Assembly Resolution No. 2136

BY: M. of A. Solages

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 2024, as Trauma-Informed Care Month in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, Traumatic experiences affect millions of individuals in New
York State and can affect the mental, emotional, physical, spiritual,
economic, and social well-being of an individual; and

WHEREAS, Adverse childhood experiences, referred to as ''ACEs," can
be traumatizing and, if not recognized, can affect health across the
lifespan of an individual and, in some cases, result in a shortened
lifespan; and

WHEREAS, ACEs are recognized as a proxy for toxic stress, which can
affect brain development and can cause a lifetime of physical, mental,
and social challenges; and

WHEREAS, ACEs and trauma are determinants of public health problems
in New York State such as obesity, addiction, and mental illness; and

WHEREAS, Trauma-informed care is an approach that can bring greater
understanding and more effective ways to support and serve children,
adults, families, and communities affected by trauma; and

WHEREAS, Trauma-informed care is not a therapy or an intervention,
but a principle-based, culture-change process aimed at recognizing
strengths and resiliency, as well as helping people who have experienced
trauma to overcome those issues in order to lead healthy and positive
lives; and

WHEREAS, Adopting trauma-informed approaches in workplaces,
communities, and government programs can aid in preventing mental,
emotional, physical, and social issues for people impacted by toxic
stress and trauma; and

WHEREAS, Trauma-informed care has been promoted and established in
communities across New York State, including many different uses of
trauma-informed care being utilized by various types of entities; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Family Assistance and the Department of
Mental Hygiene provides substantial resources to better engage
individuals and communities across New York State to implement
trauma-informed care; and

WHEREAS, Numerous state agencies have integrated trauma-informed
approaches into programs and grants that those agencies administer, and
those agencies could benefit from closer collaboration; and

WHEREAS, State recognition through a trauma-focused awareness month
will help to deepen the understanding of the nature and impact of
trauma, the importance of prevention, the impact that ACEs can have on
brain development, and the benefits of trauma-informed care; now,
therefore, be it


RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 2024 as
Trauma-Informed Care Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.