ERIC Number: EJ1200176
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Jun
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0164-775X
EISSN: N/A
Trauma-Informed Schools: Issues and Possible Benefits from a Recent California Lawsuit
Ahlers, Kaitlyn; Stanick, Cameo; Machek, Greg R.
Communique, v44 n8 p1, 24-25 Jun 2016
A recently filed lawsuit in Compton, California ("Peter P. et al. v. Compton Unified School District," 2015) has been making national news. The lawsuit highlights the prevalence of trauma exposure, particularly among underserved youth, as well as the need for school-wide, trauma-informed practices to enhance resiliency among students and staff. The plaintiffs in the case cite empirical literature (i.e., the Adverse Childhood Experiences [ACE] study; Felitti et al., 1998) regarding the neurobiological and psychological effects of trauma exposure on children, specifically complex trauma (i.e., multiple or chronic trauma experiences, typically involving the primary caregiving system/individuals; www.nctsn.org). Research on the effect of trauma on learning was prominently reviewed and cited in the lawsuit. In the current article, the authors will give background information on this potentially groundbreaking lawsuit and discuss how the complaint provides a call for best practices for working with traumatized students in school systems, as well as possible changes and challenges that could follow.
Descriptors: Court Litigation, Trauma, Physiology, Neurology, Biology, Environmental Influences, School Role, Student Needs, Resilience (Psychology), Mental Health, Positive Behavior Supports, Screening Tests, Teachers, Disabilities, Federal Legislation, Civil Rights Legislation, School Psychologists, Emotional Problems, Mental Disorders, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Educational Legislation, Equal Education
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Rehabilitation Act 1973 (Section 504); Americans with Disabilities Act 1990; Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A