Trauma is an often invisible yet deeply pervasive force that shapes lives, families, communities, and systems. Defined by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as “an event, series of events, or set of circumstances experienced by an individual as physically or emotionally harmful or life-threatening with lasting adverse effects,” trauma is far more common than many realize.
Research indicates that 70% of U.S. adults have experienced at least one traumatic event, and 80.5% of adolescents have experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE). For some, these events are compounded by systemic and historical trauma, amplifying the burden.
The widespread impact of trauma calls for a comprehensive, paradigm-shifting response. A trauma-informed, community-led approach—grounded in transformational resilience, healing, and recovery—offers a pathway to healthier, more equitable communities.
The Lifelong Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences
ACEs are largely preventable, potentially traumatic events that occur before the age of 18. Examples include abuse, neglect, and household challenges such as parental substance use or incarceration.
Research has shown that ACEs disrupt childhood development and set the stage for chronic health problems, risky behaviors, and social challenges throughout adulthood. For instance, ACEs have been linked to increased risks of depression, cancer, diabetes, substance use disorders, and school dropouts.
The biological toll of ACEs is profound. Prolonged activation of the stress-response system can harm the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems, resulting in long-term physical and emotional consequences.
And the cost of inaction is staggering: ACEs-related health conditions in adults account for an annual economic burden of $14.1 trillion, including $183 billion in medical spending and $13.9 trillion in lost healthy life years. That’s roughly $88,000 per affected adult annually and $2.4 million over their lifetimes.
Despite these challenges, there is hope.
It’s important to note that ACE scores have limitations (e.g., the questions don’t reflect every possible adverse childhood experience, and while its efficacy on a population level is clear, its efficacy as a screening tool is limited). One’s ACE score does not necessarily determine the quality of life and must be placed into proper context against positive and protective factors that help balance the scales.
Trauma is preventable, and healing is possible through healthy and positive connections. By shifting toward trauma-informed policies and practices, we can break cycles of harm, build transformational resilience, and foster recovery.
Trauma-Informed and Community-Led Solutions
A trauma-informed approach recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and seeks to prevent re-traumatization while supporting healing. At the same time, community-led strategies ensure that those most affected by trauma play a central role in shaping solutions. This dual framework is essential for creating sustainable change and lasting capacity.
Healing-Centered Practices: Trauma-informed approaches prioritize 1) safety, 2) trustworthiness and transparency, 3) peer support, 4) collaboration and mutuality, 5) empowerment, voice, and choice, and 6) cultural, historical, and gender issues. Examples include access to mental health services, community-based healing programs, and policies that prevent re-traumatization.
Cross-Sector and Community-Led Decision-Making: Those impacted by trauma are uniquely qualified to guide responses. By amplifying lived experiences, we can develop culturally relevant policies and programs that address the specific needs of diverse communities, each with its populations, needs, resources, and desires. For example, creating a resource map to identify gaps in services and engaging community members in developing new opportunities to meet the needs of the community.
Resilient Systems: Transformational resilience is not just an individual trait but a community asset. Trauma-informed systems prioritize safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments, especially for children and families. By addressing root causes rather than symptoms, we can disrupt cycles of adversity and foster long-term well-being. It’s less about helping people survive unhealthy and toxic systems and more about creating healthy systems to better support people.
Research shows that these interventions work: An elementary school in Texas saw its suspensions decrease from an average of 445 a year to just 19, the school passed its state exams for the first time, teacher retention dramatically increased, and the school culture became calmer.
A Hawaii school complex experienced (over five years) the number of reported behavioral incidences plummeting from 2,260 to one and the number of out-of-school suspensions from 2,277 to zero. The percentage of students reporting bullying and harassment as a problem fell from 60 to 36. The graduation rate increased by 10 percent, early college enrollment skyrocketed, and teacher vacancies were cut in half.
The Human and Economic Case for Action
The cost of inaction is far too high. Trauma affects not only individuals but entire communities and systems. In 2017 alone, nearly 650,000 Americans died from ACEs-related health risk factors. On a societal level, poverty, inequality, and marginalization are exacerbated by collective stress, perpetuating cycles of harm.
The economic benefits of prevention are clear. One study estimated that a 10% reduction in ACE prevalence could equal an annual savings of $56 billion in North America, considering health and productivity costs alone.
Between 1994 and 2011, the Washington State Family Policy Council implemented an education and community engagement plan that ultimately saved the state over $1.1 billion in health care, law enforcement, social services, and other costs, a return on investment of 35 times what was spent on the community coalitions.
These savings reflect lasting financial gains and immeasurable improvements in quality of life.
CTIPP’s Call to Action
The Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) champions a trauma-informed, community-led approach to building healthy and resilient systems. We educate, advocate, and activate to prevent trauma and support healing at every level of society. This mission drives our belief that addressing trauma is not just a moral imperative but a practical one.
Trauma-informed policies and practices offer proven pathways to resilience and recovery. They reduce harm, empower communities, and create opportunities for healing. By prioritizing prevention and healing-centered engagement and care, we can foster a society where individuals and communities thrive.
Nonpartisan and pragmatic solutions are within reach.
Together, we can shift from a reactive to a proactive approach, addressing the root causes of trauma and building a future where healing is possible for everyone. The time to act is now.
Go Deeper
