Trauma-informed care is an organizational approach grounded in recognition of the pervasive impact of trauma on the persons served by behavioral health programs. Trauma - including adverse childhood experiences, interpersonal violence, historical and intergenerational trauma, and the structural effects of racism, poverty, and marginalization - profoundly shapes how individuals engage with services, form relationships with personnel, and pursue recovery. A trauma-informed organization integrates this knowledge into its culture, policies, procedures, practices, and physical environment at every level, actively promoting safety, trust, and empowerment for both persons served and the workforce.
These standards establish a new Trauma-Informed Care Specialty Designation in CARF's Behavioral Health, Child and Youth Services, and Opioid Treatment Program Standards Manuals. The specialty designation, which addresses the organizational infrastructure required to implement and sustain a trauma-informed approach across behavioral health programs, will be available on an elective basis for programs throughout the three standards manuals.
About this Field Review This field review includes a description and 13 standards for a Trauma-Informed Care Specialty Designation.
An organization seeking accreditation for a Trauma-Informed Care Specialty Designation would also meet the following standards in the Behavioral Health, Child and Youth Services, or Opioid Treatment Program Standards Manual:
- Section 1. ASPIRE to Excellence®
- Applicable standards in Section 2
- Standards for at least one program in Section 3 or 4
If you have questions about this field review or would like to access other standards that are not open for comment but that may facilitate your review of these standards, please contact Cindy Solochek at
csolochek@carf.org.
We value your time and opinion, and you are invited to comment on each of the proposed standards. Especially if you disagree with what is proposed, please provide an explanation and constructive feedback about how the standard could be improved.
If you would like to share this field review with others in your network, please forward the invitation email.
Deadline for SubmissionIn order for your feedback to be considered, this field review should be submitted by
September 3, 2026.