Climate change is a well-documented challenge for human societies where human actions have spurred global warming leading to climate breakdown. Ecological disasters are already affecting the mental health of many people, and this is escalating. By painting elephants, I address "ambiguous" loss and demonstrate the power of art therapy to…

Many professionals, especially social workers, work with individuals who have a history of or are experiencing trauma. If students understand the trauma their clients have experienced, they are better suited to meet the individual where they are and help them work towards their goals. Social work professors must prepare their students by…

The goal of this qualitative study was to explore students' perceptions of trauma following the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their perceptions of trauma-sensitive practices that are in place at their school to promote resilience and family engagement. The researcher sought to understand what ways, if any, students felt the pandemic contributed…

Background: There has been extensive research into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), however, less consideration has been given to the prevalence and impact of ACEs for staff working with people with intellectual disabilities. Method: Participants were staff employed by agencies that care for people with intellectual disabilities. An online…

This dissertation delves into the unique experiences of contemporary polygamist women pursuing higher education, exploring the intersectionality of their cultural backgrounds, educational aspirations, and the challenges they encounter within academic settings. The study critically examines the applicability of equity-centered, trauma-informed…

Background: The scientific literature addresses the portrayal of unaccompanied migrant children and young people from different perspectives. Some works suggest that this population face challenges and risks upon arrival, such as problems communicating in a new language, a lack of cultural competence, economic stress, and other contingent, legal,…

The purpose of this paper is to present a reading of child protection and welfare practice in the recent COVID-19 pandemic, with reference to several popular concepts in social work. The focus is on the relevance of these concepts to the contemporary circumstances in which child protection and welfare social workers often now find themselves. The…

Today's classrooms call for a delicate balance of policy and practice. Early childhood educators are tasked with developing the social, emotional, and academic wellbeing of the children they serve, while also following school, district, and government expectations. Many teachers struggle to effectively teach academic content, given their students'…

In the wake of collective trauma and tragedy, artists may be called upon as "second responders" to facilitate healing and grief for a community. In this article, we explain the artists-as-second-responders discourse, including the messaging of artists feeling useful, art as diversion, and art as healing. Then, using an example of…

Stress in adult learners is a neglected topic, despite practitioners observing that their adult learners often display psychological discomfort. We address the effects psychological stress has on learning, then define the constructs of stress, trauma, resilience, and psychological distress. Twenty-three adult learners reading at elementary levels…

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders served in alternative educational settings (e.g., residential treatment facilities) have been exposed to traumatic events at higher rates compared to their peers. Due to the significance of the need for connection with safe, healthy adults, in healing from past traumatic experiences and developing…

By now, members of state boards of education will have heard the dire statistics about the rise in students' mental health struggles, which were exacerbated by exposure to added traumatic events during the pandemic. When they are prepared to do so, educators play an important role in helping these students. In this article, the authors discuss how…

For children facing adversity, described in this study as developmental trauma, there is evidence for an increase in high-risk behaviors, diseases, and disabilities. Positive relationships between adults and children have shown to be beneficial for children's development and can be crucial to their ability to succeed. Drawing on attachment,…

Developing accurate and equitable screening protocols can lead to more targeted, efficient, and effective, teen dating violence (TDV) prevention programming. Current TDV screening protocols perform poorly and are rarely implemented, but recent research and policy emphasizes the importance of leveraging more trauma-focused screening measures for…

The purpose of this study was to understand how middle school teachers cope with trauma. Case studies were employed with four middle school teachers. The findings from this study illuminated the unique experiences of rural middle school teachers. These findings highlight significant gaps in how teachers are supported and respond to stress and…