9 minute read
Resilience
“Thanks to this training I feel I am much better prepared to help my teacher[s], students and their parents navigate through this new, unchartered territory as we work together to focus on resilience and getting back into a routine!”
– Counselor (TIRS)
“This course has helped during the COVID-19 pandemic because it has changed my mindset on trauma…It has given me strategies to foster well-being by restoring and nurturing resilience. I think that the pandemic will cause stress in many of our learners and this course provides a great guideline to answer “How can I support this child?” for when we return to at school learning. Many of our kids will be struggling without the connections that school gives them.”
– Educational Assistant (TIRS)
“This course has reminded me [of] the importance and need for a calm and safe school for students to return to. Kindness and compassion for others is needed to help create an environment of healing, hope, and resilience for all (students and staff) as we have each experienced this pandemic differently.”
– School Counselor (TIRS)
“I’m engaging my brain, learning new skills and coping measures, and pausing to think about the core of working within the schools -- the kids. During this time, I’ve had the occasion to visit students at their homes, bringing food or school supplies, and the concept of resiliency has never been more present. Seeing some of the homes opened my eyes to where these student are coming from and why they react so strongly when given just a little positivity--a greeting by name, or a smile in the hallway.”
– Activities/Athletics Administrative Assistant (TIRS)
“This has helped me understand my own trauma and response much better. This has also helped me and the organization I work for really push the importance of play and resources to do so virtually…during this pandemic. Keeping kids active and opportunities for them to safely practice resilience, [and] social and emotional skills is critical during this time and will be for the aftermath…I hope I can use it to better foster healthy communities in schools, and to educate teachers on how to better create a safe place in their schools and encourage safe and healthy play more than ever.”
– Site Coordinator (TIRS)
“I can’t even begin to describe the personal and professional growth I feel.”
– Paraeducator
“I feel like this course has really made me think of individual students and how trauma has impacted them. I am going to reach out to my district. I truly feel this is a training everyone working with kids should have.”
– Student Mentor/Social Worker
“When COVID hit and [school] closure began, I thought it was even more important for my staff to be trauma-informed. All of my staff took this course and thoroughly enjoyed learning about trauma and the brain.”
– Principal
This course has given me a solid foundation to deal with students who will have experienced some level of stress due to the pandemic/early closing of schools as well as the on-going issues of how to continue their education while staying as safe as possible.
– Elementary Teacher
“I have completed a significant amount of professional development during the pandemic. The STARR courses are by far the most valuable information I have gained.”
– Special Education Teacher
“[I] sit on our district’s trauma-informed schools team and hope to be able to share some of this information to enhance our abilities to support schools, families, and students.”
– Behavior Specialist
“I encourage people to become certified through you…I believe your approach to trauma is the best. Your response to the pandemic and your generosity to reach out only proves it more.”
– School Support Specialist
“I usually hate online PD. But this was so easy to listen to and watch. I was engaged the entire time and can relate this to MANY of my students.”
– Art Teacher
“Starr is…doing a great job providing opportunities for self-study through accessible, easily digestible online courses.”
– Teacher
“We are looking for high quality online PD for schools to consider using over the remaining few weeks… This is one of the best I’ve seen and find it particularly helpful that it is asynchronous.”
– Director, Scholar Services
I appreciated all the videos and practical discussions about how to teach children about their own brains and how it relates to their emotions and coping skills.”
– School Psychologist
“I have completed a significant amount of professional development during the pandemic. The STARR courses are by far the most valuable information I have gained. I completed these courses as a teacher and student. I am currently working on my educational leadership certificate. This course will help me immensely if I become a school leader. I want to be in a trauma-informed school. These courses taught me how much I did not know! Thank you!”
– Special Education Teacher
“I have not been working through the pandemic but once school is back in session I know that I will have students affected by it. I am a music therapist and this course gave me lots of ideas on how to incorporate social and emotional regulation into my therapy sessions and group sessions.”
