Trauma Informed Care Grade (TIC Grade)

OVERVIEW

• Foundationally-built on the theory, best practices and principles guiding how organizations can successfully deliver trauma-informed care to youth and/or adults
• Co-created with the youth the tool serves for readability/comprehension and to ensure non-triggering while completing the evaluation

BACKGROUND

The Trauma Informed Care Grade Evaluation (TIC Grade) is a 20-question tool that social and healthcare service delivery organizations and providers can use to assess their clients' perceptions of the quality of trauma-informed care provided. The TIC Grade Evaluation can also be used as a pre- and post-measure of progress when planning to implement a trauma-informed care program to compare patient assessment of TIC services before and after implementing staff/provider TIC training. 

The TIC Grade Evaluation is divided into sections. The first 16 questions assess how well the staff are addressing the practices and principles of trauma informed care. The 17th question provides an overall "grade" on how well the staff are providing trauma-informed care. The last 3 questions provide information on the client's experience of trauma. 

The TIC Grade was developed using SAMHSA's definition of trauma-informed care and refined with input from youth from community organizations. It has been tested with adolescents and emerging adults and psychometric analyses support the TIC Grade's reliability and validity. It may be useful with children and adults as well. 

This evaluation instrument can be filled out on paper or via an online evaluation. An Excel macro is available for scoring.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

• Is designed for use in research and/or evaluation of trauma-informed care delivery in clinics/practices
• Offers a single-question "grade" which strongly correlates with the full battery of questions for ease of use/convenience in practices
• Includes an Excel macro for ease of tabulating results

Questions: For questions on the use of the TIC Grade or scoring evaluation, you may contact: 

Dr. Nicole Boucher PhD, RN CPNP at nbouche@med.umich.edu

Related Information: The TIC Grade was developed by faculty in the University of Michigan School of Nursing CAsCAid Research Group, our doctoral students, and our Community Youth Advisory Board. Additional information on the CAsCAid Research Group and on their trauma-informed care research and training can be found at the CAsCAid website.

Researcher Biographies:

Nicole Boucher: Phd, RN, CPNP

Cynthia Fisher-Darling: PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP

Julia S. Seng: PhD, CNM, FAAN

*** Key Licensing Information ***

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