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

2. 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.)

3. 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).

4. 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

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

6. 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?

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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!

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

14. STRIVE FOR RESILIENCE!