Research suggests that approximately 25% of American children will experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. A child's reactions to trauma can interfere considerably with learning and/or behavior at school. Schools serve as a critical system of support for children who have experienced trauma. Administrators, teachers, and staff can help reduce the effects of trauma on children by recognizing trauma responses, accommodating and responding to traumatized students within the classroom, and referring children to outside professionals when necessary. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed tools and materials to help educators, school staff, and administrators understand and respond to the specific needs of traumatized children. In addition to the NCTSN resources highlighted below, School Personnel can learn more about creating trauma-informed schools in the Trauma-Informed Care section of this website.
Presents a tiered approach to creating a trauma-informed school environment that addresses the needs of all students, staff, administrators, and families who might be at risk for experiencing the symptoms of traumatic stress.
Describes how young children, school-age children, and adolescents react to traumatic events and offers suggestions on how parents and caregivers can help and support them.
Provides school administrators, teachers, staff, and concerned parents with basic information about working with traumatized children in the school system.
Defines child traumatic stress. This fact sheet gives an overview of trauma, describes traumatic stress symptoms, and ways children may be impacted.
Provides background information for helping school professionals to engage and provide support for parents and caregivers with LGBTQ students.
Offers information regarding child sex trafficking to educational professionals.
Provides an understanding of why it is important to talk to children about race-based hate, how to recognize signs of traumatic stress and its impact, how to begin a conversation with youth about anti-AAPI hate, and what can be done in response.
Offers child-serving providers information about child neglect and trauma.
Helps organizations assess their current practices in the context of serving children and families who have experienced trauma. It is an important part of an organizational transformation process to create trauma-informed organizations.
Outlines different considerations that school personnel need to take into account when working with refugee youth and their families. This fact sheet describes the school, classroom, individual, and family considerations that school staff should understand when working with this population.
This brief includes a look at the six essential domains developed and addressed as part of the Collaborative Change Framework...
Offers information on why school personnel are important for grieving students.