Addressing Sexual and Relationship Violence: A Trauma-Informed Approach

Updated September 8, 2020

This toolkit describes a public health model of trauma-informed care and provides guidance on engaging all campus constituents in creating a trauma-informed campus. The toolkit provides institutions of higher education with a comprehensive, meaningful resource to utilize when developing prevention programming as well as response to incidents of sexual violence experienced by members of the campus community.

Developed using best practices, current research, and resources from key organizations, including The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), ACHA’s toolkit recommends a trauma-informed framework to better address the impact sexual violence has on campus community members.

Campus sexual and relationship violence are serious public health issues adversely affecting college and university students because students cannot learn in an atmosphere in which they do not feel safe. In its 2016 Position Statement on Sexual and Relationship Violence on College and University Campuses and in its guidelines, ACHA affirms that campuses have a responsibility and an opportunity to engage with emerging research; evaluate the efficacy of their own prevention, response, and treatment efforts; and actively share lessons learned. Trauma-informed approaches should be adopted across campus in order to provide a more sensitive response and lower the risk of re-victimization. Services, resources, and training should be congruent with best practices as they evolve.