– Music Therapist
“The training has helped me to incorporate more play, engage in chats without academic expectations and make calls simply to check on [students] and to assess their needs so we can help meet them.”
– Teacher
“The COVID experience is a traumatic experience for many, inducing fear and anxiety. Therefore, this information regarding identifying trauma symptoms and implementing strategies to increase belonging and safety will help school staff in planning for returning to school this fall.”
– School Psychologist
“We are fully reopening our school so I prepared a presentation for my teachers based on this course. My principal agreed that we will be using Trauma-Informed and Resilience approach and we will reinforce the concepts throughout the school year.”
– Middle School Counselor/Psychologist
“The unknown of what children and families have experienced through the pandemic is going to play a huge role in children’s learning, socializing and family engagement in school. Taking time to understand this and approach [in] the new school year with a trauma-informed lens will help ease everyone back in and assist with becoming successful.”
– Community Schools Coordinator
“I know that children and their families have experienced trauma as a result of this pandemic. It is essential that our school staff get training in this area so that we can have a mindset of being trauma-informed and focus on resiliency to support our students and their families. The information that I learned will help me to move forward personally and professionally.”
– School Counselor
There is valid concern that the isolation and quarantine inherent in this pandemic will have the effect of increased traumatic experiences for students worldwide. This course has given me a foundation from which to begin my goal of being a trauma-informed and resilience-teaching educator.“
– 1st Grade Teacher
Testimonials for Children of Trauma and Resilience eLearning Course
“As my role has shifted and changed over the course of the pandemic, this training has offered me huge opportunities to self-reflect, gain greater knowledge at my pace, and build confidence about my skills when I return to the childcare environment! Thank you so much.”
– Public/Government Agency Staff
“I am looking to become trauma certified through your trauma track as I feel there will be many students who will experience trauma reactions due to the pandemic.”
– School Staff
“I’m on the committee to enhance our School’s SEL training and create an Advisory program to help our students adjust to the myriad stresses of the pandemic. This has definitely given me a better understanding of what my students may have been experiencing and the outcomes we may be seeing in September.”
– School Staff
“This course helped me as a graduate student during the pandemic to meet educational/clinical requirements.”
– Graduate Student
“Working at a Boys & Girls Club, it was hard to stay connected to our families during the pandemic and still continues to be so. By taking this training, I feel that I am able to be more present for our members when they are having a difficult day and provide them with tools to help them implement the Circle of Courage.”
– Organization Staff
“[This course] reminded me to take my time with my students at the beginning of this upcoming school year… Some students may have experienced trauma, and if so they may react accordingly when they come to school or when they are learning from home…it’s best to be “curious” at all times.”
– Teacher
“I’m an Intern, as a Clinical and School Psychologist in a residential program for young kids…[what I learned] is going to help me see them in a completely different way.”
– Intern
“It has helped tremendously because I could take this course online rather than trying to travel and be present for an in-person training. I didn’t have to worry about social distancing or anything related to COVID-19 restrictions.”
– School Staff
“A number of our students have had a sick family member…this [course] information will help me help them when they return [to school].”
– School Staff
“This course has helped me have a better understanding of trauma, brain function, and resilience. Understanding these concepts will be helpful this school year as I work with children in the PBIS room… After taking this course I feel better equipped with the resources I need to help these children.”
– School PBIS Staff
“Many students may have increased trauma related experiences due to covid-19, this course is a tool to help understand how to help [students] most effectively.”
– School Staff
How We Responded to the Need
FREE
Trauma-Informed Resilient Schools Online Course
• 112,334 professionals world-wide registered for our free trauma-informed, resilience-focused eCourses. • 86 children served via telehealth in over 766 sessions.
2020 TRAUMA AND RESILIENCE CONFERENCE
• 1,021 professionals from 5 countries and 41 states attended our first-ever virtual trauma & resilience conference. • The creation of Dr. Caelan Soma’s
latest book “Resilient Schools: Back to School During a Pandemic”.
This book and its accompanying eCourse empower professionals to consider what’s most important as we face the trauma tsunami of COVID-19.
