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Topic: Trauma Treatment - System-Level Programs (Child & Adolescent)

Scientific Ratings in this topic:

1 - Well-Supported by Research Evidence

2 - Supported by Research Evidence

3 - Promising Research Evidence

4 - Evidence Fails to Demonstrate Effect

5 - Concerning Practice

NR - Not able to be Rated

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Definition for Trauma Treatment - System-Level Programs (Child & Adolescent):

Trauma Treatment - System-Level Programs (Child & Adolescent) are defined by the CEBC as programs for service providers and agencies designed to create a therapeutic environment that is more conducive for clients who have experienced trauma and their families, reducing the risk of retraumatization by service providers and agencies. This topic area includes programs that are designed to help an organization provide trauma-informed care or trauma-informed services. Click here to see the overall Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area page.

  • Target population: Service providers and agencies, such as behavioral/mental health and child welfare, that work with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma. A diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is not required. 
  • Services/types that fit: System-level interventions, training programs, and resource materials for staff and service providers
  • Delivered by: Trained paraprofessionals, educators, and health and mental health professionals
  • In order to be included: Program must specifically target developing a more therapeutic environment for clients who have experienced trauma as a goal
  • In order to be rated: There must be research evidence (as specified by the Scientific Rating Scale) that examines outcomes for providers working with this population (e.g., changes in attitudes or performance, knowledge of techniques or curricula) and/or client level trauma-related outcomes, such changes in symptom levels, behaviors, and/or functioning

Programs in this Topic Area

The programs listed below have been reviewed by the CEBC and, if appropriate, been rated using the Scientific Rating Scale.

One Program with a Scientific Rating of 3 - Promising Research Evidence:

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  • Sanctuary Model
    This program is not a client-specific intervention, but a full-system approach that targets the entire organization with the intention of ...

Six Programs with a Scientific Rating of NR - Not able to be Rated:

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Why was this topic chosen by the Advisory Committee?


The Trauma Treatment - System-Level Interventions (Child & Adolescent) topic area is relevant to child welfare because it is important that the systems that work with children and adolescents who have experienced trauma are sensitive to their trauma histories. These youth are at risk for being triggered and retraumatized. The professionals that work with these children and adolescents should have knowledge and practices in place that decrease the likelihood of retraumatization and promote the physical and psychological safety of the youth. Furthermore, systems that have taken the time to become more trauma-informed are better positioned to effectively implement client-level trauma interventions.

Topic Expert

When the CEBC launched in 2006, Trauma Treatment (Child & Adolescent) was one of its two original topic areas. Benjamin E. Saunders, PhD, was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date of June 2006 (as found on the bottom of the program’s page on the CEBC). The topic area has grown over the years and in 2016, the topic area was split and expanded. All of the Trauma Treatment - System-Level Programs (Child & Adolescent) added since 2006 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Saunders was not involved in identifying or rating them.