We are urging Monroe county city school district to implement and mandate trauma informed trainings to all school staff and personal. 

What is trauma informed care?

As stated by the University of Buffalo, in social work, “trauma-informed care understands and considers the pervasive nature of trauma and promotes environment of healing and recovery rather than practices and services that may inadvertently re-traumatize”. 

In schools trauma informed care consists of: designated safe space rooms, movement breaks / reduces stress and increases attention, lighting / light covers to dim the lights, colors / calming colors such as pastels, various types of seating options / chairs & bean bags, activities in a designated area / materials to make crafts or board-games.

https://socialwork.buffalo.edu/social-research/institutes-centers/institute-on-trauma-and-trauma-informed-care/what-is-trauma-informed-care.html ​

https://www.schoolsafety.gov/sites/default/files/2024-05/SchoolSafety%20Issue%20Brief_Strategies%20and%20Resources%20to%20Support%20Trauma-Informed%20Schools_508c.pdf 

Why is this important?                      

        Trauma informed care (TIC) is important because it provides a safe and nurturing environment for individuals who are to are victims of trauma. Trauma informed care fosters an environment where trust is built.

        This avenue of care is especially important in schools because school can be a home away from home for some kids, the only place they get a meal, or the only place they feel safe. It is important that those faculty members have proper trainings to best help these kids. Focusing on “what happened to you?” instead of “what is wrong with you?” can make all the difference in a child’s life – that is why trauma informed care is so crucial in a school setting.

The issue:

         The issue surrounding TIC is that many facilities treating patients with trauma systemically fail to inquire about patients' trauma. They also experience stigmatization and a lack of acknowledgement from the people around them. The biggest issue for people experiencing trauma is that facilities around them won't recognize the trauma they have been through. When authorities and facilities fail to acknowledge someone's trauma it makes it hard to create a trauma informed care space. Providers for trauma informed care have expressed issues that they have very limited time to screen patients and sometimes don't even know how to screen or when. Providers have also expressed their own lack of confidence when it comes to treating patients with trauma. Aside from that, victims of trauma are very reluctant to disclose their traumatic experiences with providers due to stigma and shame. One more challenge that contributes to the lack of trauma informed care is the lack of resources and trainings as they are not widely available.

 

The solution:

Implementing Mandatory Trauma Informed Trainings for ALL Staff

All school staff (Teachers, administrators, support staff, school personnel) should participate in training and trauma informed spaces simulations 

What it should include   
1. Understanding trauma and its impact on brain development and learning

2. De-escalating situations and regulating students

3. Culturally responsive practices  

What this will do 
Staff will know how to respond to students in a way that will meet their needs instead of using punishment.  
 
Adopting multi-tiered approach 
MTSS Model- District should adopt a multitiered approach  
- Tier 1 (Universal): Trauma-sensitive classroom strategies for all students 
- Tier 2 (Targeted): Small group interventions and mentoring 
- Tier 3 (Intensive): Individual counseling and coordinated mental health referrals 
 
What this will do 
Ensure that every student receives levels of support that meets their needs based on the severity of the situation. 
 
Prioritize staff wellness and support systems to increase the effectiveness of support provided to students.  

Without wellness support to help school staff process their emotions while dealing with trauma, they may be subject to chronic emotional stress. Staff will be exposed to empathetic engagement as part of the trauma informed approach, and this can lead to secondary traumatic stress and overtime, burnout.

Ways to provide staff wellness and support.  
- General wellness; encouraging and incentivizing activities including but not limited to, yoga and meditation.  
 
- Organizational:  Fostering a culture that allow staff to seek support, keeping workload manageable and providing sufficient mental health benefits. 

- Education: stressing the importance of self care and educating staff about self-care tips and awareness. 

How can you help?

Please you sign this petition to stand with us and promote: 

·      Mandatory trauma informed care trainings for all faculty members within schools 

·      At least one designated safe space within each school 

·      Prioritization of the mental well-being of students/children 

·      Peer reviews to ensure trauma informed techniques are being used 

Together we can create a fostering and nurturing environment for countless students to ensure their mental well-being is a priority – children cannot learn if they are do not have the environment to regulate their emotions.

 

If you would like more information on this topic, here are some informational articles. 

https://www.acesaware.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Chapter-2-Trauma-and-Trauma-Informed-Care.pdf​

https://bpspsychub.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/papt.12387​

https://www.gov.scot/publications/evidence-review-enablers-barriers-trauma-informed-systems-organisations-workforces/pages/8/