This course will support you in understanding: (1) what trauma is and the neuroscience behind understanding the dysregulated behaviors presented by students who have experienced trauma; (2) a framework for the strategies that transform schools and classrooms into contexts that promote post-traumatic growth; (3) evidence-based benefits for investing in ensuring that your pedagogical practices are trauma responsive; and (4) quick start universal precaution practices.

Meeting students mental health needs is an all staff effort, and security staff are often called upon to respond to students who are exhibiting behavioral dysregulation. This course will build the capacity of security staff to (1) understand how psychological and emotional distress can show up as acting-out and escalating behaviors, (2) de-escalation strategies that are responsive to the needs of students coping with trauma, and (3) strategies for getting beyond surface behaviors to understand and support students who are feeling anxious, agitated, and defensive. 

This course with companion student and staff assessment and activities manual will prepare you with (1) the knowledge and awareness of trauma and how it shows up in student behaviors; (2) a range of practices and planning materials to support students coping with grief and loss, and high level of anxiety and distress; (3) a range of student assessments and activities to foster their well-being; and (4) a series of staff assessments and self-care activities to foster your well-being. 

The challenge is the scarcity of meeting and planning time relative to the number of students who need planned support. By creating an effective and efficient Behavior and Mental Health Team or strengthening a relevant existing team, schools can move from lurching from one student crisis to the next, to having protected meeting time to think and plan proactively for interventions that go beyond minimizing harm and instead promote positive development. This course shares what we learned from helping schools create highly effective teams that coordinate a school’s tiers of supports. Available July 2022.

This course addresses the needs identified by school nurses who report that they are often called in to respond to student mental health challenges. The National Association of School Psychologists estimates that the COVID-19 pandemic will result in an overall doubling or tripling of students experiencing psychological distress that can undermine their success in the classroom. With targeted professional development school nurses can play a pivotal role in meeting students’ increasing need for social, emotional, and mental health support.