Become A Trauma Informed Organization

What Is A Trauma Informed Organization?

A trauma informed organization understands the widespread impact of trauma, promotes recovery, and builds resiliency by integrating trauma informed policies and practices into its culture.

What It Means To Be Trauma Informed

- Realize the impact of trauma
- Recognize signs and symptoms of trauma
- Respond through integrated trauma informed policies and practices
- Resist retraumatization
- Build resiliency and promote recovery

Email signed proclamation to TIC@publichealth.wincoil.gov

Join other community organizations committed to building a safer, stronger, and more resilient Winnebago County.

How Your Organization Can Become Trauma Informed

STEP 1: Learn About The Impact Of Trauma

Visit our page on Trauma’s Impact

STEP 2: Sign the Proclamation

Commit your organization to being trauma informed by signing the Trauma Informed Proclamation

STEP 3: Get Resources For Your Agency

Identify resources that will help your organization become more trauma informed.
- WCHD offers a number of resources for your organization to get started.

STEP 4: Identify Policies or Practices In Your Organization

Update identified policies or practices in your organization/agency to have a trauma informed approach
- A sample policy is available to help you with this

STEP 5: Get Support

Connect with trauma-informed experts and networks to help your organization implement trauma-informed practices
- Support may include consultations, technical assistance, and peer learning sessions

What You Get When You Sign The Proclamation

Training and Education:

- Get free trauma trainings for your staff
- Access to advanced trauma trainings through the Illinois Collaboration on Youth

Recognition and Branding:

- Use of the In Support of a Trauma-Informed Community logo
- Be featured on WCHD’s website for signing the proclamation

Engagement Opportunities:

Gain access to our licensed trauma-centered documentaries. Preview films with the Winnebago County Health Department and co-host your own screenings with your staff and/or clients.

Broken Places (2018):

Explores why some children are permanently damaged by early adversity while others are able to thrive.

Minding the Gap (2018):

Three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their hometown of Rockford, Illinois. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship.

Resilience (2016):

Delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to treat and prevent toxic stress.

Paper Tigers (2015):

Chronicles a year with the principal of Lincoln High School in the community of Walla Walla, Washington after learning about the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and changing the school’s approach to discipline.

The Interrupters (2011):

The moving and surprising stories of three Violence Interrupters who work to protect their Chicago communities from violence.

Healing Neen (2010):

The amazing recovery of Tonier ‘Neen’ Cain from a lifetime of abuse and drug addiction to a career as a nationally-known speaker and educator on the devastation of trauma and the hope of recovery.

Support For Organizations Adopting Trauma Informed Practices:

- Connect with other local trauma-informed organizations at Quarterly Zoom drop-in meetings hosted Illinois Collaboration on Youth (ICOY)
- Get Direct Technical Assistance from ICOY to support your organization in implementing trauma informed practices
  - - - Limited slots available
- Sample trauma-informed policy and statement templates
- Additional resources to support implementation

Building A Trauma Informed Community

The effort to build a trauma informed community is being led by the Winnebago County Health Department and supported by many partners through the Violence Reduction Workgroup using SAMHSA’s core principles of safety, trust, collaboration, empowerment, and healing.