Purpose: Groups of students were enrolled in a course that sought to produce a three-phase theoretical model over three semesters. Design/methodology/approach: A design project to comprehensively address school violence was launched at a university in eastern Pennsylvania. Findings: This article updates the recent and most critical finding of the…

Significant adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact health, socialization, academics, engagement in education, and behavior outcomes in elementary students. ACE researchers have identified protective factors, which mitigate the deleterious effects of significant ACEs. One of those protective factors is the positive teacher-student teacher…

Trauma informed research related to school initiatives focuses on the framework and implementation of initiatives instead of intensive evaluations and measures of effectiveness (Christian-Brandt et al., 2020). To address the gap in research, this study focused on the central question, "what is the experience of participants that have…

Trauma has been shown to cause poor academic performance, high drop-out rates, lack of confidence, lack of connection to peers, difficulty regulating emotions, and more (Bishop et al., 2019; Duncan, 2000; Gaywish & Murdoch, 2018; Hallett & Crutchfield, 2017; Hallett et al., 2018; Redford, 2015; Warnecke & Lewine, 2019). The student…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to gain an understanding of the impact trauma informed professional development has on Pennsylvania public school elementary teachers' perceptions of school climate. The extent to which trauma informed practices have influenced elementary teachers (K-6) perceptions of school climate is not known.…

This dissertation examines compassion fatigue (CF), secondary traumatic stress (STS), and burnout (BO) among Pennsylvania public school teachers and their intentions to leave the profession. It also explores the potential roles of compassion satisfaction (CS) and resilience while considering demographic and school characteristics. Survey data from…

Given the impact of trauma on children coupled with an emphasis from national policy and professional organizations, educators need to provide trauma informed practices to meet student needs. Studies have shown that teachers are more likely to support their students if they feel competent in meeting specific student needs. Teacher preparation…

Objective: To describe provider experiences with implementation of the GIFTSS (Giving Information for Trauma Support and Safety) intervention. Participants: Health and counseling center staff from participating campuses attended trainings between August 2015 and August 2016. Interviews were conducted between May and August 2017. Methods: Providers…

Mental health and trauma have a significant impact on student achievement and behavior (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Students have struggled to maintain stability, routines, behavior, and achievement. Organizations such as Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration have created resources to help educators meet…

Teaching youth how to self-regulate is a focus of a trauma-informed school approach. Peace Spaces, including Peace Corners and Peace Rooms, are a trauma-informed intervention used to teach self-regulation skills to students. The current study used a Consensual Qualitative Research design to identify and describe the thoughts, concerns, and…

When the phrase "Social workers cannot be racist" is used, there is not consideration of race, racism, and the detrimental effects of racism. This study includes an exploration of the extent to which social workers have been educated on racism-based trauma. Most participants did not have courses or training on the concept of racism-based…

It is very important that schools be careful not to scare children about a place where they should feel safe. Thus, it is imperative that any active shooter drill be preceded by extensive education and preparation. Drills should be carefully planned by local police and the school crisis team, and school psychologists' involvement is critical.…

Across the United States millions of school age students miss more that 18 days of school in a single year (Pennsylvania Department of Education, 2017). These students are far more likely than their regularly attending counterparts to be below grade level in reading, have behavior issues and be at risk of dropping out (Applied Survey Research,…

This essay describes the experiences faculty may encounter when teaching tough topics. When professionals are in the position as the individual who cares for, hears about, or witnesses the trauma and suffering of others, they might themselves be at risk for experiencing vicarious stress, or secondary trauma. If ongoing and untreated, this…

Two hundred ninety-four children from low-income families (58% White, 17% Latinx, 25% Black; 54% girls; M[subscript age] = 4.49 years old at study entry) were recruited from Head Start classrooms to participate in a randomized-controlled trial of the project Research-based, Developmentally Informed (REDI) preschool intervention and then followed…