Tagged With "California Student Mental Wellness Conf."
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Re: Does Eric Jensen's Brain Based Learning Align with Trauma Informed Approaches?
I spent a week getting training on classroom trauma-informed processes/philosophy by Conscious Discipline. Altho they don't mention ACEs specifically, everything is aligned to avoid triggers and they prioritize supporting emotional development. I recommend their program as well as the book, 'Help for Billy' by Forbes. Jonathan Williams
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Re: Looking for Suggestions on Policy
Hi Katie, Educational policy, as you well know, is a tricky beast. I would suggest starting with broad, non-mandated policy that may exist within the district. This could be anything from communication policy to policy/practices on how meetings are conducted. When we examine current literature in Trauma Informed anything, the stall point is often at policy, because we get stuck trying to quantify and operationalize a fundamental shift in paradigm and thinking about ourselves and others. That...
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Re: ACES Presentation for Preschool Parents (experiences, tips, etc.)
I work directly with preschool teachers and parents, training them in the application of The 7 Mindsets for Empowerment through Awareness and Compassion. These 7 Mindsets (as determined through extensive research) provide parents with real mental strategies for improving their emotional self-management and for relating with their children in compassionate, aware ways that support the child's healthy development of cognitive skills in a context of social/emotional development. The training...
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Re: Conchella Valley, CA Is anyone from this area?
Maybe you have found something since posting this, but I used to live in Joshua Tree so am familiar with the area, but moved away two years ago. It looks like Riverside County is doing some work (possibly with the 4CA Campaign as well). Here are a few links: https://www.pacesconnection.com...fornia-county-groups (Riverside has an email of someone to contact) https://www.pacesconnection.com...Profile_2018_PDF.pdf http://www.4cakids.org/ Good luck!
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Re: schools/classrooms using trauma-informed practices?
Greetings - I am grateful to Jane for sharing this information. I will share a little bit here about what my original intent was in creating the course (Creating Compassionate Schools), how it was designed, and "what's next" or pending in terms of professional development. First, as we all know, we are all taking a "it takes a village" approach. This applies to all professional fields, not only to traditionally defined K-12 education. That said, it was about 5 years ago that I learned about...
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Re: Seeking Speakers/Trainers in Virginia on Trauma Informed Schools
John Richardson-Lauve, LCSW 200 N 22nd Street , Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 644.9590 jrl@childsavers.org | childsavers.org
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Lee, Thanks for replying. I work in a school that has implemented trauma-informed practices. But it has been a real struggle. Trauma-informed practices when delivered to one student at a time, via the school counselors, dean of students, social workers, etc., seem to be working for us fairly well. However, at the school wide level, we have not been as successful. We aren't giving up - ever - but I am hoping to hear some ideas how other schools are doing this. The biggest challenge, based...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
That was our numbers as well. I think you will continue to struggle and see turn over if it is something left up to certain school staff to "deliver" the trauma-informed practices. To me, a trauma-informed school is one that practices the approach in all of their interactions using "universal precautions." How long has it been since the school has implemented the practices...and what exactly are the practices? I'm curious as to what certain counselors, social workers do. I can tell you what...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
I have been working within the SDP for the past several years as a school-based outpatient clinician, as well as a school-based clinician within an STS program. As I establish relationships with teachers and administrators , I use language that introduces them to trauma-informed concepts (safety plans, triggers, de-escalation techniques, viewing the child as "injured," not "bad." I then offer to present in-service trainings for teachers about the impact of trauma on learning, where...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Lee ~ You hit on a key point. No one should be surprised that we don't "punish" the students. We use a restorative justice model to teach students how their actions/behaviors impact the community as a whole. It's time intensive, but it has helped prevent suspensions and expulsions, which has helped create stability in the lives of our students. While I'd like to believe that everyone was on board with the restorative justice model, I know that for some of the staff who had been in the school...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Good stuff. That paints a more clear picture. That sounds pretty exciting change to me, but I'm interested. For those that don't agree with the approach, or struggle with not seeing immediate results, it isn't likely as exciting. You mentioned relationship a couple of times in your posts and that is very important as well. Having as many conversations as possible that don't have anything to do with directions or redirection can have an amazing impact on the relationships.
