Interest in trauma-informed approaches in schools is high throughout the US, UK, Australia, Canada and other countries, but the empirical evidence on whole-school responses to trauma is limited. This conceptual and theoretical review explores relevant literature; outlines existing conceptual models for trauma-informed organisations, including…

A unique partnership between art therapists and legislative advocates afforded an opportunity to combine their skills for micro-level (psychosocial) and macro-level (social policy) change in pursuit of gun control reform. In a two-day retreat for gun violence survivors rooted in an arts-based narrative engagement, the art therapists aided the…

When facilitating group art therapy for young adult male inmates in prison, response art helped an art therapist to build therapeutic bonds and maintain self-care. Both artmaking in-session and post-session enabled the art therapist to traverse relational distance, nurture trust, and create social bonds in the group. By reflecting on her response…

Trauma is a prevalent condition that impacts individuals, groups, and populations. Trauma informed care (TIC) is a strengths-based approach that was developed to address the pervasiveness of trauma and prevent re-traumatization. Occupational therapy practitioners are likely to encounter individuals and groups who have experienced trauma and need…

Neurodivergent children and children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are significantly over-represented in the school-excluded and youth justice populations both internationally and in the UK. Given the wealth of knowledge established about the 'school to prison pipeline', it is crucial that we understand why this…

Trauma-informed care in schools has been a relatively newly researched topic, albeit with limited focus on the efficacy of related practices from the perspective of those implementing them. Educators have been considered service providers with limited knowledge of trauma and trauma-informed care as their career education programs tend not to…

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…

Background: Individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities are vulnerable to potentially traumatic events and trauma sequelae. Despite ongoing advances surrounding trauma and intellectual/developmental disabilities, trauma-specific treatments are needed for people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. This study explores the…

Often, immigrants in the United States have suffered traumatic experiences in their home country, on their journey to the U.S., and/or in their process of acculturation. In English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, symptoms of trauma can interfere with learning and acculturation. Trauma-Informed teaching can meet the needs of…

Trauma-informed instruction helps create a safe and supportive environment where students can heal, learn, and thrive. This Spotlight will help readers implement teacher-approved trauma-informed strategies; learn about the role schools play in helping students heal from racial trauma; examine five tips to support students' mental health; assess…

Trauma is not a new term or concept, however, the integration of trauma-informed practices within the school setting has been a recent focus for many districts across the nation. School systems no longer focus solely on academics. Schools are charged with developing the academic, behavioral, and social-emotional competencies of students to help…

Shared trauma can contribute to anxiety, fear, sadness, and lack of engagement among learners leading to poor school attendance and diminished positive relationships. Therefore, it is incumbent on schools to design a supportive learning environment during experiences of shared trauma. The descriptive study presented illustrates a supportive…

Since schools are an ideal setting for students to receive mental health services, Mental Health Action Plans (MHAPs) were developed to define and detail the ways in which student mental health needs can be addressed at school. Similar to Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans, MHAPs are individualized plans, grounded in person-centered care…

A university was awarded a "Teacher Prep to Practice" grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Education for a project titled "Developing Culturally-Relevant Aspiring Teachers." The university collaborated with local school districts to host 2, 3-day "summer institute" professional development sessions, focusing on…

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can influence physical, cognitive and social development, impacting life outcomes including the child's capacity to learn and become socially integrated. While steady relations to reliable, understanding adults may enhance child resilience and mitigate long-term effects on well-being, the difficulties of…