REL West has partnered with the California School-Based Health Alliance (CSHA) and others to offer events and learning opportunities that address the impacts of trauma on student development and communities and offer solutions for addressing trauma and building individual and community resilience.
The videos and related resources on this page share practical, evidence-based strategies for educators, health and mental health practitioners, and other social services providers to effectively address trauma and build the positive relationships and systems of support necessary to foster resilience.
Fostering Student Resilience
Six Strategies to Promote Student Resilience
This video presents highlights from a keynote presentation at a 2019 event on trauma, resilience, and the power of positive relationships. In it, Dr. Flojaune Cofer, an epidemiologist and the Senior Director of Policy at Public Health Advocates, describes key actions in six areas that adults can use to address youth trauma and promote resilience.
Trauma, Resilience, and Cross-Sector Approaches to Supporting Kids
Drawing on research into adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their impacts on student health and learning, these slides from the opening keynote presentation by Mary Donnelly-Crocker of Young and Healthy Pasadena at a 2018 event share the basics of how trauma affects individuals and communities and how to build resilience through cross-sector partnerships.
Postvention is Prevention: Considerations for Responding to Youth Suicide
This video shares highlights from the keynote presentation at a 2021 event on understanding youth suicide and effective prevention, intervention, and postvention strategies. Stan Collins, an expert in suicide prevention, shares strategies for postvention and emphasizes the importance of planning for school- and community-wide responses before such an event occurs.
Supporting the Social and Emotional Needs of Educators and Students
This three-part webinar series, hosted by REL West, the Region 15 Comprehensive Center, and the National Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety, discussed how schools and districts can support the social and emotional needs of educators and students during the pandemic and as we emerge from the public health crisis.
Webinar 1: Strategies for Districts to Support Self-Care for Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presenters shared practical information and guidance backed by research to help school staff cope with the stresses of school closures, service provision, and quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They defined the concept of self-care and discussed its importance for educators to address their own needs, so they are better able to support the needs of students and their school community.
Webinar 2: Strategies for Educators to Support the Social and Emotional Needs of Students Impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Demand for Racial Justice: Plans for Reopening Schools
Panelists shared evidence-based information about social and emotional competencies that educators can use to rebuild conditions of success for students. Using a trauma-informed lens, strategies addressed creating safe and supportive school environments, promoting family and community communication and collaboration, and fostering collective care.
Webinar 3: Seizing the Moment: Race Equity Mindsets, Social and Emotional Well-Being, and Outcomes for Students
This webinar and panel discussion addressed the interrelationships among race equity mindsets, social and emotional well-being, and outcomes for Black, Latinx, and other students of color. Presenters shared evidence on why equity in schools is key to improving student outcomes and discussed how educators can shift mindsets to support positive student social and emotional development and build equitable education systems.
Addressing Trauma
Trauma-Informed Strategies for Building Relationships with Students
In excerpts from his keynote presentation at a 2019 event on trauma and resilience, Dr. Sam Himelstein, a licensed psychologist, public speaker, and author who specializes in working with adolescents, shares four research-based skills for building relationships with children and youth that promote healing from trauma. A key takeaway is that effective relationship-building skills can be developed with intention and practice.
Now You See Us: Youth Helping Adults to Better Understand Youth Behaviors
A session led by youth at a 2018 event on mental health and resilience aimed to help educators and health care providers better understand youth behaviors. This video features an interview with the youth facilitators of the workshop “Now You See Us” and presents information about ways for adults to provide youth-friendly services.
The Importance of Trauma-Informed Practices
Two national experts in trauma and resilience, Dr. Leora Wolf-Prusan and Dr. Martha Merchant, discuss why trauma-informed practices are important for students and schools and share ideas for educators to strengthen the culture of youth-serving organizations and better support struggling students.
Voices from the Field: Trauma-Informed Approaches
Dr. Martha Merchant, a national expert in trauma and resilience and keynote presenter at a 2017 event on trauma and resilience, discusses how trauma affects student learning, behavior, health, and development. She explains that adults who understand these patterns can prevent further escalation, both for their students and for themselves.
Addressing the Effects of Trauma in Schools
This webinar series addressed the effects of trauma on brain development, approaches and frameworks to foster positive youth engagement, and the importance of supporting youth-serving adults to sustain this important work.
Webinar 1: Trauma and Resilience 101
This webinar introduced the concepts of trauma and resilience and how research on brain science can help foster personalized learning environments and shape student support practices and policies.
Webinar 2: Fostering Positive Youth Development and Leadership
Presenters discussed how school systems and services can engage young people to improve their experiences of school climate and wellness. They shared frameworks for positive youth development and discussed implementation of youth participation programs in schools and community-based organizations.
Webinar 3: Self and Collective Care of Youth-Serving Adults
This webinar addressed the need for supporting the social and emotional needs of youth-serving adults and for creating cultures that care for youth and the adults that work with them.
What Does Trauma-Informed Practice Look Like in Schools?
In this panel discussion from a 2016 event on supporting student resilience in trauma-sensitive schools, district student services staff and counselors share various approaches to supporting students who have experienced trauma. They address key challenges in their districts, the programs and services that have been recently implemented, and the successes that these programs have seen.
This product was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0012 by Regional Educational Laboratory West. The content does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of IES or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.