After a successful partnership between the Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma and Thriving Minds during the 2021-22 academic year, the Center has expanded opportunities for Massachusetts schools and districts to learn about trauma-informed practices through coaching and learning cohorts and a professional development course. For CCWT’s second year partnering with Thriving Minds, 37 participants were selected from school districts and schools statewide.
Coaching Cohort for teams
Teams from districts or schools are paired with an experienced coach who meets with them at least monthly between January and June to guide their steps toward implementing trauma-informed practices and promoting change with buy-in from leadership.
Each team sets its objectives based on an action planning template that asks members to think through the components of a systemic approach to trauma-responsive practices (i.e.,…
Six teams have been selected to learn about trauma and resilience to develop trauma-responsive community initiatives that promote safety, transparency, and trust; empowerment and choice; equity and cultural affirmation; and healthy relationships and interactions.
We are proud to introduce our 2023 CART cohort:
Handle With Care (HWC) Responders: North Central & North Quabbin Region
Bridge Builders: Pathways to Healing Through the Arts, Springfield
For many, the holiday season is a joyful one – the popular song “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” comes to mind – but for children who have or are experiencing trauma, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Eve, and other celebrations represent a season of emotional pain.
The barrage of festive sights, sounds, and smells meant to evoke magic and merriment can prompt anxiety, loneliness, and grief in children. And the social pressure and messaging focused on happy family time can be a source of distress for them, either because they may have lost one or more caregivers, or family members have caused them trauma.
Understanding how the holiday season can surface some of these emotions and integrating this knowledge in trauma-informed and responsive practices can help child-serving organizations and professionals support children and families for whom this time of the year evokes difficult memories and feelings.…
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, a time to understand the prevalence of domestic violence in our communities and take action to reduce its harmful effects on victims, including children who are often witnesses to its ferocity.
On average, 20 people are physically abused by intimate partners every minute, according to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, with millions of children exposed to domestic violence every year, no matter their family’s socio-economic status, nationality or religion. As witnesses, children can experience trauma that can negatively impact their emotional wellbeing, social and academic experiences and, potentially, the course of their lives.
The Center on Child Wellbeing & Trauma offers guidance to adults working with children and youth on how to offer trauma-informed and responsive (TIR) care in all aspects of their day-to-day practices, including helping professionals address the effects of domestic violence on children and families.…
A child’s exposure to traumatic events can cause a lifelong impact. Research shows that four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) can lead to a higher risk of developing health and behavioral challenges when the child becomes an adult. These include mental illness, chronic disease, and high-risk behaviors.
The topic of ACEs and brain development has been thoroughly studied. The brain is an ever-changing structure. Its development can thrive or deteriorate depending on the environment a child lives in. Chronically unstable environments can lead to lifelong effects from early childhood adversity and toxic stress.
Fortunately, there is a powerful way to counteract the effects of ACEs on kids. Children exposed to positive childhood experiences (PCEs) enjoy healthier outcomes. Stable, supportive adults are the key to these positive experiences.…
By the age of 16, more than two-thirds of children report having experienced a traumatic event. You can’t prevent these experiences from occurring for the children that you work with. But there are things you can do to support them in meaningful ways.
Learning how to avoid retraumatization is critical. It benefits the child and the other children and providers interacting with them. Being observant of particular behaviors may help you identify when you’re working with a child who is dealing with the effects of traumatic experiences. However, there will also be children who don’t show obvious signs of trauma. Using trauma-informed practices will help you avoid triggering these children. Retraumatizing a child may cause them emotional turmoil. In this state, it can be difficult for them to self-regulate.…
As summer winds down, families are starting to get their kids ready for back-to-school preparations. Unfortunately, part of that preparation includes having some difficult conversations. The last few years have been packed with challenges that have directly impacted children and the schools they will return to.
Topics like gun violence, racial inequality, and global pandemics are immense. In today’s world, families have to learn how to discuss them with school-age children. It’s difficult for adults to navigate these emotionally charged and traumatic subjects. Expecting a child to be able to do so is additionally challenging.
Organizations that work with children and families can start by being aware of, and sensitive to, the effects that going back to school has on kids during these trying times. …
As an organization that supports children who have experienced trauma, it’s important to remember that every child’s experience is different. Those in the LGBTQ community need your help more than ever to overcome LGBTQ trauma.
June is a time when we celebrate the LGBTQ community. But Pride Month doesn’t end on July 1st. We need to support our children all year. Rainbow flags and pride shirts are a great way to send a message to LGBTQ children that they are supported. But the issues facing LGBTQ youth are staggering. Homelessness, being disowned by their families, substance use, bullying, religious groups trying to “pray the gay away,” and a general feeling that they don’t belong.
There are programs out there for LGBTQ youth.…
