Abstract
There is an urgent need to educate school staff about the growing body of evidence regarding complex trauma and its effects on learning and behavior. Trauma does not equally affect all young people. Those in urban areas, who are exposed to poverty, and immigrant youth are among the groups who are more likely to be exposed to trauma and who may be more vulnerable to its adverse outcomes. Specifically, this project aims to address how trauma can disproportionately affect students from the Middle East and North African regions. Additionally, this project will serve as a comprehensive guide to assist in the implementation of school-based supports for this population. A review of the literature serves as data for the understanding of trauma, resiliency, and their outcomes in Middle East and North African youth. Literature and curriculum reviews were conducted to create resources to educate school staff on the background and implementation strategies regarding the available supports for trauma exposure. Findings from this experience indicate that school personnel need to foster a richer understanding of trauma-informed practices and should adopt a strength-based resilience-focused lens when addressing the specific needs of immigrant youth.