Skip to content

Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale

CONTENTS

CONTENTS

Assessment Rating

A - Psychometrics Well-Demonstrated

Developers: Steve Brown, PsyD; Courtney Baker, PhD; Patricia Wilcox, LCSW

A
See entire scale

Assessment Rating

A - Psychometrics Well-Demonstrated

Developers: Steve Brown, PsyD; Courtney Baker, PhD; Patricia Wilcox, LCSW

A
See entire scale

Description / Purpose

Type of Tool: The ARTIC Scale is both a Screening Tool and Assessment Tool

The ARTIC Scale is used to measure a professional's or paraprofessional's attitudes about trauma-informed care (TIC). The ARTIC-45 (45 items) provides an overall score and scores on seven subscales; the ARTIC-35 (35 items) provides an overall score and scores on five subscales; and the ARTIC-10 (10 items) provides an overall score only. All three lengths are available in versions used for human service/health settings and for education settings. The ARTIC Scale has been used widely in foster care, outpatient, residential, child protection, health, juvenile justice, public and therapeutic schools, early education, and substance abuse settings. It has also been used in primary health care settings although the sample used to create the measures did not include professionals from this sector. The measure is available in pen and paper form or via the fully automated Online ARTIC platform, which includes online measure administration, data collection at multiple time points, data analysis, and user-friendly reporting for both organizations and individual staff via an online dashboard.

Target Population: The ARTIC Scale is intended for use with professionals and paraprofessionals, 18 years and older.

Administer Time: ARTIC–45 (20–30 minutes)(Available via Online ARTIC and pen and paper) ARTIC–35 (10–20 minutes)(Available in pen and paper only) ARTIC–10 (5 minutes)(Available in pen and paper only)

Completed By: Professionals and paraprofessionals in human service, health, and education settings (early childhood and K–12). It has also been used in correction settings, probation and courts, and trauma-informed care community initiatives.

Available Modalities: Pen and paper, Online

Scoring Information: The Online ARTIC platform scores the ARTIC Scale automatically and displays results on a dashboard for both organizations and individual staff at those organizations. The pen and paper version of the measure comes with detailed scoring instructions and an Excel spreadsheet to assist with calculation of scores. The ARTIC Scale can also be administered and scored via Qualtrics.

Language Notes: Online ARTIC is currently available in English only. 

Training Requirements: There are no licensing or training requirements for use of the ARTIC Scale.

Availability: The Traumatic Stress Institute website has information about cost and how to obtain the Online ARTIC and pen and paper format at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/the-artic-scale/The Online ARTIC cost is determined by package and number of respondents. A price calculator is available at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/artic-pricing/ Current cost for the ARTIC Scale in pen and paper form, including free and reduced fee options for students, is available at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/pandp-artic-details/

Description / Purpose

Type of Tool: The ARTIC Scale is both a Screening Tool and Assessment Tool

The ARTIC Scale is used to measure a professional's or paraprofessional's attitudes about trauma-informed care (TIC). The ARTIC-45 (45 items) provides an overall score and scores on seven subscales; the ARTIC-35 (35 items) provides an overall score and scores on five subscales; and the ARTIC-10 (10 items) provides an overall score only. All three lengths are available in versions used for human service/health settings and for education settings. The ARTIC Scale has been used widely in foster care, outpatient, residential, child protection, health, juvenile justice, public and therapeutic schools, early education, and substance abuse settings. It has also been used in primary health care settings although the sample used to create the measures did not include professionals from this sector. The measure is available in pen and paper form or via the fully automated Online ARTIC platform, which includes online measure administration, data collection at multiple time points, data analysis, and user-friendly reporting for both organizations and individual staff via an online dashboard.

Target Population: The ARTIC Scale is intended for use with professionals and paraprofessionals, 18 years and older.

Administer Time: ARTIC–45 (20–30 minutes)(Available via Online ARTIC and pen and paper) ARTIC–35 (10–20 minutes)(Available in pen and paper only) ARTIC–10 (5 minutes)(Available in pen and paper only)

Completed By: Professionals and paraprofessionals in human service, health, and education settings (early childhood and K–12). It has also been used in correction settings, probation and courts, and trauma-informed care community initiatives.

Available Modalities: Pen and paper, Online

Scoring Information: The Online ARTIC platform scores the ARTIC Scale automatically and displays results on a dashboard for both organizations and individual staff at those organizations. The pen and paper version of the measure comes with detailed scoring instructions and an Excel spreadsheet to assist with calculation of scores. The ARTIC Scale can also be administered and scored via Qualtrics.

Language Notes: Online ARTIC is currently available in English only. 

Training Requirements: There are no licensing or training requirements for use of the ARTIC Scale.

