Program Overview

Trauma-Informed Care Certificate

Program Overview

The Trauma-Informed Care certificate is an undergraduate certification program that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of trauma-informed care and its application in various fields. The program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to interact effectively and ethically with individuals who have experienced trauma.

Program Details

• Program Type: Certificate
• Format: Online
• Estimated Time to Complete: 1-2 semesters
• Credit Hours: 12

Program Description

Trauma is a major issue in society that results in increased risk across a number of societal concerns. Trauma-informed care is a powerful framework that offers hope in addressing these issues. It provides a means to better recognize the symptoms of trauma, understand its impact, and develop the knowledge base and skills to address the needs of individuals with trauma histories.

Why Earn a Trauma-Informed Care Certificate?

The Trauma-Informed Care certificate courses consider several social issues that intersect with trauma, including violence in families, child welfare and policy, substance use and mental health. Through these courses, students will learn about topics related to the recognition of the impact of violence as shaped by the social location of vulnerable and oppressed groups, the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, family structures, support systems and methods of intervention, risk of unaddressed traumatic experiences and its implications for mental health across the lifespan, and the characteristics of various life traumas and the social, psychological and biological impact that may be associated with substance use.

Applicable Professions and Majors

• Social Workers
• Rehabilitation Studies
• Psychology
• Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Professionals
• Health Care Professionals
• Teachers and Counselors
• Human Development and Family Science

Program Courses

Violence in Families (3 hrs)

This course emphasizes increasing students’ sensitivity towards violence in “families,” broadly defined to include any intimate relationship. The extent, risk factors, and traumatic effects of this issue are explored by applying theoretical perspectives to facilitate understanding and to differentiate between various forms of violence. Recognition of the importance of violence as shaped by the social location of vulnerable and oppressed groups is also examined.

Child Welfare Practice and Services (3 hrs)

Presents the history of child welfare practices, social institutions, policy development, and the social service delivery system. Utilizing a trauma-informed lens, the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, family structures, support systems and methods of intervention will be examined. Students will recognize that the impact of trauma is experienced not only by children and families in the child welfare system, but also by foster families, kinship caregivers, and social service providers.

Theory and Practice in Mental Health (3 hrs)

Familiarizes students with essential knowledge on the vulnerabilities of individuals with mental impairments to better understand their lived experiences and potential adverse effects. This is explored through appraisal of the risk of unaddressed traumatic experiences and its implications for mental health across the life span. Students will understand symptom severity and screening processes, classification systems, bio-psycho-social aspects of assessment, and skills needed to serve individuals, families, groups and communities impacted by this illness.

The Intersection of Trauma and Substance Use (3 hrs)

In this course students will explore the intersectionality of trauma and substance use disorders across the life span. This includes the examination of the characteristics of various life traumas and the social, psychological, and biological impact that may be associated with substance use. Students are expected to recognize these signs and symptoms with emphasis on the integration of learned knowledge and skills.