Part IV – Trauma-Informed Care; Trauma-Responsiveness
Current through 2026-07-17. Source: City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-129. Published by the Baltimore City Department of Legislative Reference.
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-15 (2026)
§ 22-15 Trauma-informed care initiative.LinkCopy Citation
In addition to any other duties set forth in this subtitle, it is the duty of the Office to coordinate a citywide initiative to prioritize the trauma-responsive and trauma-informed delivery of city services impacting children, youth, and families.
History: Ord. 20-341
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-16 (2026)
§ 22-16 Trauma-Informed Care Task Force – Established.LinkCopy Citation
There is a Baltimore City Trauma-Informed Care Task Force.
History: Ord. 20-341
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-17 (2026)
§ 22-17 Trauma-Informed Care Task Force – Composition.LinkCopy Citation
(a)In general.
The Task Force comprises 37 members, 30 of whom are appointed by the Mayor under <cite data-doc="City of Baltimore, Md., Charter" data-path="IV|§6">Article IV, § 6 of the City Charter</cite> and 7 of whom are ex-officio members.
(b)Appointed members.
Of the 30 members appointed by the Mayor:
(1)
3 shall be youth representatives from a youth-led advocacy group in Baltimore City;
(2)
2 shall be individuals with at least one child enrolled in the Baltimore City Public School System;
(3)
1 shall be a licensed clinician with an expertise in trauma and healing;
(4)
2 shall be members of the research community with an expertise in trauma and healing;
(5)
1 shall be a representative of an organization with an explicit focus on racial equity in its organizational mission statement;
(6)
1 shall be an individual between 14 and 25 years of age;
(7)
1 shall be a individual licensed to practice in the State of Maryland as a physician with a specialty in pediatrics;
(8)
1 shall be a representative of an organization with an explicit focus on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) advocacy in its organizational mission statement;
(9)
1 shall be a naturalized citizen or a resident alien;
(10)
1 shall be an individual who has recently exited from the Maryland correctional system;
(11)
1 shall be an employee of the Baltimore City Public School System;
(12)
3 shall be representatives from community organizations, nonprofit organizations, or youth organizations that have an expertise in trauma and healing;
(13)
2 shall be educators within the Baltimore City Public School System;
(14)
2 shall be individuals licensed to practice in the State of Maryland as social workers; and
(15)
8 shall be recommended by the City Council President as follows:
(i)
2 City Councilmembers as follows:
(A)
1 Councilmember with experience as an educator within the Baltimore City Public School System, who shall serve as co-chair if appointed; and
(B)
1 Councilmember with experience as a parent of a student within the Baltimore City Public School System;
(ii)
1 youth representative from a youth-led advocacy group in Baltimore City;
(iii)
1 representative of an organization with an explicit focus on racial equity in its organizational mission statement;
(iv)
1 licensed clinician with an expertise in trauma and healing; and
(v)
3 representatives from community organizations, nonprofit organizations, or youth-led or youth-oriented organizations that have an expertise in trauma and healing.
(c)Ex-officio (or designate) members.
The 7 ex-officio members of the Task Force are:
(1)
the Director of the Office;
(2)
the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Department of Health or the Commissioner’s designee;
(3)
the Director of the Department of Planning or the Director’s designee;
(4)
the Director of the Department of Recreation and Parks or the Director’s designee;
(5)
the Commissioner of the Department of Housing and Community Development or the Commissioner’s designee;
(6)
the City Council President; and
(7)
the Youth Commission Chair.
History: Ord. 20-341
History: Ord. 20-403
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-18 (2026)
§ 22-18 Trauma-Informed Care Task Force – Terms, organization, etc.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Terms.
Appointed members serve for a term of 4 years concurrent with the term of the Mayor’s term of office.
(b)Compensation.
Members serve on the Task Force without compensation.
(c)Vacancies.
(1)
At the end of a term, an appointed member serves until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(2)
A member who is appointed after a term has begun serves out the rest of the term and until a successor is appointed and qualifies.
(d)Meetings; quorum.
(1)
The Task Force shall meet on the call of one or both of the Task Force co-chairs as frequently as required to perform its duties, but not less than 6 times a year.
(2)
A majority of the members of the Task Force constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business, and an affirmative vote by the majority of a quorum is sufficient for any official action.
(e)Task Force co-chairs.
(1)In general.
As provided in this subsection, the Task Force shall have 2 co-chairs designated.
(2)At-large co-chair.
Except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection, the Mayor may designate any member of the Task Force to serve as 1 of the co-chairs.
(3)Council member co-chair.
The City Council President shall designate the City Councilmember serving ex-officio under § 22-17(b)(15)(i)(A) as co-chair of the task force.
History: Ord. 20-341
History: Ord. 20-403
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-19 (2026)
§ 22-19 Trauma-Informed Care Task Force – Staff.LinkCopy Citation
The Office shall provide adequate staff for the Task Force to carry out its duties.
