Tools and Resources for Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools

1- What is a Trauma-Sensitive Schooi?

What is a
Trauma-Sensitive School?

Why Do We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools?

How do we know we are ready to become a trauma-sensitive school

How Do We Create A Trauma-Sensitive School?

How to Use the Tools and Resources Section for Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools

Welcome to the Tools and Resources section of our website!

We invite you to engage with these materials and resources as you work to create trauma-sensitive schools. This section is organized to support your inquiry into the following questions: What is a trauma-sensitive school? Why are trauma-sensitive schools needed? and How do we create a trauma-sensitive school?

Can you help me understand basic information about the impacts of trauma on learning?

How can student voice be a part of trauma-sensitive schools?

What does the research say about trauma-sensitive schools?

What are the benefits of trauma-sensitive schools?

How do you advocate for trauma-sensitive schools?

We hope you are able to take time to explore and share with others our blog posts, videos and web resources. Please contact us with questions, ideas to share, and stories of the work in your school.

Students Speak - Why We Need Safe and Supportive SchoolsPart 1:

What is a Trauma-Sensitive School?

A trauma-sensitive school is one in which all students feel safe, welcomed, supported, and empowered to participate fully in all the school has to offer. It is a school where addressing trauma’s impacts on learning, including trauma from racism and other structural inequities, on a school-wide basis is at the center of its educational mission.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to creating a trauma-sensitive school. However, based on our work with schools, we have identified six core attributes that trauma-sensitive schools have in common. Taken together, these attributes can be thought of as a trauma-sensitive vision to which any school can aspire. Learn More…

2 Trauma Sensitive Schools connnect childrenPart 2:

Why Do We Need Trauma-Sensitive Schools?

Since the release of the seminal Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study in the late 1990’s, a growing body of research shows that more children than we ever could have imagined experience traumatic events. While we will never know all the children who have been affected by traumatic events, we have come to understand that it is likely the majority of students in every school. Students cannot learn effectively if they do not feel calm, safe and connected to a caring and inclusive school community. Exposure to trauma, including racism, bullying, physical violence, food insecurity, homelessness, and other types of distress, can cause a trauma response that can negatively impact learning, behavior and relationships and school success. There is an urgent need for schools to create environments where every student feels a sense of belonging. Learn More…

Part 3:

How Do We Create a Trauma-Sensitive School?

Creating trauma sensitive schools is about integrating a shared understanding of the impacts of trauma on student learning, behavior and relationships into our practice as educators. Creating a trauma-sensitive school involves engaging in an inquiry based process that is specific to each school’s unique circumstances, there is no one size fits all. This process based approach is grounded in inquiry, and engages all staff in reflecting, identify their urgent priorities, and grappling with how to solve them in a trauma-sensitive way. Learn More…