Trauma-Informed Care in Texas: Part II

“The greater a child’s terror, and the earlier it is experienced, the harder it becomes to develop a strong and healthy sense of self.” ― Nathaniel Branden To expand on some of the recent issues raised in postings on gender disparities in poverty and the effects of violence, TI offers a new series on trauma-informed care (TIC) and its use and promise in Texas. Trauma is generally defined as a deeply distressing or disturbing event, causing a sense of intense fear, terror and helplessness. TIC programs are those that incorporate knowledge of the impact of trauma and traumatic stress into policies and programs of systems of care, such as the child welfare system, schools, criminal justice systems and the healthcare system. The graphic displays TIC impacts at a Washington State high school: The effects of early negative experiences in childhood carry on throughout adulthood, affecting life expectancy in some cases. More than any other causal factor, childhood trauma