To Equip Everyone, Everywhere with TraumaInformed Knowledge, Support, and Resources.
A future where trauma-informed knowledge transforms communities, fosters healing, and empowers individuals everywhere to live with resilience and hope.
Love in Action – Jesus is at the heart of our work. His love, mercy, and grace guide our mission to bring healing and transformation to individuals and communities impacted by trauma.
Empowering Others – We believe in equipping individuals to be healing agents in their communities by providing trauma resources in first languages so that learning and transformation are truly accessible.
Upholding Dignity – We believe every person has God-given worth. We listen first, honor diverse perspectives, and build trust through transparency and respect.
Competent Compassion – We believe true compassion is more than just feeling or expressing care; it requires the knowledge, skills, and wisdom to respond effectively to suffering. It means creating spaces where people feel safe—physically, emotionally, and relationally—so they can begin to heal.
Stewardship – We are entrusted with traumainformed knowledge, and we share it freely and responsibly. By collaborating with others and removing barriers to resources, we ensure that healing multiplies far beyond ourselves.
Faithfulness & Integrity – We are accountable to our mission, partners, and God. We strive for honesty, humility, and excellence in everything we do, knowing that true transformation requires trust.
“ I was caring for children with trauma and felt helpless. Learning about trauma-competent care gave me the tools to really help.
- Participant from Tanzania
There is no denying it: trauma is negatively shaping the lives of millions around the world. Estimates suggest that roughly 2 billion people— about one quarter of the world’s population—are living in areas affected by conflict and violence. This staggering statistic includes one in five children globally who now live in conflict zones, with over 473 million children currently suffering from extreme violence—a figure unprecedented since World War II. For Trauma Free World, it is a compelling call to continue our mission: To Equip Everyone, Everywhere with Trauma-Informed Knowledge, Support, and Resources.
Julie Cooper, PhD President of Trauma Free World
Responding to these ever-growing needs, Trauma Free World remains steadfast in its mission to dismantle barriers that hinder access to this essential support – barriers such as financial constraints, geographical isolation, cultural and language differences, and lack of trained professionals. In 2024, we boldly stepped out in faith by making all our on-demand resources completely free, with many offered in multiple languages to ensure the highest level of understanding for everyone. Our staff continue to travel near and far bringing awareness to the devastating and often generational impact of trauma while teaching how to respond in a way that not only brings personal healing but fosters resilience within entire families and communities.
Our efforts at providing training, coaching, and mentoring—bolstered by our robust Affiliate Trainer initiative—are critical in restoring relational capacity and fostering safer, more supportive environments. In a world where enduring trauma affects so many, we are dedicated in our commitment to be present, nurture genuine connections, and exemplify the love of Christ. Through our work, we empower survivors to heal, unlock their potential, and thrive despite the challenges around them. Thank you for standing with us in this work. Together, we can bring hope, healing, and lasting change to Everyone, Everywhere.
The first Advanced Trauma Competent Care training was delivered to Back2Back Ministries staff, setting the foundation for a global movement.
Jayne and David Schooler joined Back2Back Ministries, bringing their passion and expertise. The Trauma Competent Care training team was officially formed, beginning its global mission.
The Trauma Competent Care training team traveled worldwide, equipping caregivers, educators, and leaders with life-changing tools to support trauma-impacted individuals.
A pivotal year as Trauma Free World was established, empowering a vision to provide trauma-informed care training for everyone, everywhere.
An extensive network of trainers was created to multiply the impact. This program has grown into a global community of trauma-informed leaders.
Trauma Free World made its on-demand courses accessible for free on traumafreeworld.org, broadening access to trauma-informed care education.
The Advanced Trauma Competent Care curriculum is offered in 13 languages, with four additional translations underway, broadening its reach across the globe.
The East Africa Collective was launched, bringing together over 50 Affiliate Trainers to create a sustainable, localized impact.
