A Proactive & Responsive Approach to Trauma In Schools Christine A. Anderson, M.A.

What is trauma?  Simple: Any experience that is interpreted as life- threatening/may cause serious injury.  Complex/Developmental: Multiple traumatic events over a longer duration (abuse, neglect, family conflict, etc.)

How common?  One in four children that attend school has been exposed to at least one traumatic event. (The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, 2008).  More than two-thirds will have experienced the traumatic event before the age of 16 (American Psychological Association, 2008).

What does it do to the brain?!  Changes in DNA  Cortisol : hyperarousal, vigilance, fight-or-flight Reactive behavior, quick to hide, deny seeing the good intentions of others, easily give up  Bridge between hemispheres All contributes to difficulties in : ID of emotions, reading social situations, integrate complex information

ACES  We all remember the ACES study.  Heart disease  Early tobacco use  Alcoholism  Overall poor quality of life  DEATH!!!

There’s more?!  Executive functioning (children and adults)  Short-term memory  Inhibition  Organization  Memory  Reduced ability to recall specific personal events – more general/prototypical Attention: inability to focus, organize oneself, solve problems, inhibit impulsive behaviors…ADHD?

These students are lacking an internal map to guide them! Therefore they are often observed acting rather than planning

School-Wide: Let’s be proactive!  Not always aware of who has experienced trauma: best approach!  PBIS – praise, encouragement  Choices…control  Teacher training/support – IMPORTANT!  Transitions, changes, misunderstood  Middle/high school challenge

School-Wide…  Safe zones  Approach to discipline & responsibility  Strengths-based approach – let them shine!  SEL – skills, bullying

What’s the next step?  RtI  FBA  Evaluation/IEP/504  Counseling – check-in/out  Skill building: group or individual  Emotion regulation, coping strategies, emotions/feelings  Extracurricular  Sports-based program

Next…  Grief and Trauma Intervention (GTI) for Children  Ages 7-12  Expressive: art, drama, play, music  10 sessions, 1 hour  Group or individual  CBT approach to lessons/narrative  Inexpensive  After school  Decreased depressive symptoms, PTSD symptoms, and externalizing behaviors

What about ‘those’ kids…  Home/outside referrals  GTI on an individual level  Wraparound services  DCF involvement: 51a if necessary?  Therapeutic classroom  Subseparate placement/treatment  Trauma-focused CBT for the win!

Proactive is the way to go… Understand the student as an individual and rule in/out all possibilities

STRIVE FOR RESILIENCE!