Research suggests that approximately 25% of American children will experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. A child's reactions to trauma can interfere considerably with learning and/or behavior at school. Schools serve as a critical system of support for children who have experienced trauma. Administrators, teachers, and staff can help reduce the effects of trauma on children by recognizing trauma responses, accommodating and responding to traumatized students within the classroom, and referring children to outside professionals when necessary. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed tools and materials to help educators, school staff, and administrators understand and respond to the specific needs of traumatized children. In addition to the NCTSN resources highlighted below, School Personnel can learn more about creating trauma-informed schools in the Trauma-Informed Care section of this website.
Provides guidance on responding to disaster, violence, or terrorism events using the Psychological First Aid intervention.
Explores the importance of knowing the difference between appropriate and inappropriate school staff behavior with students.
Provides definitions of child traumatic stress and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and explains how symptoms can overlap, as well as summarizes some of the differences between the two.
Provides educators and school staff information on the challenges that occur when there is an allegation of educator abuse.
Helps educators and school staff recognize the signs and symptoms of complex trauma and offers recommendations on how to help students heal.
Focuses on understanding the intersection between cyberbullying and trauma.
Offers information on military children who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This tip sheet describes how military children dealing with trauma and grief responses may be feeling and what educators and school staff can do to help.
Offers school health professionals a quick resource for using the Core Actions of Psychological First Aid in response to an emergency event on school grounds.
Offers principals and administrators a quick resource for using the Core Actions of Psychological First Aid in response to an emergency event on school grounds.
Offers school support staff a quick resource for using the Core Actions of Psychological First Aid in response to an emergency event on school grounds.
Offers teachers a quick resource for using the Core Actions of Psychological First Aid in response to an emergency event on school grounds.
Offers teachers guidance on helping students after a mass violence event. This fact sheet describes common reactions students may have, how teachers and school staff can help, as well as engage in self-care after a mass violence event.