Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development
The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at TCU conducts research, education, training, and outreach to improve the lives of children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and/or trauma. Its research and Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) model are empowering parents, professionals, and students with trauma-informed strategies that improve outcomes for children and youth. Visit the KPICD website to learn more about their work.
Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®)
TBRI® is an attachment-based, trauma-informed intervention that is designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. Developed by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Dr. David Cross, TBRI® uses Empowering Principles to address physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment needs, and Correcting Principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. While the intervention is based on years of attachment, sensory processing, and neuroscience research, the heartbeat of TBRI® is connection. Learn more about TBRI® by visiting the KPICD website.
Check here for upcoming events and TBRI® training opportunities for professionals.
Judge Clark’s Approach
Here are some resources about Judge Clark’s approach to implementing trauma-informed practices in her court:
8 Steps for Getting Started with Trauma-Informed Practices
ALL RISE Video Companion: Judge Carole Clark’s Trauma-Informed Approach to Family-Drug Court
Structure & Characteristics of Judge Carole Clark’s Trauma-Informed Court
Trust-Based Relational Intervention: A Systemic Approach to Complex Developmental Trauma
Defining a Trauma-Informed Organization, Program, or System
The Travis County Collaborative for Children (TCCC) developed a two-page overview with an expansive definition of trauma-informed organization, program, or system, and examples of what trauma-informed looks like in different contexts (e.g., courtrooms, caseworker environment, residential treatment centers, etc.)
Defining a Trauma-Informed Organization, Program or System
Other Articles and Resources about Trauma & Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices in the Child Welfare System
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
ACEs include a variety of stressful or traumatic experiences that put people at risk for a lifetime of poor health and mental health outcomes.
An excellent source for information about ACEs is the website acestoohigh.org, where you can find and take the ACEs questionnaire yourself. Specific information on the ACEs TOO High site about trauma-informed courts can be found here.
There have been a number of scientific and medical publications based on the ACEs studies that demonstrate a strong correlation between ACEs and later health outcomes – a good review of this work has been written by Donna Jackson Nakazawa, in her book Childhood Disrupted: How Your Biography Becomes Your Biology, and How You Can Heal (Atria Books, 2015).
Additional information about ACEs and the original Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CD)-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study can be found on the CDC website.
Children’s Commission
The Children’s Commission was established by the Supreme Court of Texas to strengthen courts for children and families and improve the child welfare system in Texas. In February 2019, the Children’s Commission released Building a Trauma-Informed Child Welfare System: A Blueprint.
The Blueprint presents a framework for creating a system that is trauma-informed and trauma-responsive. Read more about this Statewide Collaborative on Trauma-Informed Care.
Other resources on the Children’s Commission’s site that are available for judges and attorneys handling child protective services cases include:
Trauma-Informed Care Final Report – The Meadows Mental Healthy Policy Institute for Texas
Trauma-Informed Advocacy for Children and Youth in Foster Care (Video and Powerpoint)
In partnership with Texas CASA and the Shield Ayers Foundation, the Children’s Commission developed a one-hour training to help introduce trauma-informed care to Attorneys ad Litem, Guardians ad Litem and CASA volunteers, and to empower them to advocate for children using trauma-informed approach. This training is conducted by Elizabeth Watkins who is featured in ALL RISE: For the Good of the Children.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) is a good source of information about complex trauma with information on the definition of trauma, treatments and practices, trauma-informed care, and other resources including training.
Examples of the type of information available on the NCTSN site include:
Trauma-Informed Systems – Justice
Downloadable resources include:
NCTSN Bench Card for the Trauma-Informed Judge
Trauma: What Child Welfare Attorneys Should Know
What is a Trauma-Informed Child and Family Service System?
*This site also has a number of resources targeted for Juvenile Justice
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Children’s Bureau
The Children’s Bureau is an Office of the Administration for Children & Families. It develops annual Child Maltreatment Reports which include data the states provide to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data Systems. The most recent report for 2017 can be found here.