Tools for Transformation is a toolkit for organizations serving survivors of domestic and sexual violence (DSV) and their children, designed to support organizations’ efforts to become more accessible, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed (ACRTI). NCDVTMH’s framework for developing ACRTI services and organizations draws from many perspectives: the voices and experiences of survivors, advocates, and clinicians; the insights of social and political movements; and a growing body of research on child development and neurobiology. The core principles of ACRTI work provide a foundation for creating services that are welcoming and inclusive, attuned to the range of people’s experiences, and relevant to the people and communities we serve.

Initially developed in 2012 as a way to bridge trauma-informed and advocacy perspectives, this approach is grounded in domestic and sexual violence advocacy; incorporates an understanding of trauma and its effects; creates accessible environments for healing; recognizes the centrality of culture; attends to the well-being of staff, organizations, and communities; and is committed to social justice and human rights. The revised 2018 version includes expanded sections on accessibility, cultural responsiveness and inclusion, and collaboration with community partners such as health, mental health, substance use treatment, peer support, child welfare, and other child- and family-serving systems and agencies.

The Tools for Transformation Implementation Support Guides provide guidance to a) DSV coalitions on supporting their member programs’ efforts to become more accessible, culturally responsive, and trauma-informed (ACRTI), and b) program leaders who endeavor to move ACRTI implementation from good ideas to effective practice. All Implementation Support Guides contain resources and strategies to support organizational change, as outlined in Tools for Transformation. This series was developed in response to requests from the field and so includes input from coalitions and programs across the country.

Creating Trauma-Informed Services and Organizations: An Integrated Approach

This introductory article illustrates the key components of DSV work and their interconnected nature within an ACRTI framework.

  
Implementation Support Guide 1: The Social, Emotional, and Relational Climate and Organizational Trauma

The organizational climate involves how it feels to work in a particular place. Policies, expectations, and both written and unwritten rules influence social interactions, emotional tone, and interpersonal relationships within an organization, all of which contribute to how it feels for staff. Guide 1 offers leaders opportunities for reflection and strategies to support staff’s capacity to do work they are committed to and feel passionate about.

Implementation Support Guide 2: Supporting Change Leadership

Guide 2 is for DSV leaders who are considering initiating — or are already in the process of implementing — organization-wide ACRTI change initiatives. In addressing the concerns of DSV leaders, this guide serves as a roadmap for how to manage change effectively, as well as a reflection and reorientation tool for leaders whose change processes have stalled.

For more than a decade, the Core Curriculum on Creating Accessible, Culturally Responsive, and Trauma-Informed (ACRTI) Services has been a cornerstone of NCDVTMH’s work. Over the years, we have partnered with programs and coalitions nationwide to build capacity and to integrate the ACRTI philosophy into both service provision and organizational culture. In 2021, we debuted a revised version of this well received and widely used Core Curriculum, updated based on experiences of survivors, advocates, trainers, and leaders in the field. The full curriculum—including presentations, video trainings, and written materials—is available for download here.

Our accompanying 2021-2022 webinar series explores the enhanced capacity building resources in the revised Core Curriculum and provides insight from staff who have utilized these tools in the field.