Viva’s Cutting Edge: Is there a Role for AI in Caring for Children?
“AI can support, not replace caregivers.” - Dr Rob Hall
The Role of AI in Caring for Children Summary
Dr Rob Hall, representing the Global Trauma Alliance, delivered a presentation on the intersection of trauma-informed care and artificial intelligence (AI) in both a plenary and workshop session. He introduced ‘Ticco,’ an AI-powered trauma care coach designed to support caregivers with real-time, personalised guidance. Rob emphasised that AI should not replace human connection but enhance it, giving additional support and expert knowledge to caregivers in emotionally demanding roles. Drawing on his background in education and therapy, he highlighted how AI tools can be Biblically integrated and culturally adapted to meet diverse needs worldwide, providing invaluable trauma-informed care for at-risk children.
There is a crisis in caregiving: AI can help (Plenary session)
Dr Rob Hall explained that Trauma-Free World has developed an artificial intelligence tool called Ticco to enhance trauma-informed care, particularly useful for caring for vulnerable children. Aware of the scepticism that may surround such an initiative, he reminded the participants that fear of new technology is nothing new: “From the printing press, the radio, television, the internet, all of these technologies have at first met with fear. And in some cases, especially around the internet and AI, there are legitimate fears.” Although Ticco can scale care widely, he went on to emphasise that “AI should never replace a human-to-human interaction, especially if we're talking about the role of AI in caring for children.”
Dr Rob presented the rationale and justification for developing this kind of technology: “There is a crisis in caregiving. The need is overwhelming. The workers are few. Abuse, neglect, abandonment, violence, sexual violence, refugeeism - one billion children on our planet have experienced trauma. And they are in need of a particular kind of intervention called trauma-informed care.” The advantage of using AI is its adaptability and accessibility; personas can be created that support multiple languages and cultures.
The Ticco App has been well received so far; 99% of users would recommend it to others, and 85% said it exceeded their expectations. Importantly, 42% of users reported that within two weeks, there was an increase in positive interactions with the children in their care, and 49% felt more optimistic about their ability to care for these children. One major benefit of Ticco is that the cost per beneficiary decreases as more people use the App, whereas scaling and accessibility increase. Dr Rob clearly emphasised that “The goal is at least one healthy adult in the life of every child. We know that trauma-informed care, that one healthy adult in the life of a child can make all the difference in that child's life.”
Carrying a counsellor in your pocket (Workshop)
During the workshop, Dr Rob shared that the idea for developing this AI tool came to the team at Trauma-Free World when they wished more people could utilise the skill and knowledge of their colleague, Dr Julie Cooper: “Our team began to say, ‘What would it be like if you could just take Julie home with you? She could speak your language, she would never get tired, she would never run out of empathy ... and all her expertise and years of training and fostering and parenting came with her to answer your personal questions?” Realising that AI was already ‘becoming ubiquitous’—with half of the people in the USA and billions worldwide using it—the team sought to deploy large language models (LLMs) to bring trauma-informed care to millions of people, which led to the creation of Ticco. Rob emphasised that “Technology in itself can be neutral. It’s how people shape it that makes it redemptive.” As such, tools such as Ticco should strengthen, not replace, human care. Notably, Scriptural truths can also be shared, because the tool can integrate a Biblical worldview in its responses.
Dr Rob gave an example of how the tool works, imagining that someone might ask a question such as: “I'm having a new foster son move in today, and I haven't met him yet. I'm a little bit concerned about how I can make him feel safe here, especially because his biological father has been physically abusive.” Ticco’s response was valuable, giving strategies to this new foster parent: “It's completely natural to feel a bit anxious about wanting to make a safe and welcoming space for your new foster son. It sounds like you're already thinking about how to meet his needs, and that's a great start. First, consider creating a calming environment in his room. A quiet place with some soft lighting can help him feel at ease, and then, when he arrives, take it slow, and let him get comfortable at his own pace.” Ticco is a paid-for App, and used in group settings or by organisations, not by individuals. It is essential to remember that “AI can support, not replace, the work of caregivers.”
Trauma-informed care is a topic covered in a separate session.
These sessions were from a Cutting Edge conference in July 2025, organised by Viva, an international charity that inspires, equips and connects networks of churches and community-based organisations to work together to make a bigger, better and longer-lasting impact in the lives of children. For more information about Viva or Cutting Edge, please visit viva.org.