Brain research has shown that traumatized youth often have strongly developed fear and survival
responses, leaving them in a state of anxiety and hyper-awareness that makes it difficult to concentrate and listen in the classroom; many are prone to outbursts.
“There are many students who are at-risk of developing the ‘soft’ disabilities – including emotional and behavioral disabilities,” said Lihi Rosenthal, director of education at the Seneca Family of Agencies, the Oakland-based social services agency that is leading the pilot program. “One of most effective levers to move the dial on that is to create trauma-informed communities.”
The pilot program, which won a $3 million Investing in Innovations grant from the U.S. Department of Education in December, will roll out this fall at seven Oakland and San Francisco schools. The schools are located in neighborhoods where reports to police and Child Protective Services of violence, child abuse and neglect are high, according to Seneca Family of Agencies.
The three-year pilot program will test the theory that training adults in a school community about the effects of trauma on young minds will help all students at school socially and academically, especially special education students with emotional and behavioral disorders. The program also seeks to provide new systems to coordinate and evaluate academic, behavioral and mental health interventions and create a positive school climate.
New ‘trauma-informed’ approach to behavioral disorders in special education
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