ABSTRACT
This chapter provides the strategies to help educators see beyond the trauma while still supporting the students' continued growth. Beginning the healing process at home is essential, but thriving within the school environment is also crucial. Helping the educational environment become trauma-informed or trauma-sensitive means consideration within the system is given to the impact traumatic events have on students and families. Consistent with Hodas's work, creating understanding through educating school personnel, utilizing evidence-based practices rooted in a strengths approach, and developing systems and structures that promote safe learning environments were all identified as necessary in the trauma-informed school. Six critical recommendations for ways schools can support the health and development of students are provided, including: When looked at more closely, each of the recommendations aligns with the best practices for developing trauma-informed systems and compassionate schools. The model further defines the need to understand self-directed and person-centered approaches to trauma treatment that are strengths-oriented and collaborative.
