Imagine a world where no child has experienced a traumatic event. In this world, students experience behavioral and emotional security, teachers manage classrooms free from the toll that trauma takes on their students, and society is free from the burden that trauma poses on the psychological and physical health of our nation. An ideal world has no place for trauma. Unfortunately, in the world we currently inhabit, many young people experience life-altering tragedies, personally or through secondary exposure.
Thus, in an attempt to build our best possible reality, we must both prevent youth from experiencing trauma—whether individual or systemic—and heal those who have experienced traumatic events. Moreover, this document draws the connection between the experiences of trauma and student behavior in educational settings and considers the possibilities of a trauma-informed approach. In particular, this report furthers the dialogue.
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