Moving Toward Trauma-Informed and Human Rights-Based Social Policy: The Role of the Helping Professions

Abstract

This chapter addresses the value of preventing trauma, reducing its impact, and advancing human rights through social policy. We begin by discussing a rationale for extending a trauma-informed and human rights perspective to social policy. Secondly, we establish why it is important for individuals in the helping professions to apply a trauma-informed and human rights lens to policy analysis and to engage in policy advocacy. Thirdly, we review a framework for trauma-informed and human rights-based policy analysis and provide an illustration applying the framework to fair wage policy. We conclude by detailing the link between policy analysis and advocacy, articulating how members of the helping professions can advocate for trauma and human rights-informed policy change at local, state, federal, and international levels.