Overview
We are, each of us, more than the traumatic events that have happened to us. Being trauma-sensitive in our environments, and our relationships, is about acknowledging the experiences of the children, youth, and adults in our communities, and then creating the conditions in which they can heal and thrive.”
– Natalie Walrond, WestEd
The enduring impacts of childhood trauma are widespread. Many educators and other child- and youth-serving professionals—from early childhood through young adulthood—see the effects of trauma in their environments every day.
Knowledge, skills, and services are required to help boost resilience, promote well-being, and mitigate the impacts of trauma for children nationwide.
Trauma-Informed Practice & Resilience at WestEd works to ensure all children thrive by supporting child- and youth-serving systems in these ways:
- Ensuring adults recognize trauma and have effective tools and strategies to serve children who are experiencing trauma and its effects
- Encouraging self- and collective care so that the work is sustainable
- Promoting trauma-informed leadership, policies, practices, norms, and environments
Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety
Extending our reach and impact in this area of work, WestEd leads the national Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety (SEL Center). The Sel Center believes that when all children are educated in places of equity, safety, and learning, and when they receive the integrated academic, social, and emotional supports that meet their individual needs, then they can achieve their greatest potential in K-12 education, as well as in college, career, and life.
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Guiding Principles
WestEd delivers solutions to help integrate trauma-informed practices with other whole-child initiatives, such as social and emotional learning approaches, restorative practice approaches, and school climate and culture efforts.
We are guided in this work by the WestEd mission, vision, and values. We also strengthen our work with you in accordance with the following principles.
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Equity
We will seek to strengthen children, families, and communities, especially those who have been underserved.
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Courage
We will be data-driven in our work, think creatively and expansively, try new approaches, and share important evidence-based findings.
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Collaboration
We will collaborate across sectors and disciplines. We will work to surmount the barriers and obstacles between us.
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Asset-Based
We will value the individuals, families, and communities we serve and the expertise they bring to this work.
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Sustainability
To promote equity and build capacity, we will support individuals, organizations, and communities in leading and sustaining their own work.
News & Events
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Supporting Students at a Distance: A Discussion with Two Rural School Psychologists on Challenges and Opportunities During the COVID-19 Pandemic
COVID Resources / January 20, 2021
REL West staff spoke with school psychologists in rural California school districts to learn about how they adapted their services in the absence of in-person interactions. -
Trauma-Informed Education: Designing a System That Promotes Healing, Part Two
Trauma-Informed Practices / January 11, 2021
District and school leaders enhance the healing capacity of education systems by providing the policy incentives and supporting resources that teachers and other child-serving professionals need. -
Trauma-Informed Education: Designing a System That Promotes Healing, Part One
Featured Initiatives / December 1, 2020
Having a supportive school culture and climate is critical in the development, implementation, and sustainability of trauma-healing systems. -
School Social Work in the Time of COVID-19: When Human-Centered Work Moved Online
COVID Resources / August 26, 2020
"School social workers are agile and have a strengths-based orientation.... We meet students where they’re at, and they’re stepping up with resilience and connecting with us."
Resources
Videos
- Creating coherence around safe and supportive environments through SEL, trauma informed practices, and restorative practices alignment
- Understanding School Mental Health Practices and Trauma Informed Approaches: A Central Valley Convening
Websites
Research & Best Practices
Articles
Webinars
- Mapping a Path Forward: Cross-Sector Approaches to Strengthen Community & Individual Resilience (PDF)
- 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
- Strategies for Districts to Support Self-Care for Educators During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Services
WestEd brings deep experience and understanding to provide support for children, youth, and families, especially those who have experienced poverty, homelessness, foster care, immigration, physical or sexual assault, learning or developmental challenges, and racial or gender discrimination.
Our service focus, designed around your needs, includes the following solutions.
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Professional Learning
WestEd delivers in-person, virtual, and hybrid training and coaching. Our work supports a range of customizable formats, including support for Train-the-Trainer (TTT) and/or coaching models, Communities of Practice/Professional Learning Communities, and support for creation of credit-bearing courses.
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Systems Building
Our work includes support for workgroup/steering committee facilitation, strategic planning, meeting facilitation, and systems design including cross-sector convening and collective action facilitation.
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Research & Evaluation
WestEd partners with child- and youth-serving organizations to design experimental and quasi-experimental studies and program and economic evaluations.
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Finance & Policy
Our expertise includes identifying creative financing strategies, conducting policy reviews, and other related activities.
Impact
WestEd improved the confidence of our teaching and support staff in implementing trauma-responsive practices. The training was supportive of participants and gave them strategies to build a trauma-responsive classroom to support all children and families.” – Cheryl Horney, M.A., Child Development Program Director
This [TIP-ECE] training exceeded our expectations and we look forward to bringing additional trainings to our community. – Tammy Burns, Manager, Early Childhood Council of Kern Bakersfield, CA
[Our training] has provided staff with the tools necessary to work with the populations we serve on a daily basis, and at the same time trained staff on how to recognize their own triggers and take care of themselves in the process. – Stacy Barnett, Child Development & Shelter Services Manager, Alliance Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault, Bakersfied, CA
Team
Our team is comprised of leaders from education, health, mental health, and other professions who are highly skilled bringing evidence-based and promising approaches to clients working directly with trauma-impacted children.
BethAnn BerlinerBethAnn Berliner is a Senior Researcher and Project Director with more than two decades of research and technical assistance experience working across sectors to improve the academic and health outcomes of preK–12 students.View Full Bio
Jenny BetzJenny Betz is a School Climate Specialist in WestEd’s Health & Justice Program, providing coaching, training, and technical assistance with an emphasis on school climate and culture, trauma-informed practices and systems, equity, stakeholder engagement, youth leadership, bias-based bullying, and sustainability.View Full Bio
Erin BrowderErin is a member of WestEd’s Health & Justice Program. She provides technical assistance for K–12 initiatives relating to trauma-informed topics, school transformation, leadership development, social-emotional learning, effective collaboration, and building safe and supportive school climates.
Cecelia DodgeCecelia Dodge is a Project Director with more than 25 years’ experience as a leader in special education. She works with school districts and state agencies to build fruitful relationships with stakeholders and to improve system and student outcomes.View Full Bio
Karen Moran FinelloKaren Moran Finello, PhD, is an applied developmental psychologist with a specialization in birth to five-year-olds and their families and works as Project Director in WestEd’s Center for Prevention & Early Intervention.View Full Bio
Christina PateChristina Pate is a Senior Associate and Project Director with 15 years of experience in education, public health, wellness services, and service systems.View Full Bio
Natalie RomerNatalie Romer is involved in state and district capacity building to implement multi-tiered systems of social, emotional, and behavioral supports. Romer has over 15 years of experience working to improve outcomes for youth and families across youth-serving systems.
Natalie WalrondNatalie Walrond serves as director of the national Center to Improve Social & Emotional Learning and School Safety housed at WestEd. In this role, she currently develops WestEd’s projects that invite partnership across social sectors (such as health, justice, and child welfare) to strengthen children, families, and communities.View Full Bio