Federal partners committee on women and trauma: Cross-agency collaboration on trauma-informed care

Exposure to traumatic events is potentially the greatest threat to public health in the U.S.  Recognizing  women and girls are at a disproportionately high risk for traumatic exposure, the Women and Trauma Federal Partners Committee, established in 2009, raises awareness,  educates internal and external stakeholders on trauma and trauma-informed care; and catalyzes policy and programming to be developed with a gender-responsive, trauma-informed lens. Co-chaired by the US Departments of Health and Human Services and Labor, it consists of representatives from over 20 agencies and offices from the Departments of Defense, Education, HUD, Justice, VA, Peace Corps and others who benefit from the cross-fertilization.

This presentation provides information on this Committee, including innovative approaches to working across departments and engaging stakeholders across the country to adopt cross-systems integration and collaboration. The Committee,  is an example of intergovernmental collaboration based on a shared concern about trauma. Since its inception, the committee has provided training to other agencies and the public, crafted RFPs and policy guidance, worked together on training curricula and convened public events. The Committee has hosted two national Roundtables and a webinar series. Dozens of trauma-informed actions and initiatives have resulted directly from the Federal Partners Committee and Roundtable efforts.  The Committee plays a pivotal role in highlighting the scope of the problem of trauma, including violence against women and girls. It also champions dissemination of emerging knowledge, innovations, strategies, practices and collaborations to address these problems through trauma-informed approaches, regardless of setting, system, sector, or community.