The National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma & Mental Health (NCDVTMH) has designed this toolkit for organizations serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence and their children. Its purpose is to support organizations in their efforts to become more accessible, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed (ACRTI) in their approach and services.
Initially developed as a way to bridge trauma-informed and advocacy perspectives, this approach is grounded in domestic and sexual violence advocacy; incorporates an understanding of trauma and its effects; creates accessible environments for healing; recognizes the centrality of culture; attends to the well-being of staff, organizations, and communities; and is committed to social justice and human rights. The core principles of ACRTI work – physical and emotional safety, hope and resilience, relationship and connection, and a survivor-defined approach – provide a foundation for creating services that are welcoming and inclusive, attuned to the range of people’s experiences, and relevant to the people and communities we serve.
