Current Reality

Ongoing exposure to toxic stress such as violence, food insecurity, and environmental instability takes a physical and cognitive toll on our bodies with long lasting impact on our health throughout our lives. Further research has shown that this type of trauma and stress in a child’s life can follow them into the classroom and have detrimental effects on a child’s brain development, learning processes, concentration, and memory. Additionally, traumatic experiences may impact a child’s social skills and their attachment style or capacity for building and managing relationships. If left unaddressed, trauma can lead to decreased classroom time and diminished academic achievement.

The effects of trauma, combined with implicit bias create an environment that punishes students of color more frequently and more severely. As students experience trauma they are less inclined to learn and more likely to act out, resulting in removal from the classroom.

Solution/Strategy

A trauma-informed school district recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery; recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, families, and staff; and responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices, and seeks to actively resist re-traumatization. The Missouri Model for creating a trauma-informed school environment highlights four steps in creating an institutional change: Trauma-aware, trauma-sensitive, trauma-responsive, and trauma-informed. At the full trauma-informed level, trauma responsive measures are embedded in the school system and there is a shift in perceptions of trauma and an understanding of the impact of trauma. At this point, trauma-informed practices are sustainable. Throughout the process of becoming trauma-informed, educators complete trainings and adopt guiding principles to create an institutional change.

Success Story

The Normandy Schools Collaborative has launched an innovative student-led program for promoting trauma-awareness in their schools. In partnership with Wyman, Boys and Girls Club, and Behavioral Health Response, Normandy is piloting the Teen Near-Peer Trauma Awareness training. Beginning in January 2018, five to ten high school students were trained as trainers in the first stage of the Missouri Model on trauma. Students were selected through an application and interview process. They receive a small stipend for their participation as trainers. Normandy and Wyman have collaborated with the Brown School of Social Work’s Social Innovation Lab to design the content of the program. These student leaders are set to train 100 of their peers in the basics of trauma. The program has begun with a  pilot launch at Normandy 7th-8th Grade Center before running fully in the high school.