Building a Culture of Safety & Transforming Behavioral Health Care
The Traumatic Stress Institute & Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Case Study
The Traumatic Stress Institute (TSI) has partnered with RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) – one of New Jersey’s largest health systems – to bring the Risking Connection® Change Model (RCCM) to the behavioral health units and emergency departments at eight RWJBH healthcare sites. Join us on May 13, 2026 from 3-4 p.m. ET to reimagine what’s possible through trauma-informed systems change.
Trauma-Informed Care for Organizations
The Traumatic Stress Institute envisions a world where organizations and service systems fully embrace and embed trauma-informed care so that all trauma survivors who enter their doors heal and thrive. We do this through our evidence-based Risking Connection Change Model, a systems-wide approach that provides organizations a profound return on investment by creating a healthier, more supportive, and healing culture for both those served and for staff. Benefits include improved outcomes for clients and higher retention, reduced burnout, and improved engagement for staff.
What is a trauma-informed care organization?
A trauma-informed care (TIC) organization is one where the system (i.e., a human service agency, hospital, school district, juvenile probation system, housing bureau, child welfare system, etc.) realizes the profound impact of trauma on those they serve, recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma, responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies and practices, and resists re-traumatization. This TIC lens is used at all levels of the system (SAMHSA, 2014).
What are the benefits for organizations to become trauma-informed?
Two-thirds of the general population has suffered Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) such as abuse, witnessing violence, or living with an alcoholic parent. The percentage is higher for at-risk populations. Trauma-informed care is best practice for organizations serving people with this history. TIC enhances client outcomes, reduces costly staff turnover, and elevates an organization’s reputation in the eyes of funders and other stakeholders.
Organizations adopt a trauma-informed care approach to ensure that their environments are settings of healing, hope, responsiveness, and compassion for trauma survivors, who represent a large portion of those they serve.
Trauma-informed organizations:
- Increase their ability to effectively educate and treat people with increasingly complex trauma presentations.
- Improve outcomes in survivors who have not thrived, and in fact gotten worse, in systems designed to educate and heal.
- Take better care of staff who can be adversely impacted by work with trauma survivors.
- Strengthen their organization by implementing best practices.
- Comply with mandates that organizations be trauma-informed.
How do you know where your organization is at with trauma-informed care and if it is moving the needle?
Measuring TIC for organizations is so important because it helps:
- To assess their readiness for a TIC change process.
- To know if their TIC change efforts are showing progress.
- To know if a particular intervention such as training or a new screening protocol had a positive impact.
- To assess whether TIC change in the organization has been sustained.
- To demonstrate success to stakeholders such as boards of directors, referral sources, or governing bodies enacting TIC mandates.
- To build the evidence base for the TIC field.
Looking for a cost-effective, validated tool to measure trauma-informed care?
Organizations and schools understand that valid data is critical to advancing trauma-informed care (TIC) in their settings and demonstrating success. That’s why the Traumatic Stress Institute co-developed the ARTIC Scale, a psychometrically valid measure of professional and para-professional attitudes toward TIC.
The ARTIC Scale was co-developed by Dr. Courtney Baker of Tulane University and the Traumatic Stress Institute. It has been administered globally to more than 300,000 professionals in human service agencies, school systems, state agencies, and more.
I’m shopping for training and consultation on TIC for my organization. What questions should I ask?
More and more organizations are seeking guidance on how to strengthen or advance trauma-informed care (TIC) within their settings. With so many training and consultation options now available, it’s essential to know what questions to ask potential providers to ensure the best fit for your organization’s needs.
See our guide below for a few key questions to ask – or call us now for a free consultation.
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Curious about trauma-informed care? Ready to explore systems change?
Connect with us on social media or get your questions answered in a free consultation.
