What to look for in tutorials about addressing complex trauma:
- The tutorial addresses complex trauma caused by adverse childhood experiences, and about ACEs research writ large (aka NEAR science) -- epidemiology of ACEs, neurobiology of toxic stress, biomedical and epigenetic consequences of toxic stress, and resilience research.
- Takes a two-generation approach (i.e., caregivers/parents and children).
- Recognizes and encourages examination of educator/caregiver/parent ACEs.
- Recognizes and encourages educator/caregiver/parental self-care.
- Encourages and provides resources to educate caregivers/parents about ACEs research writ large (aka NEAR science) -- epidemiology of ACEs, neurobiology of toxic stress, biomedical and epigenetic consequences of toxic stress, and resilience research.
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Infants, Young Children and Their Families (2010)
Source: Georgetown University's Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Description: Online education module. It covers simple and complex trauma, brain research, signs of trauma and provides tools for early childhood educators and mental health consultants who may be brought in to assist.
Strengths: This has a good resource section.
Executive Function
Source: Washington State Department of Early Learning
Description: This online education module, adapted from Harvard University's Center of the Developing Child materials, covers essential core skills; dimensions of, developing and disruptions in executive function; your role as adult caregiver; and examples of executive function. Focus is on early childhood.
Strengths: A deep dive into how a child's brain develops a healthy executive function, i.e., helping a child be able to focus, switch mental gears, remember and work with information, and not get distracted.
K-12
Lakeside Therapeutic Schools & Services, North Wales, PA
Description: For struggling students, success is often an elusive dream and failure a painful reality. Lakeside’s brain-based, trauma-informed approach to serving young people alters that reality. When students perceive themselves as failures, they can react by withdrawing or acting out. Lakeside offers another option, one that leads to success today and in the future. Our therapeutic schools and services identify and address not only behaviors but also the real reasons students struggle and fail. We don’t ask, “What’s wrong with you?” The question is more often, “What happened to you?” Lakeside students learn successfully to take on the challenges they face. Our students realize hope and the possibility of altering and redefining the rest of their lives.
Based on over 40 years of experience supporting thousands of students in our therapeutic schools and services, Lakeside also trains professionals across the country and around the world in the brain-based, trauma-informed approach we use. This unique training not only focuses on trauma’s impact on the brain but also provides practical interventions and strategies that can help bring growth and healing to impacted areas of the brain. Lakeside offers a variety of options and packages and will tailor staff development to meet the specific needs of schools and organizations.
Trauma-Sensitive Schools Learning Modules
Source: Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Description: This online training comprises 13 learning modules that are slides with audio. A text transcript is available. The modules are:
- Module 1 – Introduction to Trauma-Sensitive Schools Professional Development
- Module 2 – Prevalence and Impact of Trauma
- Module 3 – Neuroscience
- Module 4 – Self Care
- Module 7 – Trauma-Sensitive Environments
- Module 8 – Social and Emotional Learning
Strengths: This is a well thought-out series, and very well done.
Trauma Training for Educators
Source: Communities in Schools, Central Texas
Description: Trauma Training for Educators is a free 43-minute video training resource designed to provide important trauma-focused information about how student learning and behavior is impacted by trauma, and how educators and support staff can help students develop a greater sense of safety at school and begin to build new emotional regulation skills. Comes with very thorough facilitator's guide with resources and handouts.
Strengths: Step-by-step explanations of complex trauma, ACEs, neurobiology of toxic stress presented in accessible language; before-and-after scenarios with students and teachers; format is animated slides with graphics, video and audio; you can repeat and revisit slides. Really well done.
Please note: The video is only accessible to people in the United States. Because of security issues, the website blocks access to people outside the US. The video creators apologize for the inconvenience.
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