"Many of the participants are dealing with trauma, either personally, historically, or at the community level. Living in a persistently traumatic environment often derails the prescribed curriculum, and facilitators will adapt lessons and plans to address the traumatic experiences and events that the youth bring to the group."
Trauma-informed community building is a prevention strategy that addresses the social and structural determinants of health, recognizing that living in historically disadvantaged communities increases the risk of children and families experiencing multiple forms of violence. This story features coalitions in Delaware, North Carolina, and Indiana that implemented approaches in communities experiencing disproportionate trauma as a result of exposure to stressors such as chronic poverty, high rates of violence, and substandard housing. The highlighted lessons below reflect the importance of building and leveraging trusting relationships when working in communities that have experienced trauma while amplifying the voice of the community to build safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments.
Tools for Adaptation
- Profiles in Prevention: Safe + Respectful (October 2016) by Lauren Camphausen, Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence & Beth Hughes, Child, Inc.
- Prevent Violence NC
- Indiana Youth are In Search of a Hidden Treasure Infographic (2018) by the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence Safe, Stable, and Nurturing Project
- Small Moments from the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Highlighted Projects
- Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s New Castle County Community Coalition – Safe + Respectful (S+R)
- North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence – Rapid Rehousing/Continuums of Care
- Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence– Social Determinants of Health
Related Resources
- Awareness + Action = Social Change from the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- Webinar – THRIVE: A Framework for Understanding the Social Determinants of Health by Prevention Institute for the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence
- TAQ – How can my agency invest in building equitable community environments that support safe relationships?
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Trauma Informed Community Building: Lessons Learned from DELTA FOCUS | 6.76 MB |