Un Mundo Libre de Trauma was launched, introducing Trauma Free World’s resources to Latin America.
The West Africa Collective is launched, continuing the expansion into underserved regions.
In the next 3–5 years, Trauma Free World will grow into a globally recognized leader in traumainformed training and implementation. By expanding access, strengthening partnerships, and deepening impact, we will move closer to a world where traumainformed care is not just an initiative—it’s the foundation of how we support healing and resilience in individuals, organizations, and communities.
Approximately 8000 people have accessed our on-demand courses over 13,000 times in the past five years.
We’ve trained over 10,000 people in more than 95 countries, impacting more than 500,000 children, and we hear inspiring stories of transformation daily.
“ Learning about psychological presence helped me understand the stress my foster children face. I’m now much more empathetic.
- Participant from USA
Becoming a Trauma Free World Affiliate Trainer means joining a global network of trauma-informed professionals committed to creating safe and healing environments. As part of this community, they gain opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and collective action to address and heal the impact of trauma worldwide. Affiliate Trainers are dedicated to traumacompetent care principles and are approved to teach the Advanced Trauma Competent Care course within their organizations, furthering the mission of fostering resilience and healing.
As of December 2024, Trauma Free World has 436 Affiliate Trainers worldwide, with 216 more in training to become certified by the end of 2025—totaling 652 Affiliate Trainers globally.
In 2024, these trainers conducted 111 trainings across 22 countries, engaging 4,687 participants and impacting 131,953 individuals through collaborations with over 50 organizations around the world.
Asia (3 Countries): Nepal, Jordan, Lebanon
South America (4 Countries): Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, Venezuela
North America (9 Countries): Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Canada, United States
Africa (10 Countries): Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Senegal, Tunisia
Europe (8 Countries): Albania, Bosnia, Estonia, Latvia, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Great Britain
In 2023 and 2024, Trauma Free World partnered with the University of Cincinnati to conduct two clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of the Trauma Competent Caregiving (TCC) curriculum for foster and kinship caregivers in the United States. The first clinical trial evaluated a hybrid model of TCC (i.e., in-person and virtual attendees). Seventy-six foster parents participated in the training. The study demonstrated immediate, positive impacts on the foster parents’ knowledge and confidence implementing trauma-informed care. Additionally, the children in the participant’s care saw an immediate reduction in peer problems and total behavior problems. The caregivers reported an improvement in positive and socially acceptable behaviors by their children (Smeyne et al., under review). A manuscript describing the results from this study is currently under peer review in the Child and Family Youth Services Review journal.
In 2024, the partnership continued with a second clinical trial evaluating a virtual model of TCC. Thirty-three foster and kinship caregivers were recruited and enrolled in this trial. Findings suggest that foster parents found the virtual TCC curriculum to be appropriate, relevant, and meaningful in their role as foster parents. They had some challenges with the time commitment and presentation of materials, but desired wider dissemination of this and similar training opportunities. A manuscript describing the results from this study was submitted in early 2025 for peer review to the Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.
“Both studies provided valuable participant feedback on the effectiveness of the Trauma Competent Care curriculum and the need for ongoing research to support evidence-based practices for use in the foster care system. As Trauma Free World continues to pursue the evidence-based designation of our Trauma Competent Care curriculum, collaboration continues with the University of Cincinnati with another study planned for the summer of 2025. This is just one more way Trauma Free World strives to provide trauma training for everyone, everywhere.
The type of education that you’re creating and disseminating right now is so important. It is really helpful to know that there are people out there who actually care about us, like people who actually want to know how we’re coping and how we feel, and I love that. I feel like people want to know what we go through and how to improve the system.”
- Foster parent participant
Hesitantly, she approached me from behind, tapping my shoulder while I packed up to leave. Our three-day conference was finished, and she had finally felt safe enough, brave enough, to share.
“I wanted to tell you my story. The training impacted me.” She nervously fumbled some folded slips of paper. “Will you read it? I wrote it. I can’t say it.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “You see… my son….”
