On March 11, Oprah Winfrey presented a story on “60 Minutes” on “Childhood Trauma’s Long-Term Effect,” uncovering how trauma affects a child’s brain and can lead to physical, mental and social health problems throughout a child’s life. The special also highlighted trauma-informed efforts.

Before the “60 Minutes” episode was televised, Ms. Winfrey spoke at length on “CBS This Morning” about what she learned about the impact of trauma. She said, “This story is so important to me and … to our culture that if I could dance on the tabletops right now to get people to pay attention to it, I would. It has definitively changed the way I see people in the world and now the way I will be operating my school … and going forward, any philanthropic efforts that I’m engaged in.”

She went on to say, “A lot of people working in the philanthropic world, trying to help disenfranchised people … are working on the wrong thing. …Unless you fix the trauma, you’re working on the wrong thing.”

The Family & Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia is an established, state philanthropic entity that has been focused on promoting trauma-informed practices for several years. We are the only organization in Virginia, and one of few nationally, that addresses trauma-informed care across the lifespan. Additionally, our administrative costs are provided by the Virginia Department of Social Services, so all donations go to programs and services. We encourage everyone interested in learning more about our work and this national movement to learn more at www.fact.virginia.gov.

NICOLE POULIN

Richmond

The writer is executive director of FACT, or Family & Children’s Trust Fund of Virginia.