WHAT IS A TRAUMA INFORMED SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT?
Trauma-informed practice, sometimes known as trauma-sensitive practice or safe and supportive schools, creates a shared understanding and common language about how to create welcoming, caring, respectful and safe schools.
ALL STUDENTS BENEFIT FROM LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
THAT ARE:
CALM.
PREDICTABLE.
SUPPORTIVE.
TRAUMA RISK FACTORS
Between 3.3 and 10 million children witness domestic violence yearly. 83% of inner city youth report experiencing one or more traumatic events. Black and latino families with children are more than twice as likely as white families to experience economic hardships.
Prolonged stress caused by issues such as abuse or neglect, can impact brain development. students who experience severe or chronic trauma without the support of a nurturing relationship, are at a high risk for having difficulties with:
-
learning
-
behavior
-
forming friendships
They may demonstrate a range of actions from extreme aggression to withdrawal. focusing on healthy relationships and positive discipline can improve student engagement and school culture.
In any given school, at least one quarter of the students have experienced traumatic or adverse experiences
WE WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY:
Training and professional development for all staff
Partnering with other organizations
Making families feel welcomed and heard
High quality curriculum choices that are aligned to the Alabama standards
Wrap around services that are already in place for mental and physical health along with services of licensed professional counselors
OUR APPROACH
A whole-school approach to trauma-informed practice at school can include strategies such as:
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peer mentoring
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teacher-student mentoring, or
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restorative practices
Social-emotional learning opportunities are critical to students healing as well as to their learning. providing supportive and compassionate learning environments that are trauma-informed have shown to provide positive impacts on the emotional well-being of students and helps them success in academics and social life.