ACEs in Healthcare
Trauma-informed Care
When people or organizations understand how ACEs can impact a person’s well-being, behaviour, and relationships, we call this being “trauma-informed”. Being trauma-informed involves following four key principles.
4 Rs of Trauma-Informed Care
Realize
Recognize
Respond
Resist
Being trauma-informed means recognizing that ACEs can shape the way people feel—and responding in a way that ensures that care is provided with compassion, safety, and respect.
Implementing Trauma-informed Care
Implementing trauma-informed care requires individual and system-level approaches that include:
- Education and training for all staff so that everyone understands ACEs and their impacts.
- Prevention and early intervention measures to help identify and support people who may be at risk.
- Safe and collaborative environments where people feel heard, respected, and empowered in their own care.
Trauma-informed care recognizes that healing happens in relationships and communities. Because ACEs are common, adapting a trauma-informed approach is considered a universal precaution—a way to ensure that every person is met with compassion, understanding, and dignity.