Trauma and Trauma-Sensitive Schools

This page features a number of external and FFF resources on childhood trauma, responding to trauma and trauma-sensitive schools. Click the "For educators" box below to limit search results to those resources that may be particularly helpful to school personnel. In addition to services and supports at schools, Virginia regional Community Services Boards offer behavioral health services for children and families. Emergency services and crisis response are among the supports offered by CSBs. Local CSBs can be found at https://dbhds.virginia.gov/community-services-boards-csbs .

Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium

Funded by Va Department of Social Services, the Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium offers case management, crisis supports, training, and other services for post-adoptive families. It is a partnership between The Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.), enCircle, Children’s Home Society and NACAC to offer post adoption services and supports.

All families who have finalized adoptions of children ages birth through 18 years and reside in Virginia are eligible for services at no cost. This includes families that have adopted domestically, internationally and through foster care.

  • PDF, Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium

    Consortium Flyer for families

  • PDF, Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium

    Consortium Flyer for professionals

  • Website, Northern Post Adoption Regional Consortium

    Website


Developmental Trauma Close Up

From Beacon House UK, this article offers images and information that reviews key characteristics and impacts of developmental trauma.

  • PDF, Developmental Trauma Close Up

    Close Up report


Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

This webinar from Formed Families Forward was broadcast live on May 18, 2020. Find the full recording, and 5 accompanying handouts here.

  • Webinar, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    Recording of Pandemic Parenting webinar

  • Document, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    Pandemic Parenting webinar slides

  • Document, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    NCTSN Fact sheet: Supporting Children during COVID

  • Document, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    Self Care Assessment

  • Document, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    FFF Trauma Videos flyer

  • Document, Pandemic Parenting: Brain Science, Help and Hope

    FFF Trauma Videos fact sheets


Integrating and Installing Trauma Informed Approach within PBIS Framework

Trauma training modules from MidWest PBIS Network.

  • Toolkit, Integrating and Installing Trauma Informed Approach within PBIS Framework


Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event

From the Child Mind Institute.

In the wake of a traumatic event, your comfort, support and reassurance can make children feel safe, help them manage their fears, guide them through their grief, and help them recover in a healthy way. This guide was assembled by psychiatrists, psychologists and mental health experts who specialize in crisis situations. It offers simple tips on what to expect, what to do and what to look out for.

  • Website, Helping Children Cope After a Traumatic Event


Childhood Trauma: Understanding, Supporting, and Preventing online modules

A self-paced online module,  created by the Military Families Learning Network’s Early Intervention team to explore childhood trauma, disability, and trauma-informed practices in early childhood settings.

The interactive module includes four units that cover the prevalence and impact of trauma, manifestation of trauma in young children, providing trauma-informed supports, and preventing future trauma.  It is designed to be a high-level overview of the topic and a starting point for professionals working with young children and their families.

  • Video, Childhood Trauma: Understanding, Supporting, and Preventing online modules


Trauma-Informed IEPs: Differential Diagnosis and Trauma-Informed Assessment in Schools webinar slides

Slides from a 2011 National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) webinar presented by M. Elizabeth Ralston, PhD, Dee Norton Lowcounty Children’s Center
Lisa J. Bernard, EdS, Charleston County School District
Ben Atchison, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, Western Michigan University
Audra Langley, PhD, UCLA

Full webinar recording is available at https://learn.nctsn.org/mod/nctsnwebinar/view.php?id=9454

  • PDF, Trauma-Informed IEPs: Differential Diagnosis and Trauma-Informed Assessment in Schools webinar slides

    Webinar slides


Children’s Trauma Assessment Center at Western Michigan Univ

The Southwest Michigan Children’s Trauma Assessment Center was established to provide assessments for children who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences. The CTAC team also provides professional training and coordinates projects in order to create trauma-informed systems and services.

The Center’s website includes a variety of resources as well as information about how to access the Center’s services.

  • Website, Children’s Trauma Assessment Center at Western Michigan Univ


Books for Children and Youth about Adoption and Foster Care

The CreatingAFamily.org website compiles a list of fiction and nonfiction books about foster care and adoption. Books are described and suggested age ranges are listed. Books for adults are also suggested.

  • Website, Books for Children and Youth about Adoption and Foster Care

    Best Adoption Books for Children and Adults (links to all book collections)

  • Website, Books for Children and Youth about Adoption and Foster Care

    Suggested books for children, youth and adults on foster care

  • Website, Books for Children and Youth about Adoption and Foster Care

    Suggested books for children, youth and adults on adoption

  • Website, Books for Children and Youth about Adoption and Foster Care

    Suggested books for children and youth adopted from foster care


Trauma Informed Systems Change Instrument

This 19-item measure assesses agency and individual factors related to trauma-informed systems. Appropriate for education, family, child welfare, health and other services systems. The linked article provides psychometric data re: the instrument.