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Krys, I like that you are also working with the children about the "brain on stress." This is a component that we are adding this year. So far, we have been making all of these changes and the staff have been in the loop as to why we have made the changes, but for the most part, we have not talked to the students about "why" we are doing these things. They have not complained, they seem to be appreciating having more choices and more say in their education. But now that most of the...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Dominic, I am happy to share our intake survey. I am attaching two documents. The word document is the one that we have all students fill out. We also have the Risk Assessment Survey questions as a separate document (PDF) in case a student does not feel comfortable answering the questions with their name on document. We have recently converted this document to a "google form" so that students can fill it out electronically. All of our students are assigned a chromebook during orientation.
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
This is a fascinating discussion! Here are some stories I did about trauma-informed schools in Spokane and San Francisco that might provide more information about school-wide approaches. These stories are part of a series about schools that are taking a compassionate approach to school discipline. Later this year, I'll do a story about what a school and district need to have the most success, in terms of reductions in referrals, suspensions, expulsions, absenteeism, and an increase in...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Melanie, You are so right when you say that teachers (and administrators) don't always listen to people who have not "been in the classroom." You are in an incredibly unique position being both a special education director and a parent of children who have experienced trauma. If anyone can get through to the teachers and admin, it should be you. I think its terribly unfortunate when some school personnel don't want new information, or won't even listen to new information because they...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Dominic, You are correct. Our students are between the ages of 15 and 20, with the average age being 17 yrs and 9 months. Screening at younger ages may need to be done face to face, or by having a parent/guardian fill out a survey? We also do a comprehensive file review when a new student enrolls. We request records from all previous schools, medical records (when applicable), and in some cases we will call the previous school(s) to try to gain a better understanding of what the child has...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
I appreciate your work and hope you can continue in Texas. I think you especially hit the issue head on when you identify that trauma-informed practice is not just sometimes for some people. The systemic and cultural/philosophical changes that ACE directs us towards represent the movement that Dr. Anda refers to. As a mental health clinician who worked for a time in the schools, I marveled at the disconnect between educational practices and psychology/social work interventions. I understand...
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
Hi Kris, I have a staff survey that I give shortly after I have trained a school how to implement trauma-informed strategies into their daily practice. It's a simple tool that I use to measure growth. I give the same survey towards the end of the school year to give me a perspective where the staff is on the implementation process. It allows me to see where there are gaps that need additional support or it shows me what's really going well with the implementation. It's a tool for measurement...
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
I have been teaching an online course called Supporting and Educating Traumatized Students. I use my book by the same name as well as multiple other sources of information. The evaluations that I receive at the end of the course are very positive. I also do about 24 speeches a year on treating ODD and Conduct disorder from a trauma informed perspective. many teachers attend this seminar and give very good evaluations. As far as serious data you might try contacting Ron Hertel with Washington...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Leisa- took me awhile to find my way back to respond to your post! I really am not the expert or even close to having clout in terms of education, but I guess if ACE information implies big paradigm changes, then I see that having big implications for the pairing of social work and mental health practices within public education.I saw another post here about social workers and psychologists understanding the students best but having the least contact- that's a place for change. Cross...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Wendy, I could not agree more. We recently hired a whole group of new staff who are school counselors but also have teaching certifications. The new staff members are called "student success coordinators" and are going to be serving as a hybrid teacher/case manager/counselor. This new group of staff members are going to be on the front line of education, working with their students everyday. With their counseling training and experience and their direct interaction with students, they...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi i'd really like to know the 25 questions you refer to and if they include strengths and interests in addition to the ACEs and triggers. We consult and provide mental health and school culture supports at many public schools in NYC and are considering using a modified ACE questionnaire in our intake interviews with students and families. Any chance you could share it in this thread? Thanks and all the best, Kristen
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
I am interested in a list of surveys that elicit teacher attitudes as well. Please share.
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
Does your survey consider teacher self-care from the trauma experienced via workplace bullying in education? Does your district have a workplace bullying policy? A year ago, the AFT and Badass Teachers Association conducted an unscientific, national survey ("Quality of Work life Survey") which indicated teachers were deeply stressed... That survey lef to an amendment in ESSA (co-authored by Senators Booker and Baker) so that school district communities can apply for Title II funding in order...
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
Jim - Is this a tool you can share? I'm training 3 districts with the ACE Interface next week, and it might be handy for them to use for self-reflection or for follow up work.
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An Opportunity to Inform an Educational Council
Hello ACES in Education Community! I have a rare opportunity to speak to our Congressman's Educational Council in their upcoming meeting on March 29 Here's the thing: I'm not a teacher or parent! And I know that Virginia as a whole may be somewhat behind other States. But I'm not letting these things deter me. I'm passionate about ACEs and trauma-informed approaches! And as a concerned citizen, I know that spreading awareness to the schools can help shift the school/youth violence tide. We...
