Tagged With "School Nurse"
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Rediscovering the Lessons from Progressive Education to Create Trauma-Informed Schools for All
“In this bright future you can't forget your past.” -Bob Marley What if the roots of public education in this country provided us with a vision for creating trauma-responsive environments for all students? Lately I have been reflecting on why the principles and practices of creating trauma-informed/trauma-responsive environments in school settings connected with me deep down in my bones. It was a visceral feeling, a sense of validation and resonance in both my head and my heart. The science...
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Reframing Undesired Behaviors as an Aspect of Learning, not Punishment
At the Chula Vista, National City, and Linda Vista resource centers of Learn4Life Innovation High School San Diego, only four students were suspended during the 2016-17 school year – less than 1 percent of the student population of more than 500 students. For the leadership team and staff at Innovation High School this rate was still too high. The team and staff embraced further training on restorative practices, positive behavior supports and interventions in order to better support student...
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Run, Don't Walk, to Movie Titled Raising Bertie
This is a fabulous new movie about rural education in Bertie NC and the lives of three young men, regularly experiencing toxic stress and trauma. The lives of the people in Bertie -- the prisons, the teen pregnancies, the poor schools, the lack of support both economic and psycho-social is stunning in its presentation of reality. Movie makes you want to cry but it also serves to energize. As this review notes, take action; see the movie as a true call to action. Time is a wasting'.
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Rural schools find an online resource to fill gaps in mental health services for students
In rural Kentucky, students go to school with people they’ve grown up with. It’s not uncommon for their teachers and principals to be family friends or even relatives. This can create a tight-knit school community, but it can also make privacy hard to come by. Vivian Carter, a longtime teacher and principal and the current innovation coordinator at Hazard Independent Schools, in Eastern Kentucky, said students don’t always open up to the adults in the school building if they have issues at...
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Safety First - Toxic Stress in Education
What is the purpose of having school without power?
I work in a small school in a big state. The local school community had the power shut over the weekend as a preventive action for avoiding fires. This morning I was told that there would be school without power and to plan to provide services and teach children without power.
My instinct was - this is not safe!
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School counselors take on at-home trauma in the classroom
Cristo Rey faculty get one full day a week to collaborate and strategize about how to meet the specific needs of individual students. (Bas Slabbers/for WHYY) By Kevin McCorry School counselor Pam Turner-Bunyon had been warned: This new, incoming student had a dark profile and was prone to very erratic behavior. "When he first came to us, he ran out of the building, the first day — the very first day — instead of coming in, he ran," she said. Turner-Bunyon learned what happened and...
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School District of Philadelphia Open Position: Director Trauma Informed Practices
Please help to spread the word about this vital opening in our city's school district. https://ats4.searchsoft.net/ats/job_board_form?op=view&JOB_ID=4600169492&REPRESENTATIVE_COMPANY_ID=00002581&COMPANY_ID=00002581
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Re: Do Children have a Right to be Safe ?
Dear Dawn, Thank you for this thoughtful, comprehensive and amazing compilation of information about safety. You have done a masterful job of uncovering how our various systems define safety and make excellent suggestions. You are to be commended! I do agree with your point that it is critical to keep the child at the center of our understanding of safety - however, I also think it's important to acknowledge that environmental safety (such as creating safe buildings and developing safe...
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Re: Buddy bench a big hit at Saskatoon's Willowgrove School
Thank you for the post about the Buddy Bench! It's such a simple intervention that has a powerful impact! And it's just the type of thing that a PTA would be delighted to fund. I am going to do my best to promote the idea in the Anchorage School District and beyond. Deborah Bock Anchorage, Alaska
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Re: Buddy bench a big hit at Saskatoon's Willowgrove School
When I Googled “Buddy Bench” I found a lot of information --- Second-Grader's Cure For Playground Loneliness: A Buddy Bench http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...bench_n_4378248.html Buddy Bench Creates a Safe Spot for Shy Classmates to Find Friends http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...e132e4b079b28189dcd2 WANTED: Playground Buddy http://www.tolerance.org/magaz...ted-playground-buddy Buddy Benches can be made by placing a sign on an existing bench. They are also available commercially from School...
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Re: Why Teach about Grief and Loss?
Thank you for this post. Yes. We all need some guidance on dealing with grief and loss. Waiting until it happens is NOT the best approach! This reminds me of the facts about healthcare in the documentary "Resilience." The US spends $3 trillion on healthcare and just 5% of that goes to prevention. We spend 13 years of life in school to learn about some aspects of life most of us will never need. I would venture to say less than 5% of that time goest to practical teaching about the ups and...
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Re: Why Teach about Grief and Loss?
Thanks for posting. You are spot on about children needing to be better prepared to understand grief and loss. Actually adults need this too. I used to do the Children's Talk in my previous church. One Sunday, this was the topic and I had a small book to use for my object lesson. (I never had anything "normal" like a children's book, so this lesson was unusual for that reason.) The book "Water Bugs & Dragonflies" by Doris Stickney is an excellent way to start a conversation. Your...
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Re: Webinar blog: Trauma-informed schools, a conversation with Jim Sporleder
This was one of my favorite webinars ever! Thanks @Jim Sporleder for generous sharing and Laurie for excellent questions!!! Cis
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Re: My daughter with severe anxiety/ k-12
Hi Sharon, I may be able to help you connect to local resources, where are you located?
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Re: An imperative for those in "towers" to connect with the realities of trauma in schools
Spot on! Nicely written Judi! I recently tweeted the way you know a District is truly trauma-informed is when your Superintendent leads each meeting with a grounding exercise Something of note for the TI community: There is an upcoming #suptchat next week, Nov. 7 at 7pmCT to discuss mental health sel leadership in schools. All the efforts that are taking place in the schoolhouse with Little P (policy) needs to be supported within the district/state Large P (policy). Our movement benefits...
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Re: Federal Grants for Trauma-Informed Interventions in Schools
Thanks for sharing this important information. I admit to knowing almost nothing about grant writing - where would we need to be watching to see when applications for grants open? Martha
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Re: Federal Grants for Trauma-Informed Interventions in Schools
Hi Martha, Grants will be made mainly to state educational agencies, so your best bet is to engage your state's mental health program. The Request for Grant Proposals (RFP) will need to be made in partnership with your state's educational agencies. The sooner you can start the process of engaging partnerships with other organizations and with your state's mental health agency, the better; the RFP's will be available in Spring and agencies won't have a lot of time to respond at that point.
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Re: Navigating the Holidays for Students with ACEs
Thanks for these suggestions, I am the school nurse and have realized for sometimes that the holidays/ festivities will trigger a multitude of emotions for young people. We as adults must be aware, sensitive and understanding when a young person is expressing their emotions, and support them so that can feel safe, and accepted, at this time of the year.
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Re: Webinar blog: Trauma-informed schools, a conversation with Jim Sporleder
Hi, There doesn't seem to be a link to watch the full webinar, or am I missing something. Lesley
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Re: Webinar blog: Trauma-informed schools, a conversation with Jim Sporleder
@Laurie Udesky : Great summary post (as usual) about the great webinar with @Jim Sporleder . Looks like the hyperlink TO the webinar needs to be added though. Once it is, I'll share widely on social media and Parenting with ACEs! Cis
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Re: Federal Grants for Trauma-Informed Interventions in Schools
Wonderful news! Our Indian Education Program at St. Paul Public Schools is focusing on ACEs for our Professional Learning Community theme this year. We would like more information on how to submit for this grant. Is there a link now to review or is there a way to get on the "list" to be notified of the grant opening? Also, I read that the grant will be for "evidence based" interventions; however, there are limited resources for American Indian communities. Do you think that we could propose...
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Re: Federal Grants for Trauma-Informed Interventions in Schools
Hi Kerrie, It's great that your program has chosen ACEs as your theme this year! I'll try and answer your questions the best to my knowledge (and that of my policy class professor Dr. Angelique Day, who actually helped craft the Trauma-Informed Care portion of H.R.6.) Grants will be made mainly to state educational agencies, so your best bet is to engage your state's mental health program. The Request for Grant Proposals (RFP) will need to be made in partnership with your state's educational...
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
In response I'd like to share this article about a program I work with: http://www.theatlantic.com/nat...-nonviolence/277893/ Not spoken in this article - is this dramatic change - a 90% reduction in violence and police calls - came from training only the adults in the building. We changed how the adults interact with the kids and got these results! We've since returned to train the students also. Roger Kluck
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
Sorry, having trouble with the link Mr. Kluck. Daun
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
OK, got the link to work. Thank you for sharing. Results seem impressive ! Would you fill in some blanks on total student population before/after ? number of "engagement coaches" ? class size before/after ? have you gotten same results at other schools ? Did you get the same results in 2013/2014 school year ? Are you still there for 2014/2015 year ? Did you share results/get response from SDP ? Daun
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
Thank you Daun for this insider's summary regarding the elephant in the room named TRAUMA. I have made the comment that really the public school is the largest social service agency we've got but nobody but me views it that way (I guess that sounds like a bleeding heart liberal). The remedies seem overwhelming, but your emphasis on an environment of safety instilled by training the adults make sense. As a mental health professional who has had some experience working in public schools, I...
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
Thank you Wendy ! I couldn't agree more regarding both teacher training and schools(and teachers in classroom) providing social services. My post on "Do children have the right to be safe ?" contains a section on the U. S. Educational System shortfalls (vs. legal and healthcare systems). In spite of seemingly being the most broad, most frequented, most convenient (neighborhood), and probably most crucial system to receive children in efficient 'brain states. Acknowlegement of, and response...
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
Wendy, also see my comment at the end of RWJF blog on Culture of Health http://lucidwitness.com/2014/0...a-culture-of-health/
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Re: Failing Schools or Failing Paradigm ?
Greetings All - I am jumping in as I have what may be a somewhat unique perspective on the topic of funding (or fueling) the work we are generally engaged in from within various roles. As a central office admin for 10 years I knew that content literacy (ie, reading, math, science, etc) was important. From a resiliency and asset management perspective, I also knew that learners impacted by trauma/neglect/ACE's were at a distinct disadvantage with peers who did not contend with such adversity.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Great article, Daun. You have wonderful insight. I wish you well in sharing it out with the education world. I've recently posted information on a free video Trauma Training for Educators - that highlights many of these same points regarding children and trauma. If you're interested in seeing it - www.ciscentraltexas.org/resources/traumatraining/ Best of luck to you, Kris
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Re: Be part of a breathtaking tipping point !
Duan In case you were not aware the national education association is supporting teachers who have traumatized students in their classrooms. So you have union support for trauma informed education. See the article at Best practices for supporting and educating students who have experienced domestic violence or sexual victimization. http://www.nea.org/home/62845.htm
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Re: Educational Trauma
I was a teacher for the last 7 years and have had to leave permanently because I felt the stress created by the education system was causing real harm to the students, their families, and myself. The environment triggered me because it reminded me of my own dysfunctional family - never talk about the real problems and push all issues under the rug, and find a worthy scapegoat. The scapegoat was the administration. I tried everything to stay in education - I adored working with the kids - but...
