Infant-Toddler Court Program: Tip Sheet for Trauma-Responsive Courts

Trauma responsive courts embrace a universal precaution model, which assumes that all children, families, and court stakeholders could have a history of exposure to trauma prior to court involvement. In collaboration with the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) created a trauma assessment protocol for juvenile and family courts. The tips provided in the following sections are general recommendations that can be used to assist in creating trauma responsive court environments, policies, and practices. Additionally, it is recommended that courts assemble a committee to examine their current practices and court environment and work to create a plan to move toward being a more trauma responsive courthouse. While these tips and questions can inform courts on how to become more trauma responsive, recommendations could change depending on individual court circumstances.