After finding success in implementing trauma-sensitive practices in five pilot schools, West Virginia announced that all schools in the state will become trauma-sensitive. Their locally tailored approach includes collaboration between schools, local police and mental health providers. “We can no longer work in our silos focused on one piece of a child’s life puzzle. We must work together to make systemic improvements that can truly change the trajectory of a child’s path,” said U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin, who is deeply involved in the roll out of this initiative. According to their report, Handle with Care: Addressing child trauma in West Virginia, the training provided for school staff is adapted from the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative’s book Helping Traumatized Children Learn, available to download for free.
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