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Re: Educational Trauma
Dear Kary, Thank you for commenting on my post. I was very touched by your experience, and the clarity with which you see it. Karen Horowitz wrote "White Chalk Crime," and says that teachers are abused and scapegoated by the educational system. She compiled 678 pages of stories... May I help with your noble cause of shedding light on teacher trauma? Please email me drgray(at)me(dot)com if you are interested. Teachers need a team of heroes! Warmly, Lee-Anne
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
This is an excellent piece!!! Educators need to ask "What's happened to this child?" rather than "What's wrong with this child?" when confronted with inappropriate or acting out behaviors. Children come to school each day and give the best they have, even if that best includes ripping up paper and kicking and screaming. Teachers and administrators need to provide effective and appropriate opportunities for children with trauma to release their pent up frustration. They need to keep these...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thank you so much Melissa ! Thank you for your passion, your insight and your support.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Daun - THANK YOU! This is incredibly real and pertinent storytelling of what traumatized children can look like in our schools and how they can be misunderstood. I'm sharing with everyone I know here in Georgia is is advocating for changes based on the DOJ's findings of illegally segregating facilities, called GNETS, for children with emotional disturbances. A disproportionate number of these children are foster/adopt (hugely at risk of trauma) and who knows about the rest -- high levels of...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thank you Julie, I am so thankful. I'm also a little overwhelmed. Thank you so much for all you are doing in Georgia ! On a "higher order" note, some of it seems like " Common Sense " at the national level, if you are so inclined to rattle cages about ESEA and NoChildLeft Behind. (An earlier blog at LucidWitness.com) Peace
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine
Thanks Daun I love this non-fictional piece. What is so hard for me is that what is so obvious to me like gravity or the sky is blue is so not obvious to others. I cannot wait for the critical mass to move us all to where we understand, are compassionate and move society to health so all kids have a chance. I read the Compton lawsuit and I just keep shaking my head... I'd never try to get that dropped, I'd move to action to help those kids... Keep writing... I'll keep tweeting and sharing...
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Re: Educational Trauma
Lee-Anne, I am so sorry for the delay in response! I will send you an email shortly. Kary
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I was riveted by this post, Daun. You write so well and with so much passion and knowledge. Thank you for sharing this. I am forwarding immediately to our trauma-informed schools team.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Wow ! Thank you so much Louise for your support, encouragement and your kind words. The 'partner' piece is on ACEsConnection and at my blog, LucidWitness.com : "Peek Inside a Classroom: Jasmine". That piece primarily highlights hyperarousal and hyper-vigilance. Daun
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I will certainly take a look at that. I'm wondering if you are considering coming to our conference in March?http://www.echoparenting.org/professional-services/conferences It's a national forum on trauma-informed schools and we were hoping that we could form some 'learning circles'. We have lots of experts who have applied to do workshops (people who usually train in this stuff) but we were also looking for practitioners to lead a circle to discuss challenges, best practices, etc. with no...
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
PS: Louise Is the "Trauma-Informed Schools Team" part of LAUSD ?
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
We are working with LAUSD - pilot project in Sally Ride Elementary and training all 300 Psychiatric Social Workers in School Mental Health - but we are an independent nonprofit. Echo Parenting & Education http://www.echoparenting.org/wsi
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
PPSS Louise, 1) Hmmm, well I am very honored by your invitation to the conferrence. It MAY be possible. The issue will be taking time away during the school year. However, my son is out there and it'd be great to incorporate some time with him .... Thinking (when would you need to know ?) 2) Wouild it be possible to post "Peek Inside" to your Facebook page? Daun daunkauffman@gmail.com
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
What a good idea! We can indeed do that. Deadline for workshop applications has already gone (we are sending them to our illustrious Advisory Committee to select our line-up). Why don't you think about it and then let us know if it's a possibility. We could work something out... a break out room, or something.
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
Daun, I truly appreciated your blog - the depth of understanding and development of the reality of trauma inside our schools! I'm putting together a packet for my own public school system's Board of Education (3 members) whom I will meet with in November. I think this is a powerful example of what we need to see, and how we can help. Thank you so much. Brenda Gregory Yuen North Potomac, MD
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
I am so thrilled (and astonished) to see advocacy efforts move forward. I always wonder what happens to pieces (and their suggestions), once thery are 'released' into cyberspace. Thank you so much for the feedback, and for your work, Brenda!
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Re: Peek Inside a Classroom: Jose
We shared your blog on our Facebook page: Echo Parenting & Education. Lou