History: Ord. 20-341
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-20 (2026)
§ 22-20 Trauma-Informed Care Task Force – Duties.LinkCopy Citation
The Task Force shall:
(1)
assist in the identification of all City programs and services that impact children and youth;
(2)
assist in the development of a citywide strategy toward an organizational culture shift into a trauma-responsive City government;
(3)
establish metrics, in collaboration with the Baltimore City Department of Health, to evaluate and assess the progress of the citywide trauma-informed care initiative;
(4)
coordinate and develop with the Baltimore City Department of Health any formal or informal trauma-informed care training;
(5)
disseminate information within City government regarding best practices for preventing and mitigating the impact of trauma on and facilitating healing with children, youth, and families;
(6)
advise and assist the Mayor and City Council in providing oversight and accountability in implementing the requirements of this part;
(7)
perform any other duties as required by the Mayor.
History: Ord. 20-341
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-21 (2026)
§ 22-21 Trauma-informed care training.LinkCopy Citation
(a)Definitions.
(1)In general.
In this section, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
(2)Agency.
“Agency” means:
(i)
the Baltimore City Fire Department;
(ii)
the Baltimore City Parking Authority;
(iii)
the Baltimore Police Department;
(iv)
the Department of Finance;
(v)
the Department of Law;
(vi)
the Department of Housing and Community Development;
(vii)
the Department of Planning;
(viii)
the Department of Public Works;
(ix)
the Department of Recreation and Parks;
(x)
the Department of Transportation;
(xi)
the Environmental Control Board;
(xii)
the Enoch Pratt Free Library of Baltimore City;
(xiii)
the Mayors Office of Criminal Justice;
(xiv)
the Mayor’s Office of Employment Development; and
(xv)
the Mayor’s Office of Homeless Services.
(3)Formal training.
“Formal training” means a didactic course or curriculum in trauma-informed care that is:
(i)
developed by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Maryland Department of Health, or the Baltimore City Department of Health; and
(ii)
provided by the Baltimore City Department of Health or its designee in collaboration with the Task Force.
(b)Task Force members.
Each Task Force member shall participate in at least 1 formal training each year.
(c)Agency staff designation.
(1)
Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, each agency head shall designate 2 agency staff members to:
(i)
participate in at least 1 formal training each year;
(ii)
collaborate with other agency designees in periodic worksessions and other informal trainings as organized by the Baltimore City Department of Health from time to time;
(iii)
serve as the principal advisors to the agency head and agency staff in trauma-responsiveness and trauma-informed care;
(iv)
collaborate with the agency’s equity coordinator, as designated under <cite data-path="|1|§39-8">§ 39-8 {“Agency implementation – Equity Coordinator”} of this article</cite>, to ensure that the agency’s equity assessment program is trauma-informed and trauma-responsive;
(v)
assess the agency for training and technical assistance needs related to trauma-responsiveness and trauma-informed care; and
(vi)
review and make appropriate recommendations to the agency head to align agency policies and practices with a trauma-intensive approach.
(2)
Of the 2 agency staff members designated under paragraph (1) of this subsection:
(i)
1 staff member shall be an individual who:
(A)
has decision-making authority in developing City policy; or
(B)
serves as a principal advisor to the agency head; and
(ii)
1 staff member shall be an individual who, within the course of the individual’s City employment, routinely and directly interacts with community members.
(3)
In the event of a vacancy of one or both of the staff members, the agency head shall, within 90 days of the vacancy, designate another staff member to carry out the duties of this subsection.
(d)Departmental cooperation.
(1)
The Baltimore City Department of Health shall provide any technical advisory support to designated agency staff in order for those individuals to carry out their duties under subsection (c)(1) of this section.
(2)
The Department of Human Resources shall ensure compliance with the requirements of this section and report to the Task Force as necessary any difficulties regarding agency implementation.
(e)Progress report to Task Force.
On or before March 31 of each year, each agency head shall submit to the Task Force a progress report detailing its agency’s progress and compliance with subsection (c) of this section.
History: Ord. 20-341
History:
Balt., Md., Code art. 1, § 22-22 (2026)
§ 22-22 Annual report.LinkCopy Citation
On or before June 30 of each year, utilizing its established evaluation and assessment metrics and its expertise, the Task Force shall submit a report to the Mayor and City Council containing:
(1)
an assessment of the implementation of trauma-informed care within each agency as defined in <cite data-path="|1|§22-21|(a)|(2)">§ 22-21(a)(2) of this subtitle</cite>;
(2)
an assessment of the trauma-responsiveness of each agency as defined in <cite data-path="|1|§22-21|(a)|(2)">§ 22-21(a)(2) of this subtitle</cite>; and
(3)
any recommendations regarding improvements to existing laws relating to children, youth, and families in Baltimore City.
History: Ord. 20-341