What is Project ENACT?
Project ENACT (Educating NPs to Address Childhood Trauma) is an educational initiative designed to prepare the next generation of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioners (PMHNPs) to integrate trauma-informed principles across all aspects of patient care. Supported by a federal grant through the American Rescue Plan, the project embeds trauma-informed content throughout three clinical semesters, combining expert-led instruction, standardized patient experiences, reflective assignments, and clinical practice.
Now, the Project ENACT Toolkit makes these resources available to PMHNP educators and practitioners nationwide.
What You'll Find in this Toolkit
This downloadable resource includes adaptable materials designed to strengthen trauma-informed care (TIC) knowledge and practice in PMHNP education and clinical training. Inside, you’ll find:
- Curricular guides for embedding trauma-informed content into didactic and clinical courses
- Standardized patient scenarios that simulate trauma-related cases for skills practice
- Reflective learning tools such as process recordings and self-assessment templates
- Capstone project examples focused on evidence-based, trauma-informed care
- Implementation strategies for fostering resilience and cultural responsiveness in PMHNP training
Whether you’re designing courses, supervising clinical placements, or practicing in the field, this toolkit offers actionable frameworks to integrate TIC principles into everyday care.
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Get Started
The Project ENACT Toolkit: Embedding Trauma-Informed Care in PMHNP Education is available now as a free downloadable resource.
Prepare yourself and your students to meet the urgent need for trauma-informed mental health care.
Toolkit Sections
Why Trauma-Informed Care Matters
Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) is an evidence-based approach that acknowledges the pervasive impact of trauma and emphasizes safety, trust, empowerment, and collaboration in every aspect of healthcare delivery. Trauma may arise from a range of experiences and can have enduring effects on an individual’s physical, emotional, and psychological health. It can also shape how patients experience healthcare interactions, trust providers, and engage in treatment. For PMHNPs, adopting a trauma-informed lens means:
- Recognizing trauma’s role in clinical presentations
- Reducing patient distress through collaborative, empowering care
- Building stronger therapeutic relationships based on trust and respect
- Supporting resilience in both patients and providers
By embedding TIC into PMHNP education, Project ENACT ensures that future providers are prepared to deliver care that is clinically sound, culturally responsive, and emotionally safe.