Trauma-Informed Care Tip of the Month

August 2021 ~ Welcome Back to School!

As we start a new school year, take a few moments to self-assess:

  • Am I doing all I can to build positive relationships with ALL of my students, their families, and colleagues?
  • Are my communications empathetic and respectful, even if others are not?
  • Do I respond to student behaviors in a patient, calm, trauma-informed manner?
  • Do I create a physically and emotionally safe learning environment? 
  • Do I consistently utilize a trauma-informed approach with ALL students, never falling into the trap of…….  ”If I had only known, I would have responded differently.”  
  • How am I going to take better care of myself this school year, so that I can be the best I can be for me and my students?
  • Am I living the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People?  

How Trauma-Informed Schools Help Every Student Succeed

“Promoting trauma-sensitive school approaches has the greatest potential to positively impact all students, regardless of trauma history.”

With the right support, children and young adults can successfully process adverse events and go on to thrive. Schools are the single point of connection between home life and community, and the responsibility of educators to prepare young people to function successfully in the world as adults can only be bolstered with a trauma-sensitive approach.

In fact, when schools are trauma-informed, students build lasting resilience, which leads to:

  • Significant improvements in behavior
  • Fewer suspensions
  • Fewer expulsions
  • Significant improvements in academic achievement

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) has pointed out that trauma-informed schools promote:

  • Feelings of physical, social, and emotional safety in students.
  • A shared understanding among staff about the impact of trauma and adversity on students.
  • Positive and culturally responsive discipline policies and practices.
  • Access to comprehensive school mental and behavioral health services.

Excerpt from Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) March 31, 2021