History. Culture. Trauma. Podcast Thursday is Encore with Lara Kain: PACEs Connection Goes Back to School

With summer winding down, and about 49 million U.S. students preparing to head back to the classroom, our History. Culture. Trauma. podcast series  examines America's challenged school system and its need for trauma-informed supports and solutions.

"In recent years, COVID-19, school shootings, affirmation of LGBTQ students, institutional racism, critical race theory, teacher burnout, and parent's rights have transformed America's schools into cultural battlegrounds," said podcast host Ingrid Cockhren, PACEs Connection CEO, who is joined by co-host Mathew Portell, PACEs Connection director of education and outreach.

"As a result of so much cultural stress," Cockhren said, "students, teachers, and administrators are experiencing poor mental health outcomes, secondary traumatic stress, and burnout."

In this episode, Cockhren, Portell, and guest Laura Kain, coordinator, Community Schools for Orange County  (CA) Department of Education, discuss why trauma-informed education is imperative in schools as we navigate the impact of stress and trauma on students, teachers, and the community.

As the former educational consultant for PACEs Connection, Kain brings a deep understanding of the importance of schools as community drivers for change. She is an experienced educator and consultant who speaks nationally on implementing trauma-informed practices in schools and building holistic, trauma-responsive systems.

Kain also brings over two decades of experience at the local, state, and national levels, including developing programs for integrating trauma-informed practices into community schools in Los Angeles. She has also worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as the state homeless coordinator where she practiced her first love, teaching 'at-risk' youth.

Kain holds  a bachelor's degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in public administration from The Evergreen State College.

As an example of her understanding of the micro and the macro, Kain's experience ranges from supporting individual teachers to designing a trauma-informed schools pilot implemented in 20 schools across the country.

Kain has worked both as a teacher and administrator putting the science of building resilience into practice. For Kain, who is a trauma survivor and was herself an 'at-risk' youth, this work is deeply personal. She understands what schools can and should look like to benefit ALL children.

As the mother of two adopted sons, Kain understands the effects of developmental trauma and what it takes to overcome it.

Born in the Midwest, Kain lived for over a decade in the Pacific Northwest, and is now a transplant to Southern California, where she lives with her husband and two boys. Kain says the beach is her happy place.

To listen to the podcast, click here, or find it on your favorite podcast carrier.