Supporting Healing-Centered Engagement in Rural Schools and Communities

• In Event: 81.033 - MTCC Roundtable Session 38
  In Roundtable Session: 81.033-11 - Promoting Caregiver and Child Well-Being Across Contexts

Abstract

Rural schools are critical institutions for children’s well-being in rural places as distance, transportation and fractured social service networks often effect access to community supports for mental and physical health. This study uses a qualitative case-study design to explore the potential of a school-based coaching model for enhancing rural school-community-family relationships as part of a school-based effort to address childhood adversity and trauma. Findings from a pilot program in one school suggest the potential of trauma-informed approaches to repair damaged family-school relationships in rural settings, as well as providing assistance to parents to gain access to needed formal and informal support systems. These findings are significant as there is currently few workable models for trauma-informed systems change in rural settings.

Authors

• Catharine Biddle, University of Maine

• Lyn Mikel Brown, Colby College

• Mark B. Tappan, Colby College

• Ashley Cirone

• Brittany Ray

• Sarah Strickland

• Laura Thomas