Scripture tells us, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NKJV). This verse isn’t just comfort; it’s a calling. God doesn’t wait for the brokenhearted to heal before drawing close. He moves toward the pain. Sunny Glen Children’s Home in San Benito was founded on this divine nearness, believing it calls us to do the same: to be His hands and feet by meeting children exactly where they are, in their darkest and most fragile moments.
Some wounds aren’t visible at first glance. A child may laugh at lunch and still cry themselves to sleep. They may push away the very people trying to help them, testing whether love has limits. These behaviors aren’t defiance. Instead, they’re survival instincts learned from a world that let them down. But we know that every child is created in God’s image and deserving of compassion, safety, and healing.
That’s why trauma-informed care for children is central to everything we do. Just as Psalm 34:18 promises God’s presence to the broken, trauma-informed care ensures our presence remains steady, safe, and healing. We create environments that replace fear with calm, not because children have earned it, but because God’s love is unconditional, and ours must be too.
The First Moments: Creating a Safe Intake Environment
When children arrive at our counseling center, many have been through the unimaginable. Mr. Juan Hernandez, our Treatment Director, has witnessed countless first arrivals: “When children come to Sunny Glen for the first time, they’re accompanied by their caseworkers. These children usually come from very hard places of abuse and neglect. They come in, and many times they are hungry. Many times they are frightened, anxious.”
Understanding this, we’ve designed every detail of the intake environment intentionally. The counseling center includes sensory items so children can play while caseworkers complete the intake process. Our caregivers move slowly, speak softly, and avoid overwhelming children with questions. We simply offer presence: a calm adult who isn’t demanding anything. Everything communicates something, and children are always assessing whether the people around them are safe. Our answer is always the same: they are safe here.
What Is Trauma-Informed Care for Children?
Trauma-informed care means seeing the whole child, not just behaviors, but the pain underneath. Since 2018, we’ve exclusively used Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI), developed at Texas Christian University’s Karyn Purvis Institute. TBRI works through Empowering Principles for physical needs, Connecting Principles for attachment, and Correcting Principles that disarm fear-based behaviors.
Mr. Hernandez emphasizes TBRI’s foundational role: “The intervention is TBRI. It is our treatment model. With TBRI, we never give up on a child. Trust is something we’re constantly doing, in every outing, every program, every event on campus, in counseling. They are all moments for building trust.” When a child struggles, our first instinct isn’t to correct; it’s to connect.
Recognizing Signs of Trauma in Children
Children’s trauma shows up differently. Some are reserved and won’t make eye contact. Others are emotionally dysregulated. Mr. Hernandez recalls one child whose arrival still stays with him: “When she first arrived, she had all the symptoms of PTSD. She would hide under tables. She would not look you in the eye. She was very dysregulated.”
These moments are not signs of a “bad” child. They are survival responses. When children grow up without stability, their minds learn to expect danger instead of safety. Reactions that may look like defiance or withdrawal are often a child’s way of protecting themselves. At Sunny Glen, we do not label children or reduce them to behaviors. Instead, we provide trauma support and pause to ask a different question. Not what is wrong with this child, but what has this child lived through? That shift changes everything. When we respond with patience, structure, and trauma-informed care, children begin to feel safe enough to trust again, and real healing can begin.
Why Trust Develops Differently for Every Child
Building trust cannot follow a formula. “Trust varies from child to child,” Mr. Hernandez observes. “Sometimes trust can be developed in days, sometimes weeks, and sometimes it may even take months. However, with TBRI, we never give up on a child.”
We focus on being predictable, showing up the same way, day after day. Trust begins in small moments: a caregiver remembering their favorite snack, a counselor who doesn’t force conversation. Some children seem to trust too quickly, a trauma response from environments where survival meant pleasing adults. For them, we teach healthy boundaries. Every child’s path is different; our job is to remain steady.
The Power of Routine and Felt Safety
Children shaped by chaos cannot create order themselves. That’s neurological reality. Mr. Hernandez describes why structure matters: “Routine and schedules and structure help children feel safe because they know what’s coming, they know what’s expected. Coming from hard places where there are no schedules, children are left to fend for themselves. And children don’t have the ability. They don’t have the mental strength or the discipline to do that for themselves.”
At Sunny Glen, structure isn’t restrictive; it’s liberating. “Structure helps children feel safe. And that’s what we call felt safety. They not only feel physically safe, but they also feel safe with other people around, and they also feel internally safe.” Over time, their nervous systems calm. A child who guarded food stops hiding snacks. A child who flinched begins to relax. These shifts happen because consistent structure communicates what words cannot: This place is safe.
