Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools — Online Training for Educators [web resource] [downloadable]

Schools play a significant role in supporting the health and well-being of children and youth, including those affected by traumatic experiences. In a trauma-sensitive school, all aspects of the educational environment—from workforce training to engagement with students and families to procedures and policies—are grounded in an understanding of trauma and its impact and are designed to promote resilience for all.

The Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package developed by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or districtwide. The Training Package includes a variety of resources for educating school staff about trauma and trauma-sensitive practices and for providing school leaders with a step-by-step process for implementing a universal, trauma-informed approach using package materials. School and district leaders are encouraged to begin by reviewing the Implementation Guide for an overview of the package components and their intended use.

View the Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools module:

All materials are viewable online and/or downloadable at no cost.

Training Package Components At-A-Glance

Understanding Trauma and Its Impact. This component of the Training Package includes resources for educating all school staff about the prevalence of trauma, its impact on children and youth, and implications for schools. Materials include an interactive e-resource and companion slide presentation and activity packet.

Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools. This component of the Training Package includes resources for introducing all school staff to the concept of trauma-sensitive schools, why it is important to adopt a trauma-sensitive approach, and trauma-sensitive practices for use in the classroom and schoolwide. Materials include an online module, downloadable handouts, and a facilitation guide with suggestions for how to use the materials for in-person training.

Leading Trauma-Sensitive Schools. This component of the Training Package is intended for school leaders and introduces a framework and process for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach schoolwide, including guidance for how to roll-out other package components. Materials include an online module and companion action guide that outline steps for developing school-based implementation plans, along with a facilitation guide with suggestions for how to use the materials for in-person leader training.

Source: National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments | Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package, https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/trauma-sensitive-schools-training-package | © 2020 American Institutes for Research

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