1. Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on College and Career Readiness
Stephanie Eberts, Ph.D.

2. Agenda
Introductions
Childhood Trauma and why it is important to college and career readiness
What can we do in schools?
Questions and comments

3. Developmental Trauma (Complex PTSD)
Usually defined in relational terms, i.e., disruptions in the primary attachment systems, which primarily drives development of competencies in self-regulation, formation of positive relationships, and acquisition of cognitive and relevant learning abilities.
Traumatic experiences in early childhood may have immediate and long-term outcomes across domains of impairment, including attachment, biology, affect regulation, dissociation, behavioral control, cognition, and self-concept (Cook et al., 2005).

4. Developmental Trauma (Complex PTSD)
Tends to occur at critical period of development (i.e., developmentally vulnerable) in an individual’s life e.g., early childhood or adolescence.
The threat of such traumatic experiences necessitates that survival takes precedence and priority over normative psychobiological development.

5. Adverse Childhood Experiences
ACES Score Video

6. What Trauma Looks Like in Students
Inability to focus
Aggressive Behavior
Zoned Out
Dream like state
“Laziness”
Indifference
Lack of Responsiveness
Impulsivity
Easily frustrated
Difficulty following through

7. Sometimes the students who need the most help are the ones who make themselves the least likeable.

8. Trauma’s Impact on Decision Making
Lack of efficacy
Impulsivity
Difficulty with Perseverance
Low self-worth
Inability to make even small decisions
Difficulty getting started on a new project or assignment

9. Impact on Career and College Readiness
Summer Melt
Difficulty Holding a Job
Indecisiveness when exploring options
Lack of support of complete post secondary education
Memory issues impacting school and work life

10. What can Schools Do? Students heal in relationship
Trauma sensitive schools
Mentor programs
Guided and intentional career and college exploration programs
Apprentice programs
Transition plans from high school to work/college programs
Early intervention (Vertical Career and College Readiness planning)

11. The Role of Teachers Identify students who are struggling
Use support staff for interventions
Approach students with patience and kindness
Involve the family
Work with Community partners

12. The Role of School Counselors
Intentional and early career and college readiness programs
Consultation to support teachers and parents
Work with community agencies to get mental health services to students
Educate staff about the impact of trauma on students
RESOURCES

13. Questions and Comments
Stephanie Eberts

14. Resources: Websites Child Trauma Academy: www.childtrauma.org
National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
Trauma Center:
National Institute for Trauma and Loss in Children:
Nurturing the Heart:

15. Resources: Books
The Invisible Classroom: Relationships, Neuroscience and Mindfulness in School by: Kirke Olsen and Louis Cozolino The body keeps the score by: Bessel Van Der Kolk The boy who was raised as a dog by: Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz Brainstorm: the power and purpose of the teenage brain by Daniel Siegel