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 .
A number of resources have been developed to support community and state-level implementation of the Virginia HEALS Model for the provision of services and referrals to children, youth, and families. The toolkit includes a family engagement guide, resource mapping, a screening tool for use with individuals who may have been victimized or have trauma impact, and a trauma informed agency assessment, among others.
From the Fairfax Trauma-Informed Care Network
This session gives a primer on the lasting effects of trauma, and provides practical strategies for developing positive coping skills in children and youth with a history of trauma. Participants will enhance their ability to understand and handle challenging behavior in young people and learn how to develop a trauma-informed environment, focusing on strategies that minimize triggers and emphasize effective, asset-focused behavior management.
This booklet provides an overview of animal assisted therapy approaches and therapeutic benefits. Additional resources are cited.
At the Attachment & Trauma Network, it is our mission to: Promote healing of traumatized children and their families through support, education and advocacy. The Attachment & Trauma Network (ATN) is the nation’s oldest parent-led organization supporting families of traumatized children.
The ATN website features resources and links to training and other information about trauma-related therapeutic parenting, trauma-sensitive schools and other trauma and attachment content.
ATN main website
Part of ATN, this website features school-specific resources
Helping Foster and Adoptive Parents Cope with Trauma from the American Academy of Pediatrics
What is Trauma?
Trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience that may overwhelm an individual’s ability to cope.
Potentially traumatic events may include:
Fact Sheet on Recognizing Trauma from SCAN of Northern Virginia
The 1-2-3 Care Toolkit is intended to support caregivers on their journey towards trauma sensitivity. It is organized by topic, each offering a brief overview, specific tools that can be used with children, and where to find more information. Also included are handouts that can be used as teaching aids.
1-2-3 Care – A Trauma-Sensitive Toolkit for Caregivers of Children from Spokane WA Regional Health District
Factsheets for Families from The Children’s Bureau, HHS: Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Trauma
CAPPD is an acronym developed by the Multiplying Connections Initiative that stands for CALM, ATTUNED, PRESENT, PREDICTABLE and DON’T Let the Child’s emotions escalate your own.
CAPPD: Practical Interventions to Help Children Affected by Trauma guide is put together by the Health Federation of Philadelphia
What does it mean to be trauma informed? Trauma informed organizations make a commitment to understand trauma, how to respond to trauma, and how it affects those they work with. Being trauma informed is an organizational cultural change.
Fact Sheet on Trauma-Informed Organizations from SCAN of Northern Virginia.
Complex trauma: facts for caregivers
Complex Trauma in Children and Adolescents
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators from NCTSN
Trauma Informed Classrooms article by Brian Cavanaugh, University of Maine at Farmington
Improving School Climate for Children in Foster Care webinar from the Legal Center on Foster Care and Education
Tips For Teachers from the Wisconsin Coalition for Children, Youth and Families share great suggestions for how teachers can adapt some typical class assignments.
Mary Grossnickle from The Coalition for Children, Youth and Families explain how teachers can adapt some typical class assignments to include any children they have who may be in out-of-home care or who have been adopted.
Trauma-informed practices in schools by Susan E. Craig: Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Learning Communities Transforming Children’s Lives, K-5
Unlocking the Door to Learning: Trauma-Informed Classrooms and Transformational Schools from Education Law Center, PA.
Getting Curious (Not Furious) with Students classroom management article on Edutopia.
Factsheets for Families from The Children’s Bureau, HHS: Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect