Trauma Informed Futures Blog - Education and Free Resources
Educator Guide Rachel Levy Educator Guide Rachel Levy

Free Educator Guide: Creating and Facilitating Peer-to-Peer Support Groups in Secondary Schools

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. Peer-to-peer support groups offer a structured and safe environment where students can connect with others facing similar experiences. These groups provide an essential outlet for sharing, understanding, and supporting one another, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: Trauma-Informed Scavenger Hunts for Educators

It's never too early to introduce the foundation of trauma-informed practices, and doing so can set a positive tone for the school year. At Resilient Futures, we've created a set of three versatile Scavenger Hunt games designed for early childhood and elementary school educators. These games are not only fun but also essential tools for introducing trauma-informed practices in the classroom.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Why Trauma-Informed Practices Matter in Higher Education

College students across America face a myriad of challenges that can trigger stress, anxiety, and traumatic experiences. Away from the familiar comforts of home, these young adults rely on their college community for support and guidance. Professors, advisors, and other school employees frequently assume the role of caregivers, becoming the critical support system for students in distress. In such an environment, it is imperative for higher education institutions to adopt trauma-informed practices.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: SEL & Emotional Literacy: Teaching Emotions and Body Sensations

One foundational aspect of emotional intelligence is the ability to name and identify feelings—both mental emotions and those that arise as body sensations. Understanding and normalizing emotions, and being able to articulate them, is essential for healthy development. This free downloadable will help beginners understand these concepts through tools, activities, and reflections.

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Tom Felgar Tom Felgar

Best Practices: What Is Trauma-Informed Education

Trauma-informed education creates safe, supportive classrooms by recognizing trauma's impact on learning. Learn how it equips educators with tools to help students overcome trauma and succeed academically.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Racial Trauma: What You Should Know

This infographic delves into the pervasive impact of racial trauma, illustrating how discriminatory experiences and systemic racism shape the lives of children, hinder their development, and perpetuate cycles of adversity well into their adult years. By understanding these far-reaching consequences, we can better advocate for policies and practices that promote healing and equity.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Racial Trauma and Systemic Racism in U.S. Schools: The Need for Race-Based Equity Services and Trauma-Informed Trainings

Racial trauma and systemic racism are pervasive issues in U.S. schools, affecting both students and educators. Racial trauma refers to the emotional and psychological distress experienced by individuals due to encounters with racism, discrimination, and microaggressions. Here we discuss the critical nature of Race-Based Equity Services and Racial Healing practices for BIPOC educators and youth-serving professionals.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Building Trauma-Informed Teams in Schools

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the profound impact of trauma on students' academic performance, behavior, and overall well-being. Addressing trauma within school communities is not just a matter of empathy; it's an educational imperative. By building teams of trauma-informed experts within schools, we can create environments that support the holistic needs of students, teachers, and staff alike, ultimately fostering a culture of healing and growth.

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Tom Felgar Tom Felgar

Transforming Public Education with Trauma Informed Schools

Trauma-informed schools recognize and address the impact of trauma on students. By training staff to understand trauma and offering trauma-informed frameworks & strategies, these schools foster safe and supportive learning and working environments for students and educators alike. This article will cover the core principles, practical steps for implementation, and benefits of adopting trauma-informed practices in schools.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Prioritizing Teacher Well-being: Nurturing the Backbone of Education

In the modern world of Education, teachers bear the weight of shaping future generations. But behind the classroom doors, a silent crisis continues to build - the well-being of educators remains alarmingly neglected. Prioritizing teacher well-being and self-care is not just a moral imperative but a necessity for the sustainability of the education system.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: Resilient Futures Mindfulness Breaks for the Classroom and beyond

Introducing Mindfulness Practices into the classroom environment is not just about fostering a moment of peace amidst the chaos; it's about equipping students and educators alike with powerful tools for navigating the complexities of modern education and beyond. Download our free Guide of Mindfulness Breaks in your classroom or community setting today.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

The Brain Science Behind Adverse Childhood Experiences

Childhood is a time of growth, learning, and exploration. However, for many children, this period may also be marked by adversity and trauma. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) encompass a range of stressful or traumatic events that can profoundly impact a child's development and well-being. Understanding the brain science behind childhood trauma is essential for recognizing its long-term effects and implementing trauma-informed practices in early childhood education settings.

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Megan Brennan Megan Brennan

Resilient Futures and MSU Denver on NBC 9 News

Dr. Rosemarie Allen is an ECE faculty member at MSU Denver with whom Resilient Futures has had a long-standing partnership. Colorado's Universal Pre-K program will soon have new ways to help students who have been through trauma. Watch Dr. Rosemarie Allen weigh in on the new mandate from the State Department of Early Childhood in her interview with NBC 9 News about trauma-informed training for Early Childhood Education teachers from Resilient Futures.

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Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Nurturing Resilience with Adolescents and Young Adults in Educational Settings

There is nuance and complexity in navigating adolescence and young adulthood, especially in educational environments where stressors extend beyond academics. There is critical importance in recognizing and addressing trauma responses in students, highlighting the prevalence of toxic stress and its impact on cognitive functioning and overall well-being.

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Megan Brennan Megan Brennan

Why Trauma-Informed Practices Aid in Building Sustainable Communities

In today's educational and youth-serving communities, adopting trauma-informed practices, guided by the 4 R's framework—Relate, Reflect, Renew, and Restore—is paramount for sustainability and resilience. These practices prioritize safe, nurturing environments, acknowledging and addressing trauma's impact. By teaching children emotional recognition and connection-building with trusted adults, while challenging systemic inequities, trauma-informed approaches shape lifelong resilience and empower individuals to foster inclusive, equitable communities.

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Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers

An Educational Book Series from Resilient Futures

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches

[July 2022] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series Contemporary Perspectives on Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers provides reflections, examples, and implementation guidance for the innovative and important ways educators develop and implement trauma-informed practices across their programs, instituting broader curricular shifts to incorporate trauma-informed practices.

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms That Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches: Research Findings From the Field

[January 2023] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series was driven by a deep desire to ensure that teacher candidates are thoughtfully prepared to more fully address students’ needs and create classroom environments that are safe for students and teachers.

Childhood Trauma:

An event(s) that a child finds overwhelmingly distressing or emotionally painful, often resulting in lasting mental and physical effects.

Many think of trauma as a single life-changing event, but more commonly trauma manifests as a series of events or patterns of abusive or neglectful behaviors that compound over time.

Understanding Childhood Trauma

In the Press

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