In today's society, there is growing awareness around mental and physical health. People are becoming more mindful of their anxiety, depression, and stress levels, trying to find space to respond to a fast-paced world. Medical experts and researchers have recognized have realized that an individual’s mental and physical health is closely tied to the amount of stress they carry, and the trauma caused by stress can cross time and space, leaving deep, long-lasting effects.

Trauma-informed care offers a framework for understanding and responding to stress. Child Welfare League Foundation (CWLF) has formed a trauma-informed team, hoping to remind ourselves and our partners that personal past experiences can influence present reactions. Rather than focusing solely on behaviors, we seek to understand the deeper question: "What has this person been through?"

We hope society can embrace this perspective—by recognizing how stress affects individuals, we can adjust our responses in interactions to avoid inadvertently triggering someone’s defenses, creating a more supportive environment where everyone feels truly safe.

To respond to stress in life, the body plays an essential role and needs timely regulation and relaxation. In 2023, CWLF designed and published the Now Card as a tool to support self-care and co-regulation. We hope this tool helps service providers care for themselves and each other.

This year, we have invited the Now Card characters to "move" with us—follow along with the video to notice your body and mind states, and practice connecting with yourself. Through simple actions, you can feel a sense of calm and stability. By nurturing this calmness within, you can not only stabilize yourself but also create a more comfortable and friendly environment for those around you.

When we embrace greater understanding, we can build a more resilient support system in both our lives and work.