TiD Credentialing
TiD Society Project Reviews
Trauma-informed Design (TiD) is a practice, in which the primary goal is achieving a sense of safety for all users of the built environment and all participants of the design process. As with all practices, TiD requires practitioners to understand
the concepts and theories relating to it, and to apply them to projects with fidelity.
​
As TiD is a rapidly growing and evolving practice, it's essential to stay current. Therefore, credentialed TiD practitioners are required to engage in continuing professional development in this area of practice. This requirement can be met by either completing continuing education units (CEUs) or successfully completing TiD Society Project Review(s) of real-world TiD projects, as outlined below.
Objective and Process
The goal of a TiD Society Project Review is to demonstrate the practitioner’s understanding of the TiD Framework, and ability to apply it to projects with fidelity. TiD practitioners present their work from real-world projects at a synchronous meeting, and submit a file with their project documentation, for review by a panel of at least three TiD reviewers. Each project presented for TiD Society
Project Review should include an overview, floor plans or other representation of the space layout, and discussion and documentation of the TiD recommendations or elements in the project.
​
Reviewers assess presented projects based on evidence that demonstrates the practitioner understands the three spheres and each key component of the TiD Framework domains, and that they can apply and explain these concepts. Explaining the reasons behind recommendations helps clients understand the importance of implementing them, so this is a key part of our approach to scoring reviews.
​
We recognize that TiD practitioners have different backgrounds, experiences, and skills, and fully support a variety of different mediums for TiD Society Project Reviews. Projects submitted for review can be in many forms, including:
-
A completed schematic design;
​
-
A completed TiD evaluation of an existing program or space, complete with the practitioner’s written recommendations; or
​
-
A completed built environment or architectural project.
Practitioners may reuse a project that was previously presented for review if significant design changes were made since the last review, at the discretion of the reviewers. Practitioners who have questions about whether a project meets the criteria for a project review can reach out to the TiD Society for consultation prior to scheduling their review.
​
When presenting a real-world project for review, practitioners are expected to justify their choices throughout the project using the TiD Framework. This includes providing information about the population of users, the location of the project, and the built environment. Practitioners are expected to document and address their review of the program’s policies and practices, how the design process was trauma-informed, and how the key components of the 11 domains of the TiD Framework are met in the built environment. To ensure they understand the practitioner’s intent, reviewers may ask clarifying questions or provide feedback during the meeting.
​​
​
Project Review Requirements
​​​​
Each project presented for TiD Society Project Review should include an overview of the project and population of users. Practitioners should include information about where the project is located and what the population research revealed about the users, their experiences, and what might be stress-inducing for them in the physical environment. Additionally, the overview should include a description of the process and practices the practitioner followed when completing the project.
​
Floor Plans, Schematic Design, or Other Representation of Space Layout
This portion of the project review should include a discussion and visual representation of the space and how it was adapted it to meet the desired programming and incorporate the TiD Framework domains. If the project was a renovation or TiD update of an existing space, both the original and proposed or final space layout should be included. The rationale for all TiD changes should be included and documented, as reviewers rely on these rationales to assess how well the practitioner understands the key components of each TiD domain.
​
TiD Recommendations or Elements
This portion of the project review should include a discussion and visual representation of all the TiD recommendations or elements in the design, beyond those to the layout. Again, the rationale for all TiD changes is critical and should be presented and documented.
​
In addition to the recommendations included in the final design, the submission should include documentation of recommendations which did not make it into the final design, their rationale, and the reason why they were ultimately excluded from the project.
​
​​
​​​​More Information
​Following the presentation, each reviewer will examine the submitted materials and complete a rubric to score the review. The scores from all reviewers are averaged for a final score. A final score of 75 percent or higher is required for participants to successfully complete a project review.
The TiD Society Project Review Standards, including full project requirements and scoring information, and more information about the credentialing program can be found through the links below.
Quotes from Previous Participants
[The most valuable things I learned were] an understanding of how Trauma-informed Design (TiD) can be an important element in reducing stress to the occupants of a building, and a re-framing of TiD as a fluid process, rather than a rigid set of design principles. Perhaps, too, that the process matters just as much as the end result.
​The background and context of Trauma-informed Design (TiD,) such as lessons on understanding trauma and individual case studies, have been very helpful in providing a more robust picture of TiD. The balance between the two instructors experience and teaching styles is also great - one is more big picture and the other is more how to implement TiD - and their enthusiasm for the content and ensuring students can absorb the content is appreciated.
I think I saved every single assigned reading for future reference! Sources were very well-curated. It might also be helpful to assign at least one TiD-related peer reviewed research paper so students can see how it is being researched in the field.