Students at Huntertown Elementary School work around a table in 2019.

The Kentucky Department of Education released three guidance and resource documents on July 1 as part of a “Trauma-Informed Toolkit” to assist schools with their approach in helping students cope with trauma.
Photo by Megan Gross, March, 14, 2019

By Sky Carroll
sky.carroll@education.ky.gov

The Kentucky Department of Education released three guidance and resource documents on July 1 as part of a “Trauma-Informed Toolkit” to assist schools with their approach in helping students cope with trauma.

The guidance seeks to help schools and districts create teaching and learning environments that help mitigate the negative effects of trauma. It also encourages educators to seek to understand the unique and personal experiences of individual students to best serve and support those who have experienced trauma.

The first document, “Understanding Trauma and Traumatic Stress,” explains what trauma is and how it impacts students, as well as different types of trauma. It also provides resources on how to individually respond to and understand the trauma a student may be facing.

The second document, “What is a Trauma Informed School?” explains what it means to be a trauma-informed school or district and provides a multitude of resources for schools to provide safe and supportive learning environments that recognize the impacts trauma can have on learning.

The third document, “Trauma-Informed Teams,” provides resources and tips for schools to create trauma-informed teams that address any issues related to trauma. Schools must designate a trauma-informed team by July 1, 2021.

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