Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Framework

ARC is a framework designed to support Trauma Informed Care. It is designed as both an individual level clinical intervention, to be used in treatment settings for youth and families, and as an organisational framework, to be used in service systems.

“ARC’s ultimate goal is to support children, adolescents, and caregivers in effective engagement in the world, in a manner that is empowered and future-oriented , rather than focused on survival.”

The Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) Framework is a flexible, components-based intervention developed for children and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma, along with their caregiving systems. Complex trauma includes a range of stressful experiences which are typically chronic and interpersonal in nature, and may affect many different areas of a child or adolescent’s life.

A – Attachment:

The framework focuses on strengthening the caregiving system surrounding children through enhancing supports, skills, and relational resources for adult caregivers.

R – Regulation:

Many young people who experience trauma are referred for treatment services or struggle in settings like school as a result of difficult behaviours, out of control emotions, and impulsive or disorganized bodies. Underlying these challenges is often a difficulty with regulation – of feelings, of thoughts, and of physical experience. Treatment emphasizes cultivating youth awareness and skill in identifying, understanding, tolerating, and managing internal experience.

C – Competency:

The framework addresses key factors associated with resilience in stress-impacted populations. A goal of intervention utilizing ARC is to go beyond pathology reduction, and to increase positive / resilient outcomes among youth receiving intervention.

Woven throughout the ARC approach is an emphasis on engagement (why does this goal matter?), psychoeducation (why are we doing this?), and routine (what can I expect?).

If you would like to know more, please see the linked leaflets or follow the link below: Home – ARC Framework

As a Local Authority, North Lincolnshire Children and Families are a part of a pilot scheme for Trauma Informed Practice, which endorses the ARC model.

There are four stages to this journey: Trauma Aware, Trauma Sensitive, Trauma Responsive and Trauma Informed.

In order for us track and progress our journey towards being a Trauma Informed Authority, we are utilising the Organisational Toolkit.

The toolkit has been designed to:

• Promote discussion about how we respond to trauma

• Reflect on current policies and practices

• Identify what trauma informed policies, practices and resources organisations already have in place

• Guide organisations to understand the process of embedding a trauma informed approach

• Carry out self and peer evaluations against specific statements

• Facilitate collaborative learning

• Identify developmental needs and next steps.

• Develop a common language within and across multi-agencies

If you would like more information about the organisational toolkit, please see the following leaflet: Programme Leaflet Trauma Informed Care Organisational Toolkit

Training Opportunities

If you are interested in developing your understanding of Trauma Informed Care and the ARC framework, there is a free 45 minute e-learning and other face to face training available for professionals that work directly with Children or Young People. To access the learning, please visit the following link: Trauma Informed Care Programme

If you feel as though you would benefit from a more in-depth training session, please review the following leaflet and contact mars@northlincs.gov.uk for information on dates and availability: ARC Training Offer