Integrating trauma-informed care with DEIA

ITTIC leaders present during NYS Workforce Symposium

Zoom image: Through the principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment, trauma-informed care provides a framework for individuals, organizations and systems to engage in universal precautions that prevent retraumatization. Universal precautions can safeguard against historical, individual, cultural, racial, institutional and structural trauma and help to promote allyship, justice, growth, cultural humility, heality, equity and inclusion.

Through the principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment, trauma-informed care provides a framework for individuals, organizations and systems to engage in universal precautions that prevent retraumatization.

By Matthew Biddle

Published October 29, 2024

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Samantha Koury

Samantha Koury.
“While a trauma-informed approach and DEIA each have their own work and focus, I believe it is not possible to truly do one without the other. ”
Samantha Koury, EdD, Co-Director
UB Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care

Leaders from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work’s Institute on Trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (ITTIC) were invited to present during a statewide symposium organized by Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion on Oct. 9.

The second annual Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) Workforce Symposium brought together practitioners from various state agencies to discuss the current DEIA landscape and emerging trends.

ITTIC co-directors Susan Green and Samantha Koury presented to more than 80 attendees on how to integrate trauma-informed approaches with DEIA. Green also serves as a clinical professor in the School of Social Work.

At its core, trauma-informed care is about understanding the pervasive nature of trauma, promoting healing environments and avoiding practices that may inadvertently retraumatize people. Similar to how health care professionals put on gloves to prevent the spread of pathogens, trauma-informed care requires individuals and organizations to engage in universal precautions to reduce the likelihood of further harm.

“While a trauma-informed approach and DEIA each have their own work and focus, I believe it is not possible to truly do one without the other,” Koury says.

“Given the realities of historical, racial, systemic and cultural trauma, centering DEIA when applying any of the trauma-informed values and principles (safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment) is required to not only minimize retraumatization, but to also create interactions and environments that allow everyone to feel a sense of belonging,” she continues.

Since 2012, ITTIC has helped service systems, organizations and individuals understand the effects of trauma and facilitate trauma-informed culture change through education, training, consultation, coaching and evaluation services. ITTIC tailors its services to the unique needs of each organization. To discuss your goals, contact sw-ittic@buffalo.edu.

“I hope our attendees took away the need to integrate both trauma awareness and trauma-informed approaches in the DEIA work they already do,” Koury says. “The workshop was just a start — the participants were eager to have discussions and ask questions, and I hope they will continue these conversations with their teams moving forward.”

To learn more about ITTIC, visit socialwork.buffalo.edu/ittic.

Media Contact Information

Matthew Biddle
Director of Communications and Marketing
School of Social Work
Tel: 716-645-1226
mrbiddle@buffalo.edu