7. What is Trauma?
The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them powerless.
*Stressful events that shatter your sense of security, making you feel helpless and vulnerable in a dangerous world.
*Traumatic experiences often involve a threat to life or safety, but any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm.
*It’s not the objective facts that determine whether an event is traumatic, but your subjective emotional experience of the event. The more frightened and helpless you feel, the more likely you are to be traumatized.

8. Traumatic Incidents Impact Our Children
TRAUMA IS DEFINED AS: deeply distressing or disturbing experience.
**Any situation that leaves you feeling overwhelmed and alone can be traumatic, even if it doesn’t involve physical harm

9. Exposure to Trauma can include:
Domestic Violence
Child Abuse
Death in the Family
House fire/Loss of Home
Witnessing a Crime

10. What does trauma look like? AVOIDANCE
*A child being isolated and away from the rest of his/her friends/peers
*Keeping to themselves
*Deep in thought/quiet

11. What does trauma look like? NEGATIVE MOOD
*Short tempered
*Acting out
*Mad easily
*Rebellious
*The child’s ability to pay attention (memory) may be affected

12. What does trauma look like? NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS
Example of a child who is acting out in class and may display signs of:
Anxiety, irritability
Self-harm
Oppositional behaviors
Hypervigilance
Somatic / physical complaints
Conduct problems exaggerated startle, difficulty concentrating
Difficulties with emotional behavioral regulations (anger, tantrums, impulsivity aggression) Difficulties with physiological regulation (sleeping eating bowl/bladder function)

13. Stanislaus County Population: 525,491 Students: 106,126
School Districts: 26
Local LE Agencies: 6

14. Program Overview

15. F.O.C.U.S. (FOCUSING ON CHILDREN UNDER STRESS)

16. F.O.C.U.S. Notice
A simple F.O.C.U.S. Notice Provides 1st Responders with the ability to alert the school that this child may have been involved in a traumatic incident recently and may have academic or behavioral problems today * No details are given * Just ONE simple word: “FOCUS”

17. First Responders send this sample notification form to the school for all school aged children
(K-12)

21. What’s next?

22. Individual Academic Interventions
Postpone
testing
Rest
Rest
Retest
Postpone testing
IEP (Individualized Education Plan)
Retesting
IEP

23. Individual Behavioral Interventions
Get Ready Rooms
Send to counselor instead of principal
Acknowledge behaviors and teaching appropriate forms of expressions
Relaxation therapy (deep breathing)

24. What if school interventions are not enough?

25. Community Resources Stanislaus Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
Family Justice Center
Boys & Girls Club
Center for Human Services
Sierra Vista, Aspira, & other private counselors
*ARK (Art Restores Kids) Program
*These are just some of the programs and services in our community

26. F O C U S Does not excuse bad behavior
Children are still accountable for their actions
F.O.C.U.S. seeks to provide students with tools and skills to appropriately respond in an acceptable manner
*Use of profanity will not be acceptable/tolerated
*Striking another child is not okay
*Disobedience is not acceptable

27. F O C U S In Summary Helps to identify “at risk” children
Provides teachers with a heads up
Connects children with accessible mental health services if needed
Strengthens collaboration between 1ST Responders, Prevention, and Education Programs.

28. Updates
In October 2016 we presented at the 1st Handle With Care Conference in Charleston, West Virginia
In November 2016 we presented at the CA Dept of Education School & Community Safety Advisory Committee
In January 2017 we presented to Albuquerque Public Schools District in Albuquerque, New Mexico
In July 2017 we will be presenting at the Safe Schools Conference in Garden Grove, CA

29. From April 2016 to July 31, 2018, we have received:
223 total referrals
Impacting
A total of 367 students

31. Success in school is success in life.
In closing
Success in school is success in life.
Our goal is to have children succeed in school everyday to the best of their ability no matter the environment they live in!

32. Contact Information
Maribel Garcia
Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency
Office: (209)
Cell: (209)
Fax: (209)
George Papadopoulos
Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency
Office: (209)
Cell: (209)
Fax: (209)
ail: