I am a trainer and I like to include the latest, and most effective, information about trauma and strategies for resilience for classrooms. My biggest concern is that the information I currently have will slowly run its course as progress is made and newer information is available. Where can I go to further my studies and stay informed?
Thank you!
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Theresa Fry - In 2000, I heard an Epidemiologist at [then Dartmouth, now] Geisel Medical School 'Grand Rounds' present: "52% of Detroit Metropolitan Area Schoolchildren met the DSM-IV criteria for PTSD". (This was before I learned of the CDC/Kaiser ACE study). Subsequently, similar numbers [of schoolchildren] were reported in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Atlanta, and in June of 2018 -at five charter schools in New Orleans. The World Health Organization adopted [and expanded upon] an ACE screening tool that addresses 'two types' of 'ACEs': 'Adverse Community Environments' and 'Adverse Childhood Experiences'-which WHO used in their 2013 assessment of the world's healthiest children. While the 'diagnostic constructs' may have 'overlaps' between 'C/PTSD', PTSD, 'ACEs', I found that the nation with the healthiest children in that WHO 2013 study, using the WHO ACE Intrnational Questionaire-(available in over 100 languages) long had a 'resilience-building children's story (the Dutch boy who put his finger in the dike to prevent a flood). I hope your efforts to 'further your studies and stay informed' meet with [on-going] success.
Hi Theresa! I agree that the approach to classroom order will change as we move into more heart space over time. I am pushing for Emotional Education and it would be say a weekly class of exercises and information. Once the policy of Emotional Education is established much like physical education is now established in all schools then the platform for continual evolution and change is possible. My current understanding is that emotional turmoil and all effects of ACEs is a habit. The place this habit resides is in our polyvagal, autonomic system that regulates our body but is also the place we form the habits of walking responding, talking, and feeling. These become preset patterns of behaviour and responses. OK think you change habits by forming new stronger better habits. Thus Emotional Education is about creating new habits of feeling and thinking that have better results for the behaviour of the child. Think also of choice. Acting out behaviour is not a choice. It is a reaction habit. To have a choice you have to install the choice first. The more choices that are installed by creating new habits and exploring choices, "THEN" a choice can be made. ( because you have several choices available to you.)
This is what Emotional Education class 101 would look like done say once a week. This is only one slice of the pie. Teacher training and a safe room and policy changes and all that the successful communities are dong is the rest of the pie.
ACEs IMMUNITY
I suggest browsing ACEs Connection's resource list on trainings and ACEs Connection's calendar which has upcoming classes/conferences/trainings/events. Additionally, I recommend looking through ACEs Connection's Resources Center - it has numerous resources about trauma and resilience. Hope this helps!
Hello Theresa, I suggest that you take a look at Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience. It is being used all over the nation and recently the University of Louisville completed a study on its use. As the author of this curriculum, I am dedicated to keeping this material up to date with the newest research. Take a look: https://www.dibbleinstitute.or...ograms/mind-matters/ Here you can down load a 30 digital copy to review it. Please stay in touch. Carolyn Curtis carolynrichcurtis@gmail.com
Hi Theresa, I just released the approach I developed - The Regulated Classroom: âBottom-upâ Trauma-Informed Teaching, which is a somatosensory, Polyvagal-inforned approach to stress regulation in the classroom. More information here: www.herethisnow.org
Hi Emily! I was actually considering your book! I saw something about it on FB or somewhere. I am very interested in the Polyvagal theory and I have even tried to use it to convince us educators that we need to do self-care. I have seen the book but would like to get a better view of it. Is it possible to send me some type of sample? Really, anything would work just so that I can get some idea of what it looks like. I saw it the other day but was hesitant to buy because I couldn't get a better view.
Like this thread! And I DO urge everyone I meet to include more Emotional Awareness, Education. Some ideas below...
I even teach a course (which of course is updated as we learn new things) on Emotional First-Aid, one for adults and one for working with children, which is very much a mission from my heart. This week I am releasing a handbook on this on Amazon (Compassion in Action: Emotional First-Aid for Children), which acts as a primer for this topic, that most everyone could use.
And I am inviting you, as one of the coPresenters in Baltimore this May 14, to a full-day workshop on working within educational settings and communities with this information. We truly believe we can all do better with not only more/better information, but what to DO with it/about it, so we've created the workshop and also this website of quick, easy ways to do this that anyone can do: www.R4R.support I tried unsuccessfully to attach the flyer for the Baltimore event - would appreciate your sharing with all who could benefit. This link may be best I can do: https://www.energypsych.org/page/toolsforschools
Jondi Whitis
