Many students come to school having experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s). These experiences include abuse of all forms as well as domestic violence, mentally ill caregivers, homelessness, and other family stressors.
Schools are beginning to understand that they must be aware of and sensitive to the ACE’s that children bring into the classroom. These “outside of school experiences” deeply impact a child’s ability to both function and learn within the school environment. It is critically important that school personnel work holistically with children and families by asking questions about what is going on within the family structure and community and then providing support both in and out of the classroom. This begins with restructuring and support from the “top down” in school districts with everyone committed to the process.
For more information about Trauma Sensitive Schools visit http://traumasensitiveschools.org/ and http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-ellen-stevens/trauma-sensitive-schools_b_1625924.html
