Does collecting demographic data make you uncomfortable? Try a Trauma Informed Approach
by Allison Carvalho
What is a Trauma Informed Approach?
Although collecting demographic data can be helpful for better understanding the community you are working with it, it has the potential to reduce trust or overburden participants.
For example, have you ever called your bank and the first five minutes are spent repeating details you have already provided? Has it made you feel like your time was wasted or like someone wasn’t listening to you? Now imagine if you were seeking help in an emergency like a pipe breakage and the person on the other end spent more time asking you what zip code you live in, than trying to understand your problem. You’d understandably feel frustrated!
Using a Trauma Informed Approach is a way of asking questions that get to the heart of information you need, while also promoting a positive experience for the people you are gathering information from. At its core, a Trauma Informed Approach is a way of understanding and responding to individuals who have experienced trauma. It recognizes that trauma is widespread and can have lasting effects on a person's physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. A Trauma Informed Approach is rooted in principles of safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. It seeks to create environments that are sensitive to the needs of trauma survivors and avoid re-traumatization.
It focuses not necessarily on what you say, but how you say it. Applying a Trauma Informed Approach emphasizes choices on whether to respond, providing flexibility in the types of responses, and explaining how the information is going to be used. By implementing trauma informed practices, organizations can better meet the needs of their community, leading to improved outcomes and a greater sense of well-being.
Examples of Demographic questions using a Trauma Informed Approach include:
How do you identify your gender? Please feel free to share as much or as little as you are comfortable with. Options could include male, female, non-binary, transgender or another identity.
Can you share your cultural background or heritage if you are comfortable? This information helps us better understand and respect the diversity of experiences within our community.
Do you have any specific accessibility needs or preferences that we should be aware of to ensure your comfort and participation? This may include accommodations related to physical, sensory, or mental health considerations.
Could you share a bit about your current housing situation? This information helps us understand the diverse needs of our community. Options could include stable housing, transitional housing, temporary arrangements, or other.
If you're comfortable sharing, could you let us know about your current employment status? This information helps us understand the different ways we can support our community, including those who may be seeking employment or facing job transitions.
To learn more, check out Trauma Informed Oregon for resources and training.