TRACEs—Trauma and Relational Adversity in Caregiving Environments— is IncuBrighter’s assessment framework designed to help professionals understand the full ecological context surrounding youth and families who interact with multiple systems. Instead of focusing on individual pathology, TRACEs examines the environment the caregiver of a complex child is living inside: their caregiving structure, relational stability, system involvement, safety factors, and emotional load.

TRACEs was built because traditional trauma assessments often miss the conditions that matter most—the chronic instability, system fragmentation, caregiver burnout, and cumulative adversity that shape how families of complex youth cope, behave, and survive.

It describes the conditions surrounding them, offering a clearer understanding of:

• the pressures shaping caregiver behavior

• instability, conflict, or systemic strain within the home

• relational ruptures and bonds

• environmental predictability and safety

• the role of multi-system involvement (SUD, mental health, education, juvenile justice, child welfare, etc.)

• the emotional and logistical demands placed on youth and caregivers

• gaps in support that affect functioning and wellbeing

The goal is simple: help practitioners see the whole story, so interventions are aligned with reality—not assumptions.