Trauma-Informed Care

An individual’s experience of trauma impacts all areas of life: physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.

And trauma is particularly prevalent in the lives of people with mental and substance use disorders. The National Council for Mental Wellbeing estimates that 70 percent of adults in the U.S. have experienced some type of traumatic event at least once in their lives.

Trauma-informed care has become increasingly important as we understand the lasting effects of trauma on individuals, families, and society. Trauma-informed care is an approach and process that helps us grow understanding, safety, and healing for those with trauma and the families, systems, and agencies who support them. It’s a guiding principle that involves recognizing, understanding, and responding to trauma and its impact in all areas of life.

At Alluma, we aspire to become a trauma-informed care center of excellence.

We acknowledge the impact and recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma. We’re working to integrate this knowledge about trauma into our standard policies, procedures, and practice. We believe a trauma-informed approach will promote greater hope, healing, and recovery for our clients and communities.

Pillars of Trauma-Informed Care

	Safety We seek to provide a safe space for all individuals psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We aim to do this in all we do, including our physical space, interpersonal relationships, and community collaborations. Safety in our relationships and physical spaces helps to foster and support wellbeing, recovery, and growth.
	Trustworthiness & Transparency Trust is essential and foundational to all the work that we do. We seek to build and maintain trust with clients and partners through transparent and open communication.
	Peer Support Our team of peer support specialists meets clients where they are and helps provide support within the community to help foster recovery and wellbeing. Peers provide an essential outlook and perspective through their lived experience that helps provide a holistic approach to healing and wellbeing. We recognize at Alluma that we are all in this together, supporting one another along the journey.
	Collaboration & Mutuality We recognize and celebrate that you are the expert on you. We seek to walk alongside you on your journey to help supplement and provide services that will meet your needs today and in the future.
	Empowerment, Voice, & Choice We strive to build on one another’s strengths, gifts, and abilities. We provide a strengths-based model grounded in resilience. We believe in your ability for recovery and optimal wellbeing. Persons served and staff are supported in shared decision-making, choice, and goal setting.
	Cultural, Historical, & Gender Responsiveness We recognize every individual’s experience is unique. We seek to approach those served and staff from a position of cultural, historical, and gender humility. We will be responsive to all those served, honoring and respecting individuals’ culture, history, and LGBTQ+ identities. Alluma shall adopt, implement, and become a trauma-informed care organization inclusive of all people that have experienced historical, collective, individual, and systemic trauma.

Adapted from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s “Guiding Principles of Trauma-Informed Care.”