Understanding Trauma

Trauma is an event or series of events that is experienced as physically or emotionally harmful or threatening. Common types include:

• Abuse (physical, emotional, sexual)
• Neglect
• Domestic violence
• Community violence
• Loss of a parent or caregiver
• Serious illness or injury
• Natural disasters
• Systemic oppression and racism

ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Research shows that as the number of ACEs increases, so does the risk for:

• Academic difficulties
• Behavioral problems
• Substance abuse
• Mental health disorders
• Physical health problems
• Involvement in the juvenile justice system

How Trauma Affects Students

Brain and Body

• Hypervigilance — Always scanning for threats (can look like attention problems)
• Dysregulation — Difficulty managing emotions (can look like defiance or aggression)
• Dissociation — Mentally "checking out" (can look like disengagement or laziness)
• Fight/flight/freeze — Automatic survival responses (can look like behavioral issues)

Reframing Behavior

Instead of asking "What's wrong with you?", ask "What happened to you?"

Creating a Trauma-Sensitive School

The Four R's (SAMHSA Framework)

1. Realize — Understand the impact of trauma
2. Recognize — Identify the signs of trauma in students
3. Respond — Apply trauma-informed principles in all interactions
4. Resist re-traumatization — Avoid practices that may trigger or re-traumatize

Practical Strategies

• Predictability and routine — Clear schedules, consistent expectations
• Safety and trust — Physical and emotional safety in every space
• Connection and relationships — Every student has at least one trusted adult
• Regulation support — Calm-down spaces, breathing exercises, sensory tools
• Empowerment and voice — Give students choices and agency
• Cultural responsiveness — Recognize and honor students' identities and experiences