Tramua-Informed Educational Practices

Catalog description

Schools serve as a critical system of support for children who have experienced trauma. This course is designed to educate school professionals (educators, administrators, counselors, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and other support professionals) on how to recognize trauma responses, to recognize practices that may cause traumatic stress or re-traumatize students, and to accommodate and respond to traumatized students within the school setting, including referrals to mental health professionals when necessary. The course provides school professionals with general theory and functional knowledge with which to inform evidence-based assessment and intervention with traumatized children and adolescents. Topics include the ACE Study, the brain’s response to trauma, effects of trauma, neuroplasticity and healing from trauma, trauma-informed schools, and vicarious trauma, as well as strategies to create trauma-informed environments that mitigate against the impacts of trauma. This course highlights the role of development, culture and empirical evidence in trauma-specific interventions with children, adolescents and their families. Additionally, through this course, participants will examine best practices that assist students in developing positive relationships that can help them to recover and respond resiliently to future adversities.