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Trauma-Informed Practices and Resources

The Flexible Framework: The Flexible Framework was developed by the Trauma Learning and Policy Institute and is an organizational tool that enables schools and SD/SUs—in collaboration with families, local community organizations, and outside providers—to maintain a whole school focus as they create trauma sensitive schools. The Framework is organized according to six core operational functions of schools, each of which is critical to any effort that seeks to make school-wide changes.

Trauma Sensitive Schools: The Trauma Learning and Policy Institute promotes schools in becoming safe and supportive environments where students can develop positive relationships with adults and peers, develop strategies to stay regulated when distressed and gain confidence in their engagement in learning.

NEA Trauma Informed Practices: These practices focus on creating a safe school culture, the importance of building relationships and supporting students’ sense of self.  

Integrating a Trauma-Informed Approach Within a PBIS Framework: The purpose of this guide is to describe how district and school leaders can incorporate trauma-informed practices within a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework. 

Neurosequential Classroom Design: Dr. Jim Walters has been an educator for over 30 years. In this brief video, he describes using Dr. Bruce Perry’s work on implementing the neurosequential sequence of engagement – Regulate, Relate and Reason.  

In the following videos, Bruce D. Perry, MD, PhD shares insights for educators that help support mental wellness and classroom success.

Reframing Classroom Discipline: Dr. Bruce Perry discusses why punitive, exclusionary and contingency-based disciplinary models in schools may be having the exact opposite effect they are intended to have on students. He reframes discipline in the context of the neurobiology of distress and reward, and proposes alternatives for educators and administrators.

Building a Connected Classroom: Dr. Bruce Perry discussed the brain science behind the power of human connection, interaction, world views and proximity in a way that can be put to use in the learning environment.

Creating an Inclusive Classroom: Dr. Perry provides insight into the brain science and history behind implicit bias and why this normal human trait is a double-edged sword in educational settings and how teachers can reduce its negative impacts on a day-to-day basis.

PBS Learning Media Trauma Resources for Educators has a collection of videos on various topics related to the impact trauma has on students’ capacity to engage in learning.  

Trauma-Informed Approach in School provides 6 elements that can be applied to day to day teaching strategies.  

Trauma-Aligned Classroom Practices Crosswalk was developed by the Midwest PBIS Center and provides information on common universal strategies and how they align with Trauma-responsive practices.

Trauma-Responsive Core Concepts is an amalgamation of concepts developed from experts in the field of developmental trauma.These concepts are easily applied to classroom and school-wide settings.