Availability: The Traumatic Stress Institute website has information about cost and how to obtain the Online ARTIC and pen and paper format at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/the-artic-scale/The Online ARTIC cost is determined by package and number of respondents. A price calculator is available at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/artic-pricing/ Current cost for the ARTIC Scale in pen and paper form, including free and reduced fee options for students, is available at: https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/pandp-artic-details/

Contact Information

Steve Brown
Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers

Contact Information

Steve Brown
Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers

Summary of Relevant Psychometric Research
This tool has received the Measurement Tools Rating of A – Psychometrics Well-Demonstrated based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The tool must have 2 or more published, peer-reviewed studies that have established the measure’s psychometrics (e.g., reliability and validity, sensitivity and specificity, etc.). Please see the Measurement Tools Rating Scale for more information.
View All Research Articles

  • Baker, C. N., Brown, S. M., Wilcox, P. W., Overstreet, S., & Arora, P. (2016). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale. School Mental Health, 8, 61–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-015-9161-0

    Number of participants: 760 staff employed in education, human services, and health care.

    Population:

    • Race/Ethnicity — 92% identified as White and 95% identified as Non-Hispanic

    Summary:

    This purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ARTIC Scale measure. Specifically, confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the seven-factor structure fit the data well. Scores on the ARTIC Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and test–retest reliability over 6 months for the 45-item and 35-item composites, the seven subscales, and the 10-item short form. Construct and criterion-related validity were supported by correlations with indicators of familiarity with trauma-informed care (TIC) and staff- and system-level indicators of TIC implementation.

  • Baker, C. N., Brown, S. M., Overstreet, S., Wilcox, P. D., & New Orleans Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative. (2020). Validation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000989

    Number of participants: 1,395 human services/health providers and educators from 17 settings.

    Population:

    • Race/Ethnicity — 75.2% White and 23% Black

    Summary:

    The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale. The 7-factor structure of the ARTIC-45 and the 5-factor structure of theARTIC-35 were replicated with regard to the absolute fit indices though they failed to meet the cutoff for the incremental fit indices, likely due to the complexity of the measure. Internal consistencies ranged from acceptable to excellent across the instrument's forms, subscales, and versions. Providing support for construct validity, ARTIC Scale scores were predictably related to familiarity with and knowledge about trauma-informed care (TIC), compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, with effect sizes typically in the medium range. However, predicted relationships between ARTIC Scale scores and training in TIC and trauma-sensitive school elements were not evident. This study demonstrates the reliability of the ARTIC Scale and provides some support for its validity.

Summary of Relevant Psychometric Research

This tool has received the Measurement Tools Rating of A – Psychometrics Well-Demonstrated based on the published, peer-reviewed research available. The tool must have 2 or more published, peer-reviewed studies that have established the measure’s psychometrics (e.g., reliability and validity, sensitivity and specificity, etc.). Please see the Measurement Tools Rating Scale for more information.
View All Research Articles

  • Baker, C. N., Brown, S. M., Wilcox, P. W., Overstreet, S., & Arora, P. (2016). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale. School Mental Health, 8, 61–76. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-015-9161-0

    Number of participants: 760 staff employed in education, human services, and health care.

    Population:

    • Race/Ethnicity — 92% identified as White and 95% identified as Non-Hispanic

    Summary:

    This purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the ARTIC Scale measure. Specifically, confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the seven-factor structure fit the data well. Scores on the ARTIC Scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and test–retest reliability over 6 months for the 45-item and 35-item composites, the seven subscales, and the 10-item short form. Construct and criterion-related validity were supported by correlations with indicators of familiarity with trauma-informed care (TIC) and staff- and system-level indicators of TIC implementation.

  • Baker, C. N., Brown, S. M., Overstreet, S., Wilcox, P. D., & New Orleans Trauma-Informed Schools Learning Collaborative. (2020). Validation of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care Scale (ARTIC). Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000989

    Number of participants: 1,395 human services/health providers and educators from 17 settings.

    Population:

    • Race/Ethnicity — 75.2% White and 23% Black

    Summary:

    The purpose of this study was to examine the factor structure, reliability, and construct validity of the Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care (ARTIC) Scale. The 7-factor structure of the ARTIC-45 and the 5-factor structure of theARTIC-35 were replicated with regard to the absolute fit indices though they failed to meet the cutoff for the incremental fit indices, likely due to the complexity of the measure. Internal consistencies ranged from acceptable to excellent across the instrument's forms, subscales, and versions. Providing support for construct validity, ARTIC Scale scores were predictably related to familiarity with and knowledge about trauma-informed care (TIC), compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress, with effect sizes typically in the medium range. However, predicted relationships between ARTIC Scale scores and training in TIC and trauma-sensitive school elements were not evident. This study demonstrates the reliability of the ARTIC Scale and provides some support for its validity.