Timeline: Passage of SB11 in Texas and the Inception of the Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network
2018
- May: The Santa Fe High School shooting in Texas prompts statewide discussions on school safety and mental health.
2019
- January–May: The 86th Texas Legislature convenes, with school safety and mental health as legislative priorities.
- March: Senate Bill 11 (SB11), focused on school safety and mental health, is introduced in the Texas Senate.
- May 21: SB11 passes in the Texas Senate.
- May 22: SB11 passes in the Texas House of Representatives.
- June 6: Governor Greg Abbott signs SB11 into law.
- September 1: SB11 officially takes effect, mandating new requirements for school safety, mental health support, and trauma-informed care in Texas public schools.
2020
- Early 2020: Planning begins for statewide initiatives to address childhood trauma, in response to SB11’s requirements for trauma-informed practices.
- September: The Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC) is established as part of SB11. The Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN) is conceptualized as a collaborative effort among Texas academic health institutions as the research arm of the TCMHCC.
2021
- January: The TX-CTRN officially launches, bringing together researchers, clinicians, and community partners to advance trauma-informed care and research across Texas.
- Throughout 2021: TX-CTRN initiates pilot projects, research studies, and training programs to support trauma-informed practices in schools and healthcare settings.
2022–Present
- TX-CTRN continues to expand its research, training, and outreach efforts, supporting the implementation of trauma-informed care in alignment with SB11’s mandates and improving outcomes for children affected by trauma across Texas.
About Us
The impact of childhood trauma is a critical public health crisis. In Texas, a powerful collaborative effort has been established to combat it: the Texas Childhood Trauma Research Network (TX-CTRN).
Created by the 86th Texas Legislature as the research arm of the Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium (TCMHCC), the TX-CTRN unites the state’s leading health-related institutions to address the urgent mental health challenges faced by its youth. The network is not just an academic endeavor; it’s a vital, coordinated effort to transform the care system for our children who have experienced traumatic events.
Mission
Our primary mission is to improve mental health services to produce positive long-term outcomes for Texas children and adolescents affected by trauma. We pursue this mission through three goals:
- Clarify the consequences of trauma – systematically examine and identify the mental health effects that result from a singular traumatic event and ongoing trauma in children and adolescents, while also exploring how various risk and protective factors influence a child’s resilience and recovery.
- Improve mental health services – identify and validate the best practices for treating trauma-related conditions, then implement them in clinics across the state.
- Inform policy and bridge gaps – generate actionable research and data to inform policymakers and help identify gaps in regional and statewide service delivery.
