Contact: Sally Fox
Sally.Fox@mail.house.gov
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, Bryan Steil co-authored a bipartisan letter calling for federal funds to address trauma-informed care. Steil also joined the Trauma-Informed Care Caucus spearheaded by former Wisconsin First Lady Tonette Walker and co-chaired by Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08).
“Trauma-informed care gives Southeast Wisconsin the knowledge and tools to better serve the most vulnerable in our community. Wisconsin is a national leader in trauma-informed care thanks to the work of Mrs. Tonette Walker,” said Steil.“This critical funding will allow schools and communities to support children and families dealing with trauma. It also gives states the ability to innovate and improve trauma-informed care practices. I look forward to addressing these issues as a new member of the bipartisan Trauma-Informed Care Caucus.”
“Traumatic experiences and toxic stress are harming millions of children, families, and adults across America,”Tonette Walker said. “These funds will help us get at the root cause of major public health issues by implementing trauma-informed care. I thank Congressman Gallagher and Congressman Steil for their leadership. Together, we can help change lives!”
As stated in the letter, nearly 35 million American children experience at least one traumatic experience before they turn 16. These traumatic experiences can have long-term impacts on health, behavioral, and societal development.
Specifically, Steil calls for support of four provisions: grants to expand evidence-based trauma support services in schools, funding for the National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative to improve community-based and trauma focused intervention, funding for the Interagency Task Force, and a provision to direct the Centers for Disease Control to report language that allows us to understand the impacts of trauma on children by supporting state efforts.
You can read the letter here.
