Building Capacity for Trauma-Informed Schools to Increase School Safety

• In Event: Exploring the Individual, School and Community Level Factors and the Interactions between Them that Contribute to School Safety

Abstract

Schools across the country are rushing to scale up implementation of trauma-informed approaches as a way to create physically and psychologically safe environments for all students. However, as one veteran of the movement has pointed out, “If the staff aren’t ready, there’s no point in going in and trying to move a system” (Stevens, 2012). This quote illustrates the complexity inherent in the scale up to trauma-informed schools. Findings from the field of implementation science indicate that the early stages of implementation must build consensus for trauma-informed approaches and establish organizational capacity for and commitment to such approaches. Dr. Overstreet will describe the methods her team is using in their CSSI project, Trauma Informed Approaches to School Safety, to foster staff buy-in and organizational readiness, as well as the tools used to measure the impact of these methods and guide the implementation of trauma-informed approaches in schools.

Authors

• Stacy Overstreet, Tulane University

• Courtney Baker, Tulane University