Trauma Smart Presents at 2024 Region 7 Annual Head Start Conference
On Wednesday, June 5th, Trauma Smart manager Jeannie Thurston presented "It Starts with Us: Adult Regulation, the Change Agent in Trauma-Informed Care" to attendees at the Region 7 Head Start Annual Conference 2024. Trauma Smart returned as presenters for the first time in person since COVID to an audience that exceeded the session's registration capacity. The session covered the importance of caregivers being able to recognize their own needs and cues so they can accurately and effectively meet the needs of others.
Dr. Walter Speaks to the Trauma Smart Team
The Trauma Smart team engaged in a Q&A with Elizabeth Walter, Ed.D, from Rockhurst University. In addition to a long standing partnership with Crittenton and the school of Nursing, Rockhurst University has been an advocate for exposing future educators to the necessity of trauma-informed care. Dr. Walter shared her thoughts on the importance of trauma-informed care in schools along with some of the current challenges teaching staff are encountering from the perspective of an experienced educator and one who is preparing new teachers to enter the field. Thank you to the Diastole Scholars' Center for hosting our team during this event.
Trauma Smart trains Nelson-Atkins Art Museum teaching staff
On May 15th, Trauma Smart® provided an overview of trauma-informed care to the Nelson-Atkins Art Musuem teaching staff. The training focused on integrating trauma-informed practices into art education and provided guidance on how to utilize the Social-Emotional learning tools that Trauma Smart® and Nelson-Atkins Art Museum developed together.
Trauma Smart attends the MOCTN Summit
On April 24th and 25th, Trauma Smart served as a sponsor for the Missouri Children's Trauma Summit. Our staff hosted a vendor table where attendees were invited to learn more about Trauma Smart services and practice self-care. Team members also attended workshops for their own professional development from other specialists in the field.
Trauma Smart presents at Conference of the Young Years
Trauma Smart team members had the opportunity to participate in the Conference of the Young Years, sponsored by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Trauma Smart Director LeAnn Keck and managers Andrew Penner and Jeannie Thurston were in attendance. Jeannie presented sessions on how to keep a trauma-informed focus in leadership and the importance of adult regulation in support roles.
Lee’s Summit School District supports their families at the Student Wellbeing Summit: Parent & Guardian Night
On March 27th, LSR7 held their first Student Wellbeing Summit for families to share information, increase awareness, and provide tools to help navigate issues and topics facing today's youth. Trauma Smart team members were excited to support our partners by hosting a vendor table in the resource fair. Team members connected with families to increase awareness on the impact of trauma, connect families to needed community resources, and provide education and tools related to self-care to caregivers in attendance.
Nelson-Atkins Art Museum and Trauma Smart Partnership
Nelson-Atkins Art Museum collaborated with Trauma Smart® to develop Social-Emotional learning tools using art pieces from the museum to strengthen children’s abilities to identify and express feelings. On February 8th, Nelson-Atkins educators and Trauma Smart® facilitated a workshop for local school personnel to introduce the tools and the importance of being trauma-informed when utilizing them with students.
LPS53 provides Trauma-Informed Care 101 at District PD Day
On February 16th Trauma Smart was invited to support the professional development of staff in the Liberty Public School District. Trauma Smart Manager, Jeannie Thurston, facilitated 2 sessions on Trauma-Informed Care 101 to an audience of staff in a variety of roles. The workshop covered a brief overview of recognizing the importance of understanding trauma, it's impact on staff and students, and strategies to support individuals and organizations.
United Way Announces New Community Impact 100 Partners
United Way of Greater Kansas City announced the selection of this year's Impact 100 partners, and Crittenton Children's Center was included. This annual list is comprised of the hundred most vital health and human service organizations that United Way will invest and partner with to bring real-time solutions to our community.
The full list of selected organizations can be found here.
Trauma Smart participates in Leadership EDIT Summit 2023
Team members provided Trauma Smart resources and information at the Leadership EDIT 2023 Conference to support its goal of creating a cohort of building and district leadership who are focused on creating equitable and trauma-informed systems.
How do we keep “trauma-informed” the focus of leadership?
Original Source: Missouri Children's Trauma Network
Our team member Jeanie Thurston presented at the 2023 Missouri Children's Trauma Network Training Summit on how to maintain a trauma informed focus as leaders. One way to keep that focus is to model a trauma-informed approach in their interactions with all staff. A trauma-informed approach considers not only the impact of trauma for individuals served, but also the lives of staff. Using a trauma-informed approach in the work environment may lead to an increase of skills and resiliency with staff.
Read MoreTrauma Smart program supports youth who’ve experienced adversity.
Original Source: Robin LaBarbera
Recent research published in the journal Psychological Trauma about the intervention Trauma Smart points to the effectiveness of the training school staff in trauma-informed approaches. Data from the evaluation indicated that participants were satisfied with the training, they scored higher on the knowledge assessments, and staff attitudes became more favorable to trauma-informed approaches from before to after implementing the training program.
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