Trauma-Informed Systems Initiative (TIS)

Trauma is a pervasive, long-lasting public health issue that affects our public health workforce and system. The TIS Initiative at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) supports organizations in creating contexts that nurture and sustain trauma-informed practices. Watch this video to learn more about TIS Initiative.

Trauma-Informed Systems 101 - Transforming Stress and Trauma: Fostering Wellness and Resilience (TIS 101) is our foundational 3.5 hour training. It is required for and geared towards new SFDPH staff. Staff at other city departments and non-profits are welcome to attend as space allows.  

The learning objectives for TIS 101 are: 

• Understand effects of chronic stress and trauma on our lives, our brains, and our bodies 
• Learn how race and culture intersect with trauma to impact individual, organizational, and community health 
• Understand and apply principles of trauma-informed systems 
• Learn strategies to develop individual & organizational resilience in order to create and maintain healthier, trauma-informed responses in workplace relationships 

Please email tis@sfdph.org for more information or to inquire about registration. 

The Trauma-Informed System Initiative (TIS) at the San Francisco Department of Public Health (DPH) is an organizational change model to support agencies in nurturing and sustaining trauma-informed practices. Through TIS, we cultivate healing environments by increasing organizational resilience, improving workforce experience, and ultimately supporting organizations in responding to and reducing the impact of trauma. 

An organization practicing TIS agrees to:   

• Adopting the 6 principles of trauma-informed systems and being willing to have vulnerable conversations about how these principles exist in the work place 
• Leading from a trauma-informed lens 
• Embedding TIS trainers within their organizations as content experts 
• Supporting an internal team of TIS catalysts and champions who plan, implement and support activities that promote organizational healing 
• Enhancing organizational programs, practices and policies to reflect the six principles of trauma-informed systems 
• Collaborating and aligning efforts within and across systems and sectors 
• Evaluating efforts continuously 

Partner organizations 

Trauma Transformed (T2) 

Edgewood Center for Children and Families 

Videos 

Adverse Childhood Experiences. 

More information on TIS Initiative of SFDPH:

Foundational Article 

TIS Foundational Article - Loomis.pdf