Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools
Led by Trauma-Informed Educators
Devoted to creating school-wide trauma-sensitive reform
Professional Development Programs For Educators
ATN’s Trauma-Sensitive Schools Initiative is devoted to creating school-wide trauma-sensitive reform. Our experienced educators and those with expertise in early childhood trauma are working together to develop Professional Development Programs For Educators to help them:
- Understand the effects of early childhood trauma and/or separation on neurobiological development.
- Learn how early trauma impacts learning and behavior.
- Discover the motivation behind students’ behaviors by using Trauma-Informed Behavioral Assessments.
- Learn instructional strategies that help to heal the neurobiological impact of early childhood trauma.
- Explore classroom strategies that develop resiliency and improve learning outcomes for ALL children.
- Develop Trauma-Sensitive school-wide approaches to discipline.
This Professional Development Training can be done with any size group of:
- Teachers
- Paraprofessionals
- Administrators
- Counselors
- Social Workers
- Resource Officers
- Parents
ATN’s TSS Team is also available for short and long-term consultation and strategic planning.
Looking for Professional Development?
Our TSS Team works with YOU to Provide the Training Your Educators Need
Recognize ACEs • Realize the impact • Build Resilience
Trauma-Sensitive Schools are ones where the educators:
realize the impact of adverse childhood experiences on neurobiological development and attachment
recognize the impact trauma on learning and behavior
respond by building resilience and avoiding re-traumatization
(Perry & Daniels, 2016; SAMSHA, 2015)
Creating a Trauma Sensitive School is about creating a culture that prioritizes safety, trust, choice, and collaboration. Within a trauma-sensitive school, everyone (e.g., teachers, administrators, support staff, paraprofessionals, cafeteria staff, bus drivers, etc.) learns about the prevalence and impact of trauma in the lives of children and families. This awareness motivates and guides the examination and transformation of the school environment, policy/practice, educational strategies, staff training, and family involvement, etc. to ensure that children impacted by trauma can learn and be successful. (Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 2015)
Trauma-Sensitive Schools are created via schoolwide trauma-informed practices aimed at helping children feel safe, be connected, get regulated and learn. (Alexander, 2016)
Learn more about our Educating Traumatized Children Summit– 23 audio recordings from experts in the field of Trauma-Sensitive Schools.
WHAT’S A TRAUMA SENSITIVE SCHOOL?
Educator Resources
TSS Conference
Annual Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference.
Professional Development Training
Customized Trauma Sensitive Professional Training for Educators
TSS Think Tank
Join the Trauma Sensitive Schools Think Tank and Promote Best Practices in Schools
Recent Posts
NOW ACCEPTING WORKSHOP PROPOSALS THROUGH JUNE 30, 2020
Calling all trauma-informed educators and community leaders interested in presenting at the 4th annual Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference, currently scheduled for February 14-16, 2021 in Atlanta, GA. This conference hosts over 1700 teachers, counselors, administrators, parents and child advocates from across the United States – the largest gathering of trauma-informed educators in the world! Our Call for
Trauma-Sensitive Learning Goes Online
by Dr. Ryan T. Woods for Respectful Ways When learning went online When the threat of COVID-19 arrived, schools responded quickly. Administrators hustled, principals made announcements, and teachers developed lesson plans. In a matter of days, students were learning from home. As any instructor knows, academic content represents just one facet of education. Developing social
Akin, Trauma, and Mindfulness in School
A Mindfulness room gone wrong About a month ago, I read Emma Donoghue’s novel, Akin, the story of an unlikely duo, both touched by childhood trauma: an 11-year-old boy named Michael and his great-uncle, Noah. Michael’s father–Noah’s nephew–died of an overdose, while his mother is imprisoned for a drug-related offense. Overnight, Noah finds himself the