helping students bounce back from trauma: how to...
TRANSCRIPT
Helping Students Bounce Back from Trauma: How to Incorporate Resiliency Into a School-Based ProgramKIMBERLY FAULKNER-CAMACHO, SENIOR PROGRAM SPECIALIST
LAKEAH DICKERSON, SENIOR PROGRAMS SPECIALIST
TANISHA SAUNDERS, FOSTER-YOUTH ADVOCATE
Group Check In
How are you feeling today?
• 1- Excited• 2- Good• 3-Just ok• 4- Not in the mood• 5- Overwhelmed• 6- No Comment
1
2
3
4
5
6
Presentation ObjectivesParticipants will be able to:◦ Define resilience
◦ Understand how student labels impact resilience
◦ Identify protective factors of youth in foster care
◦ Identify ways to incorporate resilience into existing school programs
◦ Use superheroes to help students understand resilience
Trauma-Informed Resilience
How Trauma Impacts Student PerformanceDecreased reading ability
Lower GPA
Increased drop-out
More suspensions & expulsions
Reduced Concentration
Anger and Depression
Loss of interest in normal activities
Sleep disturbance, nightmares
Youth most affected by trauma
Court-Involved Youth
Students in Foster Care
Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Youth Living in Poverty
Youth Who Witnessed Domestic Violence
Victims of Child Abuse
Youth Living in Violent Neighborhoods
Defining ResilienceResilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. It means “bouncing back” from difficult experiences. -Jackie Gerstein, Ed.D.
Which words would you use to describe a resilient student?
The Power of Words
How would these titles make you feel about the work you do?
AT-RISK TEACHERS STRUGGLING ADMINISTRATORS
MIDDLE OF THE ROAD COUNSELORS
ESL EDUCATOR LOW-PERFORMING TEACHERS
PROBATIONARY STATUS EDUCATOR
Which students have the highest need of building resilience skills? Foster Youth
Probation Youth
Homeless Youth
At-Risk Students
Low-Income Students
English Learners
Low-Performing Students
ALL STUDENTS
The Road to Building Resilient Students Starts with Us
RESILIENCE
DEFEAT
Promoting Protective Factors for Foster Youth
Individual Level
Protective Factors for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Self-Regulation Skills- refer to a youth’s ability to manage or control emotions and behaviors
Relational Skills- refer to youth’s ability to form positive bonds and connections
Academic Skills-refer to school conduct, educational status, and educational attainment
Referenced from: Child Welfare Information Gateway https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/guide_fostercare.pdf
Incorporating Resilience Into School Programs
Mindfulness
Restorative Practices
Mentor Programs
Peer Mediation Program
Counselor Connectedness
Involvement in School Clubs
Connections Upon Enrollment
Identifying Strengths & Talents
Culturally Responsive Programs
Relationship Level
Protective Factors for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Parenting Competencies- include specific skills such as supervising and disciplining children and relational factors that promote bonds between children and parents
Caring Adults- mentors, advocates, teachers, or other adults (usually non-family members)
Living with Family Members-Research indicate that children living in kinship care tend to do better.
Referenced from: Child Welfare Information Gateway https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/guide_fostercare.pdf
Incorporating Resilience Into School ProgramsFamily Engagement Activities (Ex. Dreams & Fears Night)
PIQUE Program
2x10 Activity
Teachers & Counselors as Club Advisors
Trauma-Informed Athletic Coaches
Caregiver Support
Community Level
Protective Factors for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Referenced from: Child Welfare Information Gateway https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/guide_fostercare.pdf
Positive School Environment- offers and important source of protection for children and youth in foster care
Stable Living Situation- is connected with positive outcomes and success after leaving foster care
Supports for Independent Living- is associated with educational attainment, employment, housing, health and other life skills
Incorporating Resilience Into School Programs
School/District Foster Youth Liaisons
School Social Workers
Family Reunification
Finalized Adoption
Life Skills Class
ILP Services
AB 12
Career Counseling
Job Placement
How do you build resilience in foster youth and other students in your schools?
Tanisha’s Story
https://www.teenvogue.com/story/foster-child-turned-foster-care-activist-op-ed
http://theroundupnews.com/2017/09/12/alumnus-readjusts-life-gun-violence/ Pg. 20 https://issuu.com/csudh/docs/domingueztoday-spring-2018_issuu
Inspiration and ResilienceMentorship
Dedication
Collaboration
Belief
Impact
https://www.impatientoptimists.org/Posts/2015/05/Five-Ways-Teachers-Inspire-Me#.XGHsa1xKg9Y
Help them believe that anything is possible.
Help them re-write their story.
Resources
Evidence Based School Resilience Programs
FOCUS Family Resilience Training- https://nfrc.ucla.edu/FOCUS
The Friends Resilience Program- https://www.friendsresilience.org/
Penn Resilience Program and Perma Workshops-https://ppc.sas.upenn.edu/services/penn-resilience-training
Children + Youth Resilience Program- https://corstone.org/tool-kit/
Bounce Back and Thrive Resilience Program-http://www.reachinginreachingout.com/programs-bb&t.htm
2x10 Strategy- https://edsource.org/wp-content/uploads/old/TheTwo-by-TenStrategy.pdf
Parent Institute for Quality Education (PIQUE)-http://www.piqe.org/california-2/
Sesame Street & Resilience-https://www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/challenges
The Student Transition and Resilience Training (START)-https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/school/principals/transition/startresource.pdf
Building Resilience in Children and Young People-https://www.education.vic.gov.au/Documents/about/department/resiliencelitreview.pdf
Foster Youth, Resilience, & Superheroes
Resilient
Youth
Supporting Resilience
Questions
Contact InformationKimberly Faulkner-Camacho
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program
Senior Program Specialist
562-922-6931
Lakeah Dickerson
Los Angeles County Office of Education
Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program
Senior Program Specialist
562-922-6435
Tanisha Saunders
Foster Youth Advocate
805.980.8981