­Introduction

Trauma disrupts healthy development by interfering with a child's capacity to develop positive relationships with adults and peers, to learn and play, and to self-regulate their emotions, attention, and behavior. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study was a landmark research project that catapulted the discussion of trauma and trauma-informed practices into our national dialogue. The ACEs study found that the more ACEs an individual has in childhood, the more likely they are to experience disrupted brain development, which puts them at risk for social, emotional, and cognitive delays in childhood. Teachers' success in meeting the needs of children and families impacted by trauma is deeply influenced by the level of trauma-sensitivity of the programs, organizations, and systems they are working within. Trauma-informed care is an organizational structure and treatment framework that involves understanding, recognizing, and responding to the effects of all types of trauma. The chapter also presents an overview on the key concepts discussed in this book.