Trauma-informed Design Toolkit and Office Renovations

Our firm partnered with the Massachusetts Department of Children & Families (DCF) to develop a Trauma-Informed Design (TiD) Toolkit that aligns the department’s physical environments with its mission of supporting children, families, and staff. As a relatively new and evolving field, trauma-informed design has rarely been applied to public child welfare settings, positioning this work at the forefront of innovation.

Drawing from research on trauma and Trauma-Informed Care (TiC), along with our firm’s extensive experience designing environments for children and families, the team created a comprehensive framework tailored to DCF’s 29 area offices across the Commonwealth.

The process included evaluating existing DCF facilities, analyzing operational challenges and opportunities, and conducting in-depth focus groups with DCF staff, stakeholders, and family advocates. Through this collaborative process, the team identified common themes and translated them into practical design strategies that support safety, dignity, transparency, empowerment, and connection.

The resulting toolkit provides guiding principles, planning strategies, and design recommendations that can be applied to new facilities, renovations, and lease renewals. To date, 14 DCF offices have implemented trauma-informed improvements, with additional upgrades planned as future renovations and relocations occur.