  • PDF, Trauma Informed Systems Change Instrument

    Trauma-Informed System Change Instrument

  • PDF, Trauma Informed Systems Change Instrument

    Richardson et al., journal article re TCSCI


Trauma Sensitive School Checklist

This schools checklist is designed by
Lesley University, Center for Special Education and the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative of Massachusetts Advocates for Children and the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School

  • PDF, Trauma Sensitive School Checklist


Trauma Informed Agency Self-Assessment

From the Virginia HEALS project of Virginia Department of Social Services.

The Trauma-Informed Agency Self-Assessment was created for agencies and organizations from a variety of fields (child welfare, behavioral health, public health, juvenile justice, education, early childhood development, housing, and victim advocacy) to assess where they fall in a continuum of trauma-informed care and to engage them in a process of setting agency improvement goals.

  • Toolkit, Trauma Informed Agency Self-Assessment

    Trauma Informed Agency Self Assessment tool


FACT of Virginia trauma resources

These resources from Family and Children’s Trust Fund (FACT) of Virginia include issue briefs exploring trauma and trauma-informed care, including trauma informed schools.

 

  • Website, FACT of Virginia trauma resources

    FACT of Virginia issue briefs


Trauma-Informed Practices: Considerations for the IEP meeting

This fact sheet from Kennedy Krieger Institute offers suggestions of trauma-sensitive practices and procedures for preparing for and holding Individual Educational Program (IEP) meetings.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that students who access special education services have a documented IEP.

  • Document, Trauma-Informed Practices: Considerations for the IEP meeting


The Trauma Aware Educator online course

The Trauma Aware Educator: Understanding the Science of Childhood Trauma and Its Impact on Students online course from the Australia-based Trauma Informed Positive Behavior Support (TIPBS).

This is an online course designed to answer frequently asked questions about the foundational concepts of trauma informed practice for educators and educational leaders.

Childhood trauma affects the physical, emotional, and social development of children and adolescents. In order to minimize harm, teachers and school leaders need to respond appropriately using trauma-informed practices and policies.

In this course, you will:

  • explore the impact of trauma on students and
  • understand the neuroscience behind the behaviours presented by students who have experienced complex trauma

This course is a primer for the Trauma Informed Positive Behaviour Support (TIPBS) online course and is suitable for teaching staff and education leaders who want to improve their professional practice, and is relevant to most school contexts worldwide. It may also be of interest to health and social care workers.

  • Toolkit, The Trauma Aware Educator online course


Trauma Sensitivity During the IEP Process

This 4 page guide from the Federation for Children with Special Needs in Massachusetts offers information on Sharing Information, Trauma-Sensitive Evaluations, Trauma-Sensitive Meetings and Trauma-Sensitive IEPs.

  • Document, Trauma Sensitivity During the IEP Process


Resource Collection on Trauma Informed Care

This comprehensive collection of resources (documents, webinars, videos, websites) on childhood trauma, trauma-informed care, trauma sensitive schools  and more is organized by topic. Topical collections include:

  • Basic Information about Trauma
  • What is Trauma Informed Care?
  • Trauma and Specific Populations
  • Building Trauma Informed Schools
  • Responding to Disasters

From the national Center for Parent Information and Resources (CPIR).

  • Website, Resource Collection on Trauma Informed Care


Children and Trauma: What Can You Do? FFF Fact Sheet

Child traumatic stress refers to the physical and emotional responses of a child to events that threaten the life or physical integrity of the child or of someone critically important to the child (such as a parent or sibling). Traumatic events can overwhelm a child’s capacity to cope. Children may feel terror and powerlessness; they may act out. The fact sheet provides information to understand the types of trauma, potential responses to the trauma and ways to support a child who has experienced trauma.

  • Factsheet, Children and Trauma: What Can You Do? FFF Fact Sheet


Responding to Children Impacted by Trauma FFF fact sheet

It is often difficult for parents and caregivers to know how best to respond to their children’s behavioral and emotional needs. Download our fact sheet for proven strategies for responding to children impacted by trauma.

  • Factsheet, Responding to Children Impacted by Trauma FFF fact sheet


Information on Trauma-Informed Care
February 01, 2015

There are 10 types of childhood trauma measured in the ACE Study. Information on Trauma-Informed Care from Dr. Allison Sampson-Jackson.

  • Worksheet, Information on Trauma-Informed Care