Our mission
TEFI exists to advance trauma-informed behavioral and cognitive research and technilogical interventions that help people build real, lasting capacity in daily life.
Executive functioning is a public health issue
We study how trauma and chronic stress affect executive functioning, regulation, and everyday decision making, and we use that knowledge to inform public health, human services, and practical tools that support stability, clarity, and self regulation.
Our work connects lived experience, data, and systems design so people are not left to navigate cognitive strain alone.
Executive functioning shapes daily health behavior
Executive functioning affects planning, follow-through, emotional regulation, and decision making. These skills directly influence medication adherence, sleep, nutrition, stress management, and help-seeking. When executive functioning is strained, even knowing what to do is not enough to sustain healthy behavior.
It directly impacts access to care and support
Most health, education, and human service systems assume a high level of self-management. Scheduling appointments, completing paperwork, following treatment plans, navigating insurance, and advocating for care all depend on executive functioning. When capacity is limited, people are more likely to fall through gaps in care.
Executive functioning strain is linked to long-term health outcomes
Chronic stress, trauma, brain injury, and illness all disrupt executive functioning. Over time, this contributes to increased mental health risk, higher physical illness burden, and greater system involvement across disability, housing, employment, and justice settings.
Stigma and misinterpretation compound the harm
Most health, education, and human service systems assume a high level of self-management. Scheduling appointments, completing paperwork, following treatment plans, navigating insurance, and advocating for care all depend on executive functioning. When capacity is limited, people are more likely to fall through gaps in care.
Our values
Trauma-informed at every level
We understand that trauma shapes how people think, regulate, decide, and engage with systems. That reality guides how we design research, tools, and partnerships.
Access without stigma or shame
We reject narratives that frame cognitive and emotional strain as moral failure. Our work centers understanding, support, and practical accessibility.
Evidence that's always presented honestly
We are committed to research that is careful, grounded, and responsive to real-world conditions. Above all, we’re honest about the results of our work.
Human-centered and dignity-first
People are not problems to be solved or fixed. We design with, not for, the communities most affected by executive functioning strain.
Systems-aware by design
We recognize that individual capacity is shaped by policy, institutions, and environments, not just personal effort.
We're committed to ethical development and transparency
TEFI is committed to ethical, consent-based research and development at every stage of our work. We believe data should never be extracted, exploited, or used in ways that harm the very people it represents.
As our research grows, we will prioritize:
- Informed consent and participant autonomy
- Strong data privacy and security protections
- Transparent research partnerships and IRB oversight
- Development practices that resist surveillance and exploitation
Our goal is to build tools, research, and systems that people can trust because they were built with care from the start.
Interested in joining our board?
We’d love to connect with people who are thoughtful, grounded, and interested in contributing their skills to a mission-centered, research-driven nonprofit.
If you’d like to learn more about board service with TEFI, reach out to hello@tefinstitute.org with a brief introduction.