It Takes a Village: Why We All Need to Be Trauma-Informed

The importance of the "village around the child" cannot be overstated. For a child to grow, heal, and thrive—particularly one who has experienced trauma—they must be surrounded by a network of safe, attuned, and consistent adults. In many traditional cultures, this village is still alive and active. However, in much of Western society today, families often find themselves isolated, distanced from extended support networks, and without a strong culture of communal care or asking for help. 

At Popeth, one of our core values is to involve the village in all that we do. When everyone in a child’s life is working from a shared understanding—when we're all "singing off the same songsheet"—it creates consistency and predictability, which are essential for children navigating the aftereffects of trauma. The village extends beyond immediate caregivers to include extended family members, social workers, educators, therapists, and medical professionals. In many cases, trauma has touched so many areas of a child's development that a broad and integrated support network becomes essential. 

An interview with a Speech and Language Therapist, who is also an adoptive mother, illustrates just how valuable a trauma-informed perspective can be. Her dual role allows her to approach children and families with empathy and insight, recognising the subtle but powerful ways trauma can show up—in developmental delays, in fear responses, in misunderstood behaviours. Yet, her comments also highlight a crucial gap: most of her professional training did not equip her to understand trauma or respond effectively to its impact. 

This is not unique to her profession. Many frontline professionals—therapists, educators, health workers—lack sufficient training in trauma-informed care. Without this foundation, even well-meaning interventions can misfire or, worse, re-traumatise. 

This is why we must all be trauma-informed. 

Being trauma-informed means recognising the prevalence and impact of trauma, understanding how it manifests, and responding in ways that prioritise safety, empathy, and healing. It means shifting from asking, “What’s wrong with this child?” to “What has this child been through?” It requires us all—regardless of our role—to see the child not just in isolation, but in the context of their relationships and histories. 

If we are to truly support children and families in meaningful, lasting ways, we must create systems, communities, and cultures that are trauma-informed at every level. Healing is not the responsibility of one person alone—it takes a village. 

The vibrancy of a village

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