Implementing Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) in SUD Treatment and Recovery-Oriented Systems
SAMHSA designated trauma-informed care as a best practice. Trauma-Informed Care can bring about, not just change, but an actual transformation that takes place on many levels of an organization. This ongoing system-wide approach that is grounded in a scientific understanding of trauma can make service relationships much safer for both clients and staff, not only in SUD treatment facilities, but in all mental health settings.
As stated by the Missouri Model for Trauma-Informed Care:
“The implementation of a trauma-informed approach is an ongoing organizational change process. A ‘trauma-informed approach’ is not a program model that can be implemented and then simply monitored by a fidelity checklist. Rather, it is a profound paradigm shift in knowledge, perspective, attitudes, and skills that continues to deepen and unfold over time."
New: Facilitating Trauma-Informed Culture Change in Recovery-Oriented Systems: A Consultant's Guide
This easy to use and adaptable guide is designed to guide TTC consultants through the Trauma-Informed Care implementation process. Click here to to download the guide.
Implementing trauma-informed care is a multi-year process that often benefits from external facilitation and consultation. The goals of this multi-level transformation within an SUD treatment context are to create a culture that recognizes:
- The widespread prevalence of traumatic events on individuals, families, communities, and nations
- The impact, signs, and symptoms of trauma
- The need for integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices
- The importance of actively resisting re-traumatization
Mid-America ATTC, in partnership with University Health’s Center for Trauma-Informed Innovation, is committed to providing SUD treatment and recovery-oriented organizations and providers with the technical assistance they need to create more trauma-informed cultures.
Levels of Technical Assistance (TA) for Trauma-Informed (TI) Support:

TIC Resources:
- The Missouri Model Principles of Trauma Informed Care
- The Missouri Model: A Developmental Framework for Trauma Informed
- Trauma Informed Facilitator's Guide
- Trauma Informed Practices
For more information, to request Trauma-Informed technical assistance, or to request assistance using the manual, please contact Dena Sneed at [email protected].