The Intersection Webinar Recap: Duke Center for Child and Family Policy

Our thanks to Dr. Katie Rosanbalm, Senior Research Scientist at the Duke University, Center for Child and Family Policy for presenting on this week’s The Intersection: A Biweekly Education Policy Conversation. Katie joined us to share her breadth of knowledge as a clinical and quantitative child psychologist, on program implementation and evaluation of “trauma-informed” practices and training in school-based settings. She discussed how schools and districts are integrating “trauma-informed” practices to emphasize strengths-based perspectives for adults interacting with children who have experienced trauma or adversity. The webinar was an excellent primer for educators and leaders to begin a deep dive into how to go about implementation in their own schools for this important work that provides wide-reaching benefits.

Key Takeaways:

• Increased research and interest in Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma provide policymakers and schools with an opportunity to consider what policies, programs, and practices are most effective for students.
• To support students with trauma, it is critical that all school staff have an understanding of trauma, including ways in which trauma impacts brain development, overall health, attention, and social/emotional development. A trauma-informed view helps to identify students who need skills training and support.
• Students with trauma benefit from warm, responsive relationships, a structured environment, and skills instruction and coaching. In order to support students with trauma, schools should consider developing a team which leads the effort to determine how best to support students in their school and offer coaching and support to staff as they implement strategies.

For more on our conversation with Katie, please check out the full webinar below!

We hope you’ll join us for our next webinar on Wednesday, November 7th at 1pm (EST). We look forward to talking with Jessica Cardichon, Director of Federal Policy and Stephen Kostyo, Policy Advisor at the Learning Policy Institute. They will share with us their research from their latest report “Making ESSA’s Equity Promise Real,” which will provide strategies for state’s to help close opportunity gaps.

Stay tuned and follow us on Twitter for details on how to register.

See you at the Intersection,
The Hunt Team