Bridging to Resilience

Building Trauma-Informed Communities in a school setting and at home
In this session, you will be introduced to the stress response system, the impact of trauma on individuals, self-care and secondary trauma, and supporting co-regulation to help build resilience. We will explore practical steps schools can take to create a trauma-informed environment, alongside strategies families can use at home to support their children. You will walk away with actionable concepts and resources designed to foster resilience and collaboration between schools and families, ensuring a holistic approach to trauma-informed care

While trauma-informed practices must be rooted in Tier 1 and continued in Tier 2, schools still have some students requiring more intensive intervention.  Out-of-school suspensions contribute to the school to prison pipeline, and our students need to remain at school more than ever.  This session's objective is to outline an alternative program that identifies and  supports students proactively, minimizes out-of-school suspensions, and continues to support students once they return to the general education classroom all while heavily involving parents and classroom teachers.

In this session, we will discuss some social-emotional learning strategies for middle school students. We'll talk about why some work, and some don't work and how to apply them in alternative and traditional classroom settings.

Come hear how Youth Core Ministries and ESSDACK are breaking the cycle of poverty in rural communities. Core Circles equips those in poverty by empowering them with education and social capital.14 Adults with 7 Kids have completely left economic poverty and have seen their combined annual income grow from $164,244 to $332,856. 77% of all tracked graduates have stabilized their financial situation. The poverty in our communities can truly be resolved. Join us to learn about this powerful program with actual results and see how people are walking out of financial poverty forever!

Are you looking to increase student engagement and achievement? This session will equip you with the tools to see the world through your students' eyes. By understanding their emotional needs, intellectual curiosity, and perceived challenges, you can create a more personalized and meaningful learning experience.

Take a journey with me as we experientially feel the emotions and dysregulation a special education student may feel in any classroom. Then we'll see and feel the difference when trauma responsive and restorative justice practices are implemented.  

"Expressive writing research shows many positive effects such as increased GPA, decreased dropout rates, improved immune function, decreased depression and anxiety, and lessens some post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms. Overall it promotes mental health.

During this presentation, we are going to be looking at how the old stories we and our students have in our heads influence the way we perceive ourselves and how these old stories hold us back from overcoming challenges and achieving our goals and dreams. In response to these old stories, participants will learn an expressive writing activity called The Imagine Project that individuals can use for themselves and in their schools or classrooms to start the process of overcoming old stories that represent trauma and stress and creating new ones that lead to post-traumatic growth.

In summary, participants will be introduced and led through a 7-step expressive writing activity, The Imagine Project, that will help them overcome old stories of trauma/stress and create new stories of post-traumatic growth as well as be introduced to resources of how to use this expressive writing activity for their schools, classrooms, and themselves. "

There's no secret that in the U.S., discipline rates for Black students are highest than any other racial group. What does that say about our current discipline practices? During this presentation we will explore the critical intersection of trauma, culture, and advocacy within educational settings, with a focus on addressing the unique needs of Black students and families. Participants will learn how to recognize and address racial trauma, navigate cultural competence and bias, build trust and rapport in with their Black students, and empower these students as advocates for systemic change.