Abstract
Statement of Problem: It is common for adolescents to experience traumatic events that have the potential to substantially impact their well-being. For example, exposure to traumatic events has been shown to negatively alter the functioning of the human body, as well as impact students socially and academically (Curran et al., 2018). Therefore, it is vital for leaders in the field of education to train educators on how to serve students using a trauma-informed lens. Given the complexity of trauma, educators need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed in order to serve the needs of traumatized adolescents. However, school-based trauma-informed interventions, especially ones appropriate for use with adolescents, are scarce. In addition, interventions that have been empirically validated within the schools (Beehler et al., 2012; Hansel et al., 2010; Hoover et al., 2018; Parris et al., 2015) do not span across all three tiers of support and would likely fail to meet the needs of all students.
Sources of Data: We utilized a variety of tools such as books, websites, and research articles to gather an understanding of trauma. We also searched within the, PsycINFO (EBSCO), PsycArticles (EBSCO), PubMed (NCBI) and Google Scholar host databases for primary resources. Websites for some of the interventions discussed were also explored.
Conclusions Reached: The purpose of this project is to provide educators with a free and accessible workshop that will provide them with an in depth understanding of trauma and trauma-informed practices that can be implemented in schools. By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the benefits of using the trauma-informed approach and should feel more comfortable and confident working with traumatized youth and providing them with the support that they need.