Resources

Frameworks, tools, and further reading to support your trauma-informed care practice.

Frameworks

Core frameworks referenced throughout the course.

SAMHSA's Six Guiding Principles

Safety, Trustworthiness & Transparency, Peer Support, Collaboration & Mutuality, Empowerment, Cultural Humility.

The Three E's of Trauma

Events, Experiences, and Effects — SAMHSA's three-dimensional model for understanding trauma.

The ACE Study

The Adverse Childhood Experiences study — linking childhood adversity to adult health outcomes.

Window of Tolerance (Dan Siegel)

The zone of optimal arousal where we can think, feel, and function effectively.

Self-Care Tools

Practical tools for sustaining yourself in this work.

Five-Domain Self-Care Assessment

Physical, Emotional, Relational, Spiritual, Professional — rate yourself in each domain.

Warning Signs Checklist

16 indicators of compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma — for weekly self-check.

Grounding Techniques Card

5-4-3-2-1 sensory grounding, box breathing, and other quick regulation tools.

De-Escalation Quick Reference

The first 30 seconds — a pocket guide for crisis moments.

Further Reading

Books and articles for deeper study.

The Body Keeps the Score — Bessel van der Kolk

The definitive work on how trauma reshapes the body and brain, and innovative treatments.

Trauma and Recovery — Judith Herman

The classic text on psychological trauma, from domestic abuse to political terror.

What Happened to You? — Bruce Perry & Oprah Winfrey

A conversation about trauma, resilience, and healing — accessible and powerful.

My Grandmother's Hands — Resmaa Menakem

Racialized trauma and the body — an essential text on cultural and intergenerational trauma.

Acknowledgments

This training was built for the public good, drawing on the pioneering work of the International Justice Mission, SAMHSA, TeraDiz Homes, and the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. The content is designed to serve anyone working with people affected by trauma — in shelters, schools, churches, disaster sites, or at your own kitchen table.