Reprinted from the Andrus Sanctuary Institute.
The Palm Beach County Youth Services Department exemplifies the full embrace of trauma-informed care. In 2025, they proudly earned their Sanctuary Certification once again, demonstrating an unwavering dedication to creating a healing environment for clients, families, and employees.
“The Sanctuary® Model of Trauma-Informed Care reminds us to lead with empathy and gives us tools to address issues found in a workplace – whether in a clinical setting or in a conference room.”
— Elisa Cramer, Director, Palm Beach County Youth Services Department
Living the Seven Commitments Daily
What sets Palm Beach County apart is how deeply the Sanctuary Model has been integrated into their organizational culture. During a residential program graduation, something remarkable was observed by the certification reviewers: youth, families, and employees naturally acknowledged one another’s use of the Seven Commitments. It wasn’t rehearsed or forced—it was an organic demonstration of their daily practice and profound understanding of how these shared values create a holistic, healing environment that extends far beyond program completion.
“At the Youth Services Department, the Sanctuary® Model of Trauma-Informed Care impacts everything we do – from therapeutic interventions to finance and contracting interactions to community engagement to personnel matters. We face opportunities every day to apply the Seven Commitments and use the Toolkit. The Sanctuary resources have positively influenced the way we work with clients, with contracted partners and with each other.”
A Healthy Environment for Growth and Change
From the moment visitors walk through their front doors, the impact is evident. The first interaction at reception, the systematic approach to operations, the way teams communicate—Sanctuary principles and understanding of the pillars are visible everywhere. The model has been woven into every fiber of the organization, creating a healthy environment for continuous growth and change that honors their social learning and social responsibility to clients and the community they serve.
Palm Beach County Youth Services Department is a wonderful example of what’s possible when an organization fully commits to trauma-informed care—not just as a program, but as a way of being.