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Behavioral Health in Schools
Hello--I work for a health foundation in Alaska and our (geographically large) borough is beginning its third cohort of trauma-sensitive schools. With this work and intention, our schools are contracting with local behavioral health providers to offer accessible, onsite services to meet student needs, particularly emergent and episodic. We need to determine a strategic, standardized and sustainable model for the long-term as need and capacity grows in our school district. There are...
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Can Trauma-Informed Mermaids Help Children & Families? (New Kids Book Series)
Dear ACEs in Education Community, We just launched a new trauma-informed children's book series called Venus and Her Fly Trip . The series has been developed in collaboration with therapists, educators, parents and healers and is designed to promote mental/social/emotional health, body positivity and imaginative play in kids 4-10 , with the ultimate goal of preventing self-hatred. We will also be developing an elementary school curriculum to complement the story books. I would greatly value...
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Coaching for Educators and Healthcare Providers who want to understand ACES
Hello ACES Connection Community. I am offering a series of ACES Coaching Opportunities this summer primarily geared toward educators but would be happy to set things up for health care providers as well. The Coaching process I use empowers others to understand how their thinking can shift to more positive action steps in doing the work they are passionate about, considering their own ACES and the ACES of others all along the way! What are the best ways to share these types of events and...
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Educator Input
Hello! I am currently completing some Post-Graduate research on support systems within school districts. This is to better Identify how prevalent mental health and early intervention supports are within schools across the U.S. Is there anyone willing to complete my brief anonymous survey? I would greatly appreciate the input! In advance, thank you for your time. Much appreciation, Chris Pennington https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BRZGHLG
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Hey Hi (What are practical strategies I can offer teachers who pick up stressed kids)
We had our trauma informed meeting today. Our school group will be asking a member of the Local Community Mental Health to present at the beginning of the school year to the teachers on trauma symptoms and strategies to use with suspected...
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How Can We Make South Florida Schools Trauma Informed?
Let's Make South Florida Schools Trauma Informed by Endorsing TIS Leaders! This is Natalia Garceau from Broward County, FL. Last February, in Washington, DC, l met so many wonderful, caring educators from all over the United States and abroad at the first ATN Conference for Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools. Sadly, I was the only person from South Florida, and I was not sent to DC by my school district. I came there on my own to learn newest strategies of how to help traumatized children...
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My daughter with severe anxiety/ k-12
Hi there ! My name is Sharon and I am desperately trying to get my daughter out of high school due to the trauma she has suffered. On top of having SEVERE anxiety , she was attacked at school and other girls have come out of the woodwork threatening her. I pulled her out of school and now I am trying to find a k-12 that will work with her IEP (which is due to her anxiety) as well as her ACES . Please someone help me !!! Thank you !
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Partners in Georgia and States Near Georgia
I am looking to partner with folks in Georgia who are working to address ACEs. Does anyone have information on ACEs particularly in Georgia schools? My hope is to help end the practice of paddling children in public schools. To that end, I'm co-sponsoring a conference for teachers. Here's a brief description. I should have a brochure and landing page ready in about two weeks. The conference is February 8-9th at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta, Georgia called, DISCIPLINE THAT...
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Project Manager
We are starting a charter school that will be trauma informed. Kaleidoschool - Reaching the Multi-Faceted Brain. There are 5 members now on our development team, and we have been advised to hire a project manager to help us with our timeline. The problem is that we are all educators, and do not have enough money to do so at this point. Anyone know of a retired professional that might be willing to volunteer some time to help us? Could be an educational professional, business, or non-profit.
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Research on emotional impact of assessment in schools
Hi all, In Oregon we are looking at the the emotional impact of assessments (defined broadly, including formative and summative assessments) in schools. We are working on figuring out how to use quality assessment practices in school to impact the emotional affect of educators, students, and families, and trying to use it to support trauma informed practices. One example could include using more informal formative assessments to influence and adjust teaching and student support so that...
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Resources on Promoting Attendance
Hello! I am currently working on a team that is looking to make changes to the way we assess and respond to chronically absent students. Does anyone know of any research that shows how trauma informed approaches have increased student attendance? Does any one have any resources regarding how to best communicate the importance of school attendance to parents/caregivers and students? And lastly, any additional resources regarding how to best nudge students and families that are on track to...
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School Council, School Improvement Plans, ACEs, Diversity & Help?
