In the coming weeks, TLPI will share a series of blog posts highlighting key take-aways that they have heard from discussions with trauma-sensitive school leaders as they reflect on how utilizing the trauma lens guides them in their response to  the ongoing challenges. As educators, students, and parents embark on the fourth pandemic school year, many are experiencing not only the typical joy and excitement of a new school year but also the concerns about what the 2022-23 school year will be like, given that last year presented as one of the most challenging ever. In fact, the last three ..read more

This handout covers questions to consider when choosing school-based interventions Assess current needs Examine current efforts and resources Select interventions that fit your needs & context https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/appalachia/events/materials/04-8-20-Handout1_selecting-right-interventions-to-support-students-mental-health-needs.pdf ..read more

Trauma can have a detrimental impact on students’ functioning in the school setting.1 Educators need tools to identify and support students who may have experienced or are currently experiencing traumatic stress. The front of this handout lists common trauma symptoms grouped into the following categories: physical, cognitive, social and emotional, language and communication, and learning. It is important to note that children can respond to trauma in many different ways and may not exhibit all of these symptoms. You can use this list to guide your thinking in identifying students who may have ..read more

In August 2021, the Regional Educational Laboratory Appalachia (REL AP) at SRI Education and the Cross-State Collaborative to Support Schools in the Opioid Crisis hosted a 2-day Virtual Summit: How to Support Students and Educators Dealing with Trauma. This summit was for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who support preK-12 educators and students experiencing trauma. Resources compiled for the summit are available online at this website: https://traumasupportforschools.org/. Earlier in 2020 and 2021, REL Appalachia (REL AP) staff held a total of three webinars, in which they share ..read more

Additional Authors: Maribel Granja, Sheila Smith; National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) After more than a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many young children have experienced disruptions to their daily routines, missed seeing family and friends, mourned the death of loved ones, or felt the strain and uncertainty of economic difficulties. These disruptions and trauma can have lasting effects to children’s social and emotional development and contribute to behavior difficulties. In fact, a recent study found high rates of challenging behavior of preschoolers and associated exclusionary ..read more

What strategies can educators use to facilitate safe and meaningful discussions on race, racial (in)justice and racism? This toolkit from Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) offers specific strategies, as well as tips for managing student responses, in order to create a safe environment for difficult conversations. https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2015/toolkit-for-talking-about-racism-and-police-violence-with-students ..read more

This recent article from EdWeek describes efforts by teachers of color to address police violence against citizens of color, as well as the pushback received. The teachers interviewed shared their own experiences, concerns for students of color, and desire to help white students participate in systemic change. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/discussing-the-derek-chauvin-trial-in-class-how-teachers-are-doing-it-and-why/2021/04 ..read more

Study of a Tier 2 trauma intervention in 12 middle schools. Lead Investigators::W. Carl Sumi, Michelle Woodbridge Funder: U.S. Department of Education Dates: 2011-2016 ..read more

Read more about what RTI, PBIS, and MTSS means in our blog post Multi-tiered frameworks: Understanding RTI, PBIS, MTSS Throughout the 2020-2021 school year, many students have experienced varied or inconsistent learning environments. Whether students have been in virtual instruction, a hybrid of virtual and in-person, or are transitioning back to fully in-person, educators recognize the importance of supporting the academic and social-emotional needs of all students using multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS). Many states, districts, and schools developed Response to Intervention (RTI), Posit ..read more

We celebrated National School Social Worker week from March 7 – March 13, 2021 as part of Social Work Month. This school year provided unique challenges for school social workers (SSWs) as well as opportunities for innovation. During distance learning, SSWs have created meaningful virtual spaces for student healing and connection. Celebrating Social Work Month is a wonderful time to reflect on the positive impact of SSWs on the well-being of students, families, and communities, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To learn more about the creative ways SSWs have been engaging students vi ..read more