Foster Care Training

Children and youth living in communities affected by urban poverty are disproportionately impacted by traumatic life events, which in turn can impact development and learning. Educators in public schools who serve these communities may find themselves overwhelmed as they strive to meet the needs of these children and their families. This stress can result in teacher burnout as well as a tendency to operate under a deficit model of thinking – or identifying what children and families lack as opposed to their adaptive abilities. Mental-health clinicians who work in schools are in a unique position to serve as catalysts for reducing the impact of trauma and inequity in the classroom via indirect services, including consultation and collaboration. However, successful consultation requires not only knowledge of effective interventions, but skills in building successful relationships with teachers and administrators within the context of school systems. This course provides an overview of the impact of trauma and inequity in schools and classrooms, as well as a framework for supporting teachers in implementing equity pedagogy. We will identify practices and techniques that support successful consultation with teachers, administrators, and school-based teams, as well as trauma-informed practices and interventions that support trauma treatment within the classroom context