. (2024). Trauma-informed approaches and community engagement: Community engaged research (CEnR) and programming for public health and health inequities. RTI Press. RTI Press Research Brief No. RB-0037-2403.
23 CTIPP-Marris 2023 - Marris, W. (2023). Guide to trauma-informed community change: An exploration of community-led, trauma-informed, prevention-oriented, resilience-building, & healing-centered considerations for strengthening communities. Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP).
24 Im 2021 - 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.
25 Minnich 2023 - Minnich, C.L., Stehley, F.J., Bills, L.J., Taylor, R.M., Groff, J.L., Korney, J.M., Skrzypek, B. E., Hutchison, S. L., & Herschell, A.D. (2023). Lessons learned implementing a trauma-informed system of care in rural communities. Progress in Community Health Partnerships: Research, Education, and Action, 17(3), 495-501.
26 Chowdhury 2022 - Chowdhury, D. (2022). Developing a trauma-informed workforce for the opioid crisis in a rural community in the United States: A case study. The Journal of Mental Health Training, Education and Practice, 17 (1), 12-26.
27 Stolbach 2017 - Stolbach, B. C., & Anam, S. (2017). Racial and ethnic health disparities and trauma-informed care for children exposed to community violence. Pediatric Annals, 46(10).
28 AAP-Duffee 2021 - Duffee, J., Szilagyi, M., Forkey, H., & Kelly, E. T. (2021). Trauma-informed care in child health systems. Pediatrics, 148(2), e2021052579.
29 Urban-TICB 2014 - Urban Institute. (2014). Best and promising practices: Trauma informed community building - A model for strengthening communities in trauma affected neighborhoods.
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