Transforming Law Enforcement Response to Child Trauma

The National Center for Trauma-Informed Policing (TIP Center) empowers first responders to protect children and families through trauma-informed training, technical assistance, and the GO TEAM® co-response model.
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Who It’s For

The National Center for Trauma-Informed Policing of “TIP Center” is built to serve:
Law enforcement personnel at all levels, from patrol officers to command staff
Other first responders such as hazmat crews and search and rescue teams
Emergency Medical Services personnel, paramedics and EMTs
Social service agencies who serve children
Municipal leaders and public safety officials
Firefighters
Community-based mental health professionals

Training institutions and researchers in trauma, law enforcement, and public health

Our goal is to empower those on the frontlines and their leadership to recognize child trauma and respond compassionately, reducing the immediate, negative effects of trauma exposure on the child as well as their caregivers. Further, we hope to contribute to a greater sense of belonging among first responders within the communities they are dedicated to serving, supporting positive community relations and greater community engagement in keeping their own neighborhoods safe.


Why It Matters

  • Children routinely face acute trauma during domestic violence incidents, arrests, overdoses, abuse or neglect cases, child welfare removals, and community or school violence.

  • First responders’ actions in these moments can shape a child’s immediate coping ability and long-term sense of safety and trust.

  • These interactions can leave lasting impressions that influence how a young person views police and other responders well into adulthood.

  • Most responders receive minimal training on child traumatic stress or how trauma affects development and behavior.

  • Only a small portion of police academy instruction addresses youth-related topics, leaving officers underprepared for these encounters.


  • The way responders approach a child after a traumatic event can lessen or intensify the child’s symptoms.

  • Training and consultation help agencies build protocols that protect both children and responders during high-stress incidents.

  • Many children also experience non-violent but destabilizing crises related to parental mental health, social service emergencies, or substance-use issues.

  • Trauma-informed responses in these situations can reduce long-term harm and strengthen pathways to recovery and resilience.

  • Ongoing training paired with community-based supports and treatment is essential for responders to serve these children effectively.

    • The TIP Center addresses these urgent needs by:

    1. Providing officers and other first responders with evidence-based child trauma training, skills to reduce the risk of officer-induced child trauma and strategies for linking families to timely support services
    2. Providing responder departments with assistance developing child trauma-informed policies and procedures
    3. Providing other scalable tools that promote safe and effective community policing in partnership with local residents
    4. Assisting departments in establishing community-based partnerships, building bridges between responders and community-based care for families
    5. GO TEAM® child-focused co-response replication
    6. Training and support for responder wellness, both for individuals and their families, focused mitigating secondary traumatic stress

    What We Offer

     TRAINING 

    GO TEAM® REPLICATION

    CONSULTATION &
    TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

    COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT 

    The TIP Center provides both in-person and virtual training for groups of any size on Understanding and Responding to Child Trauma for first responders. In-person training is provided across the nation and is customized to address local department(s) needs. In-person training includes virtual reality scenarios involving traumatized children encountered on-scene via the TIP Center’s state-of-the-art MILO Range high fidelity simulator.


    Virtual training is provided through a comprehensive Learning Management System (LMS) built for law enforcement and other first responder audiences. The content is designed for flexible, self-paced learning and includes video lessons and applied learning activities that reinforce key concepts.

    Our training content is appropriate for all levels of command and has been developed by experts in the fields of child trauma, psychology, ethics, law enforcement, community policing, secondary traumatic stress, public safety, and others.

    Topics include:

    • Understanding and Responding to Child Trauma: Understand how trauma exposure affects children, families, and community-police interactions

    Real-World Child-focused Co-Response Training

    The TIP Center offers assistance to agencies looking to replicate the GO TEAM® model across the United States. Support includes guidance on program development, staffing, training, data collection, and sustainability planning.

    The goal is to help agencies implement a child-focused co-response model that strengthens trauma-informed policing practices and community partnerships.

    INDIVIDUALIZED CONSULTATION & TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

    Not Sure Where to Start?

    We can assess your department’s child-trauma readiness and capacity to implement a co-response model. We can also help you identify/establish formal community partnerships in your area and provide sample partnership agreements 

    Policy/Procedure Recommendations

    Access to child-trauma informed policy samples and on-scene response protocols, and child trauma screening guides for everyday use

    Funding Strategies

    The TIP Center team will work with your department to identify potential funding and other resources for GO TEAM® implementation, spanning local, municipal, state, federal, private, corporate funding and local basic needs, victim- and treatment-focused resources

    Customized strategies to engage your local community in collaborating with your department to better protect children and youth

    Success Story

    FSRI + Providence Police Department Collaboration
    What began 20 years ago as a pilot project between Family Service of Rhode Island (FSRI) and the Providence Police Department has evolved into a nationally recognized model for trauma-informed policing. The GO TEAM® pairs trauma-trained liaisons with law enforcement officers to respond jointly to crisis calls, ensuring victims, witnesses, and families receive immediate emotional and practical support.

    The partnership transformed how officers engage with the community, bridging gaps in trust and care. “I couldn’t imagine policing today without the co-response model,” said Lieutenant Carlos Sical. With FSRI’s new national online training program, this proven model is now being shared with departments across the country, equipping officers with the tools they need to respond with compassion and build safer, stronger communities.