Toolkit to Advance Trauma-Informed Care in Psychiatric Mental Health NP Education

The University of Rochester School of Nursing is proud to announce the release of the Project ENACT Toolkit: Embedding Trauma-Informed Care in PMHNP Education, a free, comprehensive resource to help Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) educators and practitioners nationwide deliver evidence-based, culturally responsive trauma-informed care (TIC) with skill and confidence.

Supported by nearly $1 million in grant funding from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, the Project ENACT initiative was launched to address a critical shortage of trauma-competent psychiatric nurse practitioners for at-risk youth — building resilience and transforming mental health outcomes for children, adolescents, and vulnerable populations.​

About Project ENACT

Project ENACT (Educating NPs to Address Childhood Trauma) is an innovative, multi-semester educational model. It prepares future PMHNPs to integrate trauma-informed principles across every step of clinical education and patient care — from didactic learning to hands-on simulation to real-world clinical placements.

Led by Susan Blaakman, PhD, RN, PMHNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN, the principal investigator and director of the School's FPMHNP program, the project’s robust curriculum draws on the latest research and interprofessional collaboration between national experts, including the University of Rochester School of Nursing, University of Rochester Medical Center’s Department of Psychiatry, Mt. Hope Family Center, and the TRANSFORM Research Center.​

Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters

Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) acknowledges the widespread impact of trauma and centers safety, empowerment, and collaboration in every healthcare interaction. PMHNPs equipped with TIC frameworks can better:​

• Recognize trauma’s influence on clinical presentations
• Minimize patient distress through collaborative, empowering care
• Strengthen therapeutic relationships built on trust and respect
• Support resilience for patients and providers alike

Download the Toolkit

The Project ENACT Toolkit is available now as a free downloadable resource. Prepare yourself and your students to answer the urgent call for trauma-informed mental health care.

Download the toolkit