The purpose of the “Trauma Informed Care Approaches for Working with Individuals with Substance Use Disorders” training is to introduce participants to the presentation of trauma among clients and the relation between traumatic experience and the development of substance use disorders. Key topics include: an overview of trauma presentations across the lifespan; socioecological conceptualizations of early childhood trauma leading to later life judicial and medical impairments; and skills and strategies to intervene with clients who have co-occurring trauma and substance use disorders.

At the conclusion of the training session, participants should be able to:

1. Compare two differences between “Big T” and “little t” stressors.
2. Explain two of the major findings from the ACE study relating childhood experience to substance use and adult health impairment.
3. Integrate two components into practice of trauma-informed engagement of clients.
4. Specify three cognitive or physiological impacts of trauma on functioning.
5. Propose at least one organizational action for enhancement of Trauma-Informed Care.