Dear ACEs in Education Community: I'm wondering if anyone has worked ACEs-related language into a School Council School Improvement Plan? I'm on the School Council for a charter school and we're looking at improving parent engagement., in general, and as part of that I'm trying to introduce two topics: 1) ACEs and 2)Race, Class & Parent Involvement We have kids from 30 different communities and 1/3 of the students are Haitian. The other 2/3 are mostly but not entirely Caucasian. Anyhow,...
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Social Studies!!!
Trauma-informed, restorative-based, social justice-focused new high school in New Orleans is looking for a Social Studies teacher to join the founding team (part of an established and well-regarded charter network). The school is starting with 9th grade, and the students will be an integral part of the founding team in year 1, and development team as the school adds a grade each year.
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Teachers - Share your stories!
The California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators is looking for teachers to interview for their teacher-focused Professional Development this summer. They plan to host an online conference on September 15 (with pre-recorded mini-lectures and interviews) entitled, "Educational Justice: Turning Policy into Practice" with a focus on student equity and social justice. I did a training for them in March on ACEs, so this would be a great opportunity for some of the...
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Trauma-Informed/Sensitive Classrooms
Hello to all my Education TIC/ACE gurus! I've been trying to play catch up with the chat you had last week regarding ACES in education (I was in my grad school class). Some of what you've said really resonated with me here in Montgomery...
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Re: Researcher looking for Gaps
Hi there. I'm a phd student in British Columbia, and I focus on trauma in teaching -- online in particular but with the general college population as well. I'd be happy to connect, if you're still interested.
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Re: For parents who want to talk to schools
Hello Ariane, I have some suggestions: Chapter 4 of The Connected Child (attached with permission) shows the disarming of fear to create felt safety in what I think is an approachable way that is easy to share with teachers. An Article of "Trauma Informed Classrooms" from Adoption Advocate (attached with permission) gives some practical framework to what is needed in a classroom setting TBRI® Animate: Toxic Stress & The Brain - is helpful as well. I provide resources for Southern...
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Re: Resources on Promoting Attendance
Danielle: Our school is now addressing this very issue as well, here in MA. Could you share what you've learned, to date, if possible? Thank you! Cissy
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Re: School Council, School Improvement Plans, ACEs, Diversity & Help?
Emily: THANK YOU so much! I had the meeting and just love your patient and wise approach. First, I'm glad there's not a million known and obvious things because it's a reminder that it's a process to work through and relationship-building is important. Somehow, oddly, that's a relief. I will admit I also thought survey/assess but also that we should try to find parent/teacher teams from other schools that have AWESOME parent engagement and just see if there are things we can copy or attempt...
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Re: School Council, School Improvement Plans, ACEs, Diversity & Help?
Hello Cissy, Congratulations for stepping up with your daughter on the School Council! For starters, a lot of times the way the Council works and a desire to be a team player are the ‘systemic problems’ we hear so much about and some of the highest hurdles to overcome. I encourage you to learn the School Council’s approved ‘Bylaws/Rules of Order’ inside and out if you want to be fair, win some debates, and create lasting changes in school policy. With that being said, 'Robert’s Rules of...
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Re: Partners in Georgia and States Near Georgia
Beth, I just wanted to share the promotional material for the conference, just in case you had folks you might want to send it to. Any help in getting the word out is greatly appreciated! Robbyn https://parentingbeyondpunishm...educationconference/ Tina Payne Bryson, PhD will be one of the keynote speakers: http://conta.cc/2r6Vqa8
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Re: Researcher looking for Gaps
Hello Jennifer, Suzanne and Lisa, I would love to join in this information exchange. I am a doctoral student and counselor. I have interest in the research gap you mentioned. I too have spent many car rides driving and pondering the intersection of ACES and SPED. I was even looking into TI modified resources which will support their FBAs, IEPs and other documents that travel with them from school to school. I would love to hear your ideas.
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Re: Trauma Informed Curriculum for 13-18 year olds that have experienced trauma?
I am interested in this as well. The only thing I have found is mindfulness strategies.
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Re: Trauma Informed Curriculum for 13-18 year olds that have experienced trauma?
Erin, I would suggest you consult with the child's trauma therapist. Any child that has a trauma history should (and would greatly benefit) from having a "Trauma Trigger Management Plan." Avoiding triggers creates a fine line to walk. In a classroom setting - I think it's very important to avoid triggers - in a personal confidential and therapeutic setting - where a child may want help processing a trigger - is a different scenario but should only be addressed by a team working with that...