Trauma-Informed Care in Counseling and Daily Life
Healing happens in every corner of campus life. While therapy is essential, caregivers, staff, and teachers demonstrate hundreds of times daily that adults can be trusted. We connect children with psychiatric support when needed.
Mr. Hernandez recounts the transformation of the girl who arrived hiding under tables: “Slowly things started to change. She had tremendous support from a sibling. Once she was with her sibling, she was able to regulate a little better. And then through the program, she started learning the TBRI skills. Most importantly, she was able to see a psychiatrist and get medicine for her depression. She did so well that the psychiatrist even lowered her medication.”
Every interaction is an opportunity. That’s the heart of trauma-informed care.
Signs That Healing Is Beginning
Healing shows up in quiet moments. Mr. Hernandez has learned to recognize the signs: “We see them smiling more, laughing more. They’re talking more spontaneously. You don’t have to ask them a direct question. They volunteer information. They start using their voice. They enjoy going to outings, and they want to be part of the community.”
The girl who once hid under tables eventually became active in school and sports. Then came a moment Mr. Hernandez will never forget: “When we took her to her doctor’s appointment, for the first time, she spoke for herself. She advocated for herself by telling the doctor, ‘Do you think there’ll be a time when I can just not take medicine? I’m feeling pretty good.’ There’s this child that at first was hiding under tables, not wanting to talk. And now here she was advocating for her own health.” These moments remind us why our mission matters.
The Role of Faith and Community
Since 1936, Sunny Glen has provided refuge for vulnerable children, expressing God’s love through action. Children have opportunities for spiritual growth through worship and Bible study. We don’t force faith, but offer it freely.
Mr. Hernandez speaks to the heart of this calling: “It’s a place of hope. We have children that come from very hard places: severe abuse and neglect. And I’ve seen the transformation here in children’s lives. It’s not only a social mandate but a spiritual mission for us to keep in line with what Christ asked us to do, which is to take care of the most vulnerable.”
Community support keeps this work alive. Get involved through volunteering, make a donation, or explore our ministries.
Conclusion
Trauma-informed care for children is a daily practice of showing up with patience, compassion, and faith. At Sunny Glen, we’ve watched children go from silence to laughter, from hiding to advocating for themselves. Every child deserves a new life, new hope, and a new day. Contact our team to learn how you can walk alongside us.
What is trauma-informed care for children?
Trauma-informed care recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into all aspects of caregiving. It focuses on understanding behaviors as survival responses rather than defiance, prioritizing safety, trust-building, and consistent support.
How long does it take for a traumatized child to trust caregivers?
Trust develops differently for every child. Some may begin trusting within days, while others need weeks or months. Children from backgrounds of severe abuse often require more time. Consistent, patient caregiving without pressure is essential.
What are the signs of trauma in children?
Signs include being withdrawn, avoiding eye contact, hiding, emotional dysregulation, difficulty sleeping, hypervigilance, and difficulty forming attachments. Some children may display people-pleasing behaviors as a survival mechanism.
Why is routine important for children who have experienced trauma?
Routine and structure help traumatized children feel safe because they know what to expect. Children from chaotic environments lack the neurological ability to create order themselves. Predictable schedules reduce anxiety and create “felt safety.”
What are signs that a traumatized child is starting to heal?
Positive signs include smiling and laughing more, talking spontaneously, volunteering information, making eye contact, participating in activities, and beginning to advocate for themselves.
How does trauma-informed care differ from traditional childcare?
Traditional approaches often focus on correcting behaviors, while trauma-informed care first seeks to understand the pain driving those behaviors. Instead of asking “what’s wrong with this child,” caregivers ask “what happened to this child.”
Can children fully recover from trauma with proper care?
Yes, with consistent trauma-informed care, children can make remarkable progress. While healing timelines vary, children can learn to regulate emotions, form healthy attachments, and develop resilience.
What is “felt safety” in trauma-informed care?
Felt safety means a child feels safe physically, relationally, and internally. Achieving felt safety allows children’s nervous systems to shift from survival mode to a state where learning and healing become possible.
How can the community support children healing from trauma?
Communities can support traumatized children by volunteering, making donations, becoming foster or adoptive parents, and advocating for trauma-informed practices. Even small acts of consistent kindness can contribute to a child’s healing journey.