Understanding Trauma-Informed Care Across Settings: A Contemporary Definition, Values, Model, and Framework From an Integrative Review

The evolution of trauma-informed care (TIC) since its inception has resulted in myriad models and frameworks across a variety of settings. However, there is a lack of a consistent definition and understanding of what constitutes TIC. We conducted an integrative review, using a rapid review methodology, concept and content analysis, and thematic synthesis to identify the existing models and frameworks of TIC and their common values, components and principles, and synthesise these to inform a contemporary understanding of TIC. Two-hundred and eighty-eight included sources from the academic and grey literature internationally were analysed, resulting in 10 values, 10 principles, and 28 components of TIC. Foundational components of TIC were identified as understanding trauma, ensuring safety and trust, empowerment and collaboration, supporting trauma recovery and emotional management, and taking a whole-of-organisation approach. We present a proposed integrated definition of TIC, core values, conceptual model, and framework for application across settings. The integrated model and framework have potential utility in the implementation of TIC and development of setting-specific practice strategies, particularly in new settings. It provides a contemporaneous description of TIC that has the potential to inform future research, policy development, and practice that can support its application.