I turned around and reached for the paper as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
And tears formed in mine as I read.
Orphaned. Abandoned.
Thought she found love. It was a lie. Pregnant at 16.
She dropped out of high school and moved away from her familiar environment to the home of a distant relative. In her new home, she worked from early morning to late at night, cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, and hauling water.
And every day she was verbally shamed, physically battered, and emotionally abused.
Her system of value, built on a foundation of maltreatment, echoed across the chasms of her mind. She was unloved, unwanted, shameful, worthless, and it was her fault.
This internal pain leaked out in anger towards the only one in her world more vulnerable than she, and her child bore the brunt of her hurt. Daily, she unleashed years of neglect and abuse onto her son.
The cycle of abuse, staring me down, and daring us both to stop the madness.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
When she finally found her voice, she spoke to me, rapidly, pleadingly, “I didn’t know... I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just hurting so much. I was only thinking about myself. My son is 13 now. He is finishing exams at boarding school and then we’ll be together for the next two months. Is it too late? I’ve seriously hurt him. How will I recover what I never gave him when he was young? What should I do?”
I didn’t answer her questions. I didn’t need to. She was beginning to talk it out. She was looking for validation that, though it would be hard, it would be worth it to take steps towards healing her relationship with her son. She was looking for hope.
There. Is. Always. Hope.
Even in the darkest hole, the deepest night, the worst pain, the impossible, there is hope, because Jesus is right there. There’s no guarantee it will be fixed, made right, or miraculously saved. But there is hope in not being alone. There is hope because Jesus is there in relatable and meaningful ways to sit with us in our pain and be present with us in darkness. There is hope because the Holy Spirit is the Comforter and there is nothing that we need more than comfort in such times.
I took a deep breath and we prayed together for healing for both of them.
They have tough days ahead as they wrestle through their tangled histories. There’s a LOT to heal. It won’t look perfect in the end, but I do believe they’ll both take a step forward and the next generation will look different.
I was so honored to be present to listen to her story. I believe in a God who intervenes at the right time, bringing awareness of our brokenness and providing a path towards healing. He has done it for me, and I believe and pray He will do it for my friend and her son.
Her humility, honesty, and courage in sharing her story were a reminder to me of the importance of relationships. While our deepest wounding happens in relationships, we also find profound healing in relationships. I have found this to be true in my own life and have witnessed it in the lives of others as well.
Repairing broken relationships and rebuilding trust takes time. It takes patience. It takes consistent effort in building safe spaces and it takes persistent, intentional love. It requires grieving through loss and processing through pain, bit by bit. It takes forgiveness and acceptance. It is a long road - a very, long road. Yes, there are times when it ends up being more healing to part ways. There are also times when a broken relationship is restored and the scars make it more beautiful in the end.
Every labored forward step of the journey down the road toward healing is significant and worth it.
No matter what, every labored forward step of the journey down the road toward healing is significant and worth it.
Brian Furnish - Miami University
Julie Cooper PhD - Trauma Free World
Todd Guckenberger - Back2Back Ministries
Rob Hall EdD - Global Trauma Alliance
Will Housh - Entrepreneur
Katie Andolina - Financial Controller
Brian Bertke - VP of Business Development
Julie Cooper PhD - President
Teresa Garcia Espinosa - Director of Un Mundo Libre de Trauma
Diane Hersberger - VP of Operations
John Horning - Chief Financial Officer
Ene Oklo - West Africa Regional Manager
Verónica Elizabeth Ruelas Niño - Assistant to the Director of Un Mundo Libre de Trauma
Ann Smith - VP of Affiliate Training
Maddie Wentworth - Training & Impact Coordinator
“This training has changed my life. It’s not just helping my work, but also my family. We’re using these principles at home and work, and it’s transforming us all.”
- Participant from Zambia
traumafreeworld.org