Trauma In Schools

Trauma Informed Care in Schools A system that would benefit greatly from the Trauma Informed Care approach is a school system. My reasoning for this is that when children are experiencing trauma whether it be from the past or a current situation, often times they struggle to find ways to cope positively with these negative feelings. And because they have trouble finding a positive outlet they tend to act out, whether that be involving themselves in harmful activities, or being violent towards themselves or others. It is important for staff members in a school setting to recognize some of the symptoms of someone that is going through trauma. If a student is acting out in class, can the adult assume the child is just acting out? or if there

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network says that "traumatized children can exhibit a wide variety of symptoms, including symptoms that are more difficult to observe (such as revenge fantasies, withdrawal, and isolation) and symptoms that are easier to observe (such as acting out and aggression). Symptoms often differ based on the age and developmental stage of the child. Traumatized children are more likely than other children to exhibit a wide range of adverse health behaviors that can impact their everyday life”. Something that we have to consider is that any number of things in a school setting can trigger these types of behavior. It can be caused by being bullied, physical contact by another peer or older adult, or even something as simple as a certain, sound, touch, smell, or taste. If a staff member is able to recognize these signs, they can de-escalate the situation in a way that won’t cause more trauma to the

For example, it may ruin the feeling of safeness in the school environment for that student. It can even inhibit their ability to excel in academics. In an article written by Elisha Mcneil, it states: A growing body of evidence highlights the connection between adverse childhood experiences and academic problems. The effects of trauma can impair a child’s cognitive ability, while the stress of a dysfunctional or unstable home life can make children act out or shut down in the classroom. In a way, I think that a school not being trauma-informed almost creates an unsafe environment for the student. If the staff member is unable to recognize what may be considered as a flashback trauma trigger, it leaves that individual vulnerable. I say this because that individual may not be able to explain why they are having such an intense reaction to the situation. They might be unaware of the link between the original trauma event and the current trauma trigger and feel as if they are not in control of themselves. Seeing how dangerous trauma triggers can be, when a student is acting out, school staff should consider if the underlying cause may be past trauma. However, in order to do this, they must be properly trained in trauma awareness, so that they are able to recognize the impact of trauma and how it might affect a students behavior. This process can most definitely be overwhelming because school staff