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Culture and Trauma

Trauma intersects in many different ways with culture, history, race, gender, location, and language. Trauma-informed systems acknowledge the compounding impact of structural inequity and are responsive to the unique needs of diverse communities. Cultural awareness, responsiveness, and understanding are essential to increasing access and improving the standard of care for traumatized children, families, and communities across the United States. Eliminating disparities in trauma services requires culturally responsive involvement across service sectors, communities, organizations, neighborhoods, families, and individuals in order to reduce barriers, overcome stigma, address social adversities, strengthen families, and encourage positive ethnic identity.

Introduction

Enhancing cultural competence and encouraging cultural humility are essential to increasing access and improving the standard of care for traumatized children, families, and communities across the

NCTSN Resources

The following resources on Culture and Trauma were developed by the NCTSN.