Free Resources
Free resources for trauma-informed leadership & culture change.
Download practical guides, checklists, posters, and planning tools built for busy leaders in education, justice, government, nonprofits, and healthcare. Each resource is designed for use in real settings, such as supervision, staff meetings, onboarding, and implementation planning.
Start with one tool, use it once this week, then repeat it as a routine.
Implementation Guides & Frameworks
Implementation Jumpstart Mini-Guide
A practical starting point for trauma-informed, human-centered change without the overwhelm. This mini-guide breaks the work into seven clear steps and includes a quick-start checklist and 30-day action plan. Ideal for superintendents, directors, and leaders ready to move from intention to action.
Implementation Overview
A clear, high-level roadmap for leaders who want trauma-informed change to last beyond a single training. Includes the Chefalo Implementation Framework, the Four Phases of Organizational Development, and a realistic 18–36 month timeline. Best for executive teams, Core Teams, and implementation leads who want the big picture before moving forward.
Courses & Learning Programs
Trauma-Informed Leadership 101: Foundations for Wellness at Work
On-demand webinar
A one-hour foundational training that introduces the essential concepts of trauma-informed leadership, what it means in practice, how chronic stress shapes team behavior and culture, and a simple implementation cycle you can start using right away. No prior knowledge required. Walk away with shared language, a clear starting framework, and a next-step pathway based on your role and goals.
Assessments & Planning Tools
Five Core Agreements Assessment Toolkit
A complete toolkit to help individuals and teams turn values into daily practice. Includes Individual and Team Assessments plus companion resources that support shared language and concrete action around the Five Core Agreements. Great for supervision, team resets, onboarding, and culture-building conversations.
Burnout Check-in
A quick, leader-friendly check-in you can use in supervision or team meetings to spot burnout signals early and respond with practical next steps. Includes simple prompts, a short scoring guide, and actions you can take this week to reduce overload and strengthen follow-through.
SAMHSA Values Self-AssessmentSAMHSA Values Self-Assessment
A self-assessment tool to support reflection on values commonly associated with trauma-informed practice, such as safety, trust, empowerment, and collaboration. Useful for individuals or teams who want to identify strengths and gaps and start a focused improvement plan.
An organizational assessment that helps teams evaluate how well their policies, practices, and culture align with trauma-informed values. Useful for leadership teams and implementation groups who want a structured way to prioritize changes and track progress.
Need help choosing the right download?
Start with the Five Core Agreements Toolkit or the Burnout Check-In. If you want help choosing, book a free consultation.
Team & Facilitation Tools
Community Meeting Checklist
A simple 10–15 minute ritual to build connection, trust, and emotional awareness in any setting where people gather. Includes the 3 core questions (HOW / WHAT / WHO), a quick-start checklist, trauma-informed rationale for why these questions work, and adaptation tips for schools, nonprofits, justice settings, and virtual teams.
Working Through Difference: A Reflection & Discussion Guide
A trauma-informed reflection guide that helps individuals and teams navigate difference, discomfort, and disagreement at work — without sacrificing dignity or relationship. Use it for solo reflection, 1:1 conversations, or team dialogue when difference shows up and connection matters. Designed to build distress tolerance, clearer boundaries, and the kind of regulated communication that makes belonging possible.
Training Lesson Plan Templates
Trauma-informed lesson plan templates that help facilitators design effective professional development. Includes individual and group planning tools you can reuse for staff learning and implementation sessions. Ideal for trainers, DEI leads, and Train-the-Trainer graduates.
Relationship-Building Scripts
Nine trust-building phrases leaders and managers can use right away, with clear guidance on when to use each one and when to hold back. Includes a practice guide for teams, a role-play drill, and tips for making the language feel natural in your own voice.
Regulation & Grounding
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Poster
A printable grounding tool that helps people reconnect to the present moment through the senses. Use it in offices, staff spaces, classrooms, and wellness areas to support regulation during stress, anxiety, or triggering moments. Simple, effective, and easy to use in under two minutes.
Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners
A beginner-friendly guide to mindfulness practices rooted in trauma-informed principles. Includes simple ways to build awareness and reduce stress without needing a long routine. Great for individuals who want structure and grounding at their own pace.
Emotional Regulation Toolkit for Work
A meeting-safe toolkit for people who lead, serve, or support others in high-demand environments. Includes 10 practical regulation techniques, a Quick Pick guide, a personal Emotional Regulation Plan, and a 14-day practice tracker to help you build consistency when it matters most.
Trauma-Informed Mindfulness Micro-Practice
A 3–5 minute grounding reset designed for helping professionals who need to regulate before (or after) a hard session, meeting, or call. Includes a step-by-step practice guide, safety and consent options so it works for any setting, and a quick reflection to carry the groundedness into your next interaction.
My Self-Care & Safety Plan
A fillable one-page plan you can use when you're stressed, overwhelmed, or in crisis to identify your warning signs and map out what actually helps. Includes 7 guided sections for daily grounding practices, coping strategies, safe people and places, and specific crisis steps—so when you need support most, you already know where to turn.
Want new tools as we release them?
Specialty Practice
People-Centered Courtrooms Overview
A free, one-page overview for judicial professionals ready to shift how people experience their courtroom. Introduces three foundational shifts, five micro-practices you can start using today, and a side-by-side look at what changes when courtrooms are people-centered. Helpful for judges and court leaders across family, juvenile, civil, and criminal proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
- 01We offer practical tools leaders and teams can use immediately, including implementation guides, meeting and supervision tools, assessments, printable posters, and reflection prompts. Most resources are designed to support trauma-informed culture change in real settings, not just as reading material.
- 02These resources are built for people who lead change, whether you manage a classroom, a courtroom, a clinic, a caseload, or a county department. Core audiences include: Education (K–12): leaders, educators, student support teams Courts, justice, and public safety: judges, administrators, probation and detention leaders, victim services City/county government and human services: department heads, managers, frontline supervisors, HR Nonprofits and community-based programs: executive directors, program leaders, case managers Healthcare and behavioral health: clinic leaders, nurse managers, social workers, care coordinators Human-centered workplace roles: HR/People Ops, DEI, change, and operations leaders New or adjacent audiences: Higher ed student services, early childhood, first responders, libraries, shelters, and community partners often adapt these tools with minimal edits. Skill level: No prior trauma-informed training is required. Each download starts with plain-language basics and includes options to go deeper.
- 03How fast can I use them? Same day. Each download is designed to move you from “I should do something” to “we started today” in under an hour. Quick-start pathways 15-minute personal start: skim the overview, choose one practice, try it once, and note what changed. 30-minute team huddle: use the facilitator notes, choose one checklist, agree on a start/stop/continue, and set a check-in date. 60-minute launch: use the suggested agenda, complete the assessment, assign 2–3 owners, and post a simple plan-on-a-page. What makes it fast Clear first steps and time estimates at the top of each file Editable templates and print-ready posters for immediate use Simple pulse questions so you can spot progress quickly Sharing Downloads are free for internal use. You can share with your team and print for staff areas. If you want to co-brand or adapt for system-wide distribution, contact us, and we’ll guide you.
- 04Yes. Downloads are free for your organization’s internal use, including sharing with staff and printing for workspaces. If you want to co-brand, adapt for system-wide distribution, or use materials in paid training, contact us, and we’ll guide you on the best approach. Want help rolling these out? Explore Coaching & Consulting or Change Management.
- 05Start with one shared-language tool and one repeatable routine. Many teams begin with the Five Core Agreements toolkit and a simple weekly practice in supervision or staff meetings. If you’re not sure what fits your environment, book a free consultation and we’ll recommend a starting point. Book a Consultation
Want help implementing these tools in your organization?
If you’d like support tailoring resources to your environment, building a rollout plan, or strengthening follow-through, we can help. Book a free consultation, and we’ll recommend the best next step for your leaders and teams.
Prefer to start with training? Explore Foundational Training or Leadership Development.