Overview
The enduring impacts of childhood trauma are widespread. Many educators and other child- and youth-serving professionals 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 and youth who are experiencing trauma and its effects
- Encouraging awareness of the importance of staff self-care and wellness practices to improve the sustainability of trauma-informed practices
- Promoting trauma-informed leadership, policies, practices, norms, and environments
The vision of the national Center to Improve Social and Emotional Learning and School Safety is 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.
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
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.
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