--- title: Head Start--Measuring Trauma-Informed Care description: With new federal funding, Head Start programs have the opportunity to develop and improve trauma-informed approaches to support children, families and staff impacted by adverse experiences. image: https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_202865602.jpeg --- [![Traumatic Stress Institute](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/tsi-logo-transparent-sm-3.png?width=1500&height=329&name=tsi-logo-transparent-sm-3.png "Traumatic Stress Institute")](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/) - [About](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/) - [Vision - Mission - Values](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/mission/) - [Traumatic Stress Institute Staff](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/staff/) - [TSI Faculty Trainers](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/rc-faculty-trainers/) - [Sidran](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/sidran-redirect/) - [History of Traumatic Stress Institute](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/company-history/) - [Klingberg Family Centers](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/about-2/klingberg-family-centers/) - [Careers](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/careers/) - [Trauma-Informed Care](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/what-is-trauma-informed-care/) - [What Is Trauma Informed Care?](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/what-is-trauma-informed-care/) - [Trauma-Informed Care for Organizations](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/trauma-informed-care-for-organizations/) - Risking Connection - [RC 25th Anniversary](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/rc-25th-anniversary/) - [Risking Connection Change Model to Trauma-Informed Care – Standard](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/services/risking-connection-change-model/) - [IDD Organizations & Systems](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/services/risking-connection-change-model-idd/) - [Current Client Agencies of the Traumatic Stress Institute](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/services/whole-system-transformation-to-trauma-informed-care-tic/agencies-using-rc-as-training-model/) - [Risking Connection® (RC) Training](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/risking-connection-training/) - [Restorative Approach® (RA) Training](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/services/restorative-approach-training/) - [ARTIC Scale](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/the-artic-scale/) - [Training Events](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/events/) - [Trainers' Corner](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/trainers-corner/) - [Blog](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog) - [Books](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/books/) - [Helplines](https://www.traumaticstressinstitute.org/hotline-list/) - [Contact](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/contact/) ### Subscribe to updates ### Categories - [Whole-System Change (52)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/whole-system-change) - [Measurement & Research (27)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/measurement-research) - [Mindfulness (24)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/mindfulness) - [IDD Organizations (11)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/idd-organizations) - [Crisis Response (8)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/crisis-response) - [Head Start (8)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/head-start) - [Insider (1)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/tag/insider) See all This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### Recent Posts [![](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/hubfs/AdobeStock_202865602.jpeg)](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/head-start-trauma-informed-funding) # [Head Start--Measuring Trauma-Informed Care](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/head-start-trauma-informed-funding) May 6, 2020 / by [John Engel, MA](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/author/john-engel-ma) Thanks to new federal funding, Head Start programs have the opportunity to develop and improve trauma-informed approaches to support children, families and staff impacted by adverse experiences. The [Office of Head Start Guidance on Implementing Trauma-Informed Approach](https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/no-search/implementing-trauma-informed-approach.pdf) resource, included in the [funding announcement](https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/policy/pi/acf-pi-hs-20-02), states exposure to trauma is more prevalent than commonly believed and results in lasting effects on the physical and mental health of children and families. Head Start and Early Head Start programs, the resource notes, play a critical role in buffering the impact of trauma by promoting resilience for children, families and staff, the funding brief asserts. The quality improvement funding now available offers Head Start programs the opportunity to provide essential training and coaching in trauma-informed approaches for staff, governing boards and Policy Councils. Just as importantly, funding can be used to access measurement tools and systems for assessing the impact of these quality improvement efforts. Several of the leading trauma training organizations use the [ARTIC (Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care) Scale](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/online-artic-details/), a widely-used and psychometrically valid assessment that measures staff attitudes toward trauma-informed care. Using the Online ARTIC, baseline data on current staff attitudes toward trauma-informed care can be easily collected using a smart phone, tablet or computer and additional data collections can be repeated to assess the impact of training and coaching over time. Detailed reports automatically offer leaders greater confidence when making data-driven decisions about trauma-informed quality improvements and demonstrating to stakeholders progress in becoming trauma-informed. Confidential individual reports are also included, building staff confidence and capacity to deliver trauma-informed services. Currently, the [Traumatic Stress Institute](https://traumaticstressinstitute.org/) is offering a 30% COVID-19 Hardship Discount on all Online ARTIC purchases - providing relief to organizations that would like to proceed with TIC measurement at a time when many organizations are experiencing unexpected financial challenges. [![Learn More About the ARTIC](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/6854647/6c8f26cb-fa28-4de7-aef7-9c53196e2255.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/6854647/6c8f26cb-fa28-4de7-aef7-9c53196e2255) **Measure what matters, measure trauma-informed care** Tags: [Measurement & Research](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/topic/measurement-research), [Head Start](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/topic/head-start) ![John Engel, MA](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/hs-fs/hubfs/09.29.18%20JE%20Headshot%20-%20thumbnail.jpg?width=100&height=100&name=09.29.18%20JE%20Headshot%20-%20thumbnail.jpg) #### Written by [John Engel, MA](https://blog.traumaticstressinstitute.com/blog/author/john-engel-ma) John Engel, Program Coordinator at the Traumatic Stress Institute of Klingberg Family Centers, where he serves as a trainer and consultant for agencies adopting whole-system change to trauma-informed care. John also facilitates strategic change initiatives and product development for TSI, including development and launch of the Online ARTIC Scale. John also leads mindfulness in the workplace initiatives, including design and delivery of a webinar entitled, ‘Mindfulness in the Workplace: Practices for Sustaining Trauma-Informed Care,’ a day-long virtual training event, ‘Mindfulness: The Inner Work of Racial Healing and Trauma-Informed Care, ‘Monthly RC Mindfulness’ pilot and a ‘30-Day RC Mindfulness Challenge.’ John is a Certified Workplace Mindfulness Facilitator (CWMF), is certified in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and has participated in virtual and in-person Mindfulness in the Workplace Summits by Mindful Leader. Copyright 2026 | Traumatic Stress Institute