Whole School Trauma Programming

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE™)

Child-Adult Relationship Enhancement (CARE™) is a trauma-informed, culturally sensitive set of skills based on several strong evidence-based parenting programs. Provides free professional trainings, education, and technical assistance in evidence-based disaster mental health for youth. CARE uses specific skills for general use by all adults who interact or work with children, including those who have experienced trauma. Respond with CARE skills are designed to a) connect with children in a positive way, b) increase compliance with adult instructions, and c) decrease many problematic behaviors and reactions commonly noted after exposure to disasters or crisis events. It covers an overview of how crisis events, such as disasters, impact children across the age span and skills designed to improve relationships and reduce mild to moderate reactions.

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Communities of Practice: Facilitators’ Guide

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of peers who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic, who come together regularly to fulfill both individual and group goals. A CoP provides an environment conducive to learning and exchange, emphasizing interactions in a climate of mutual trust and respect. Within the RSSI framework, a CoP can also serve as a strategy within a school or district’s action plan, helping to deepen implementation and foster collaborative, practice-based growth. This guide provides the history of CoPs in Illinois’ trauma responsive schools work and helps facilitators plan for and facilitate a Community of Practice. This is guide is a collaboration among Center for Childhood Resilience, Partnership 4 Resilience, and Stress & Trauma Treatment Center.

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Communities of Practice: Facilitators’ Guide

A Community of Practice (CoP) is a group of peers who share a common concern, a set of problems, or an interest in a topic, who come together regularly to fulfill both individual and group goals. A CoP provides an environment conducive to learning and exchange, emphasizing interactions in a climate of mutual trust and respect. Within the RSSI framework, a CoP can also serve as a strategy within a school or district’s action plan, helping to deepen implementation and foster collaborative, practice-based growth. This guide provides the history of CoPs in Illinois’ trauma responsive schools work and helps facilitators plan for and facilitate a Community of Practice. This is guide is a collaboration among Center for Childhood Resilience, Partnership 4 Resilience, and Stress & Trauma Treatment Center.

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Trauma-Responsive Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA)

The Trauma-Responsive Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA) is a school-wide, evidence-informed quality improvement tool designed to help schools identify strengths and areas for growth in trauma-responsive practices. The TRS-IA generates a detailed feedback report highlighting school strengths and areas for growth across eight domains. This report serves as a catalyst for action planning, programming, and policy development, helping teams build school cultures rooted in safety, equity, and healing. Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Treatment and Services Adaptation Center for Resilience, Hope, and Wellness in Schools, and the National Center for School Mental Health, the TRS-IA supports schools in creating safer, more supportive environments for students impacted by trauma.

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Resilience Education to Advance Community Healing (REACH)

REACH is a model in Illinois for creating positive change in schools that consists of four steps: school team formation, evidence-based assessment, action planning, and implementation support. Initially focused exclusively on Trauma-Responsiveness and Healing-Centeredness, REACH also includes three additional pillars: Mental Health; Social and Emotional Learning; and CARE (Culturally Awareness, Responsiveness and Equity).

REACH is a partnership led by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago’s Center for Childhood Resilience and Illinois State Board of Education’s Learning Renewal program in partnership with regional SEL Hubs, Partnership for Resilience, and Stress & Trauma Treatment Center.

Schools play a central and critical role in helping students build their capacity to cope with stress and life problems – in other words, resilience. Research shows that the majority of students experiencing mental health challenges receive the help they need from staff in their school. When they feel safe and supported, students have more capacity to be creative, innovative and open to learning.

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Trauma-Responsive, Healing-Centered Engagement Assessment Facilitator Guide

This is a step-by-step complementary guide for schools completing the Trauma-Responsive Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA), which is a school-wide, evidence-informed quality improvement tool designed to help schools identify strengths and areas for growth in trauma-responsive practices. Developed by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), the Treatment and Services Adaptation Center for Resilience, Hope, and Wellness in Schools, and the National Center for School Mental Health, the TRS-IA supports schools in creating safer, more supportive environments for students impacted by trauma.

The TRS-IA generates a detailed feedback report highlighting school strengths and areas for growth across eight domains. This report serves as a catalyst for action planning, programming, and policy development, helping teams build school cultures rooted in safety, equity, and healing.

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Action Planning Facilitator Guide

This guide will take you through the REACH process for your action planning. Specifically, it will provide your school team with tools and resources for developing, implementing, monitoring, and improving resilience-supportive policies, processes and practices.

REACH is a model for creating positive change in schools that consists of four steps: school team formation, evidence-based assessment, action planning, and implementation support. Initially focused exclusively on Trauma-Responsiveness and Healing-Centeredness, REACH has expanded to also include three additional pillars: Mental Health; Social and Emotional Learning; and CARE (Cultural Awareness, Responsiveness and Equity).

Schools play a central and critical role in helping students build their capacity to cope with stress and life problems – in other words, resilience. Research shows that the majority of students experiencing mental health challenges receive the help they need from staff in their school. When they feel safe and supported, students have more capacity to be creative, innovative and open to learning.

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