Helping Traumatized Children Learn - Trauma Sensitive …

1 Helping Traumatized Children Learnsupportive school environmentsfor Children Traumatized by family violenceMassachusetts Advocates for Children : Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative In collaboration with Harvard Law Schooland The Task Force on Children Affected by Domestic Violence A Report and Policy Agenda Helping Traumatized Children Learn marks a major milestone in child advocacy. Based on evidence from brain research, child development, and actual classrooms, here is a road map for parents , schools, administrators, and policy makers that shows concrete and feasible steps for making schools the life raft for Children who otherwise may be misunderstood and abandoned by the community.

2 Martha L. Minow, Professor of Law, Harvard Law SchoolHelping Traumatized Children Learn opens up the conversation on how to best help the students who have been victims or witnesses of violence. Removing their roadblocks can give them the opportunity to be active and enthusiastic learners. Massachusetts State Representative Alice WolfHelping Traumatized Children Learn is a useful and timely report. [It] lists practical steps that educators can take to recognize signs of Trauma and help Children who are affected by it. The report encourages state and local officials, educators, community leaders, parents , and experts in prevention and treatment to work together for the benefit of all Children .

3 The Massachusetts Department of Education will continue to work in partnership with others to achieve these important goals. David P. Driscoll, Massachusetts Commissioner of EducationI endorse the recommendations in Helping Traumatized Children Learn and invite the Commonwealth s leaders to join this powerful effort to help all Children , including those who have been exposed to family violence, reach their highest potentials. Tom Scott, Executive Director Massachusetts Association of school SuperintendentsHelping Traumatized Children Learn thoroughly documents the impact of the Trauma of family violence on Children s ability to Learn and succeed in school .

4 The report makes a strong case for increased resources for schools and support for teachers who work with this vulnerable population. These resources are an important investment in the future of Children and in the future of our communities. Let s hope that legislators and policy makers invest in these resources. Betsy McAlister Groves, Director, Child Witness to Violence Project, Boston Medical Center; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Boston University school of Medicine Massachusetts Advocates for Children25 Kingston St., 2nd floor, Boston, MA 02111 (617) Traumatized Children LearnMassachusetts Advocates for ChildrenHarvard Law School1563 Massachusetts Avenue Pound Hall, Suite 501 Cambridge, MA 02138 The Governor s Commission on Sexual and Domestic Violence has overwhelmingly endorsed the concepts, principles, and recommendations presented in Helping Traumatized Children Learn .

5 It is our sincere hope that, in the Commonwealth and beyond, educators, administrators, funding agencies, policy makers, school committees, and others will read this work and incorporate in their educational philosophies and schools the methods it recommends to address the impacts of violence on Children . Marilee Kenney Hunt, Executive Director Governor s Commission on Sexual and Domestic ViolenceHelping Traumatized Children Learn is a much needed resource for educators, policy makers, clinicians, and parents . The authors have already contributed much to the advocacy for educational reform to ensure that the needs of Traumatized Children are met; this report is an impressive continuation of that process.

6 Margaret E. Blaustein, , Director of Training and Education The Trauma Center, Justice Resource InstituteHelping Traumatized Children Learn is an immensely important contribution. These proposals for enhancing success at school have tremendous potential to help a child look forward toward the positive possibilities of the future. Amy C. Tishelman, , Director of Research and Training Child Protection Program, Children s Hospital, BostonThe Massachusetts Administrators for Special Education offers our Association s endorsement for Helping Traumatized Children Learn and applauds Massachusetts Advocates for Children s commitment to this most worthy need.

7 Carla B. Jentz, Executive Director Massachusetts Administrators for Special EducationHelping Traumatized Children Learn is a groundbreaking report that can show educators and communities exactly how to help Children who have experienced family violence. The considerable impact of domestic violence on Children s ability to Learn has been ignored for too long. The education and policy agenda that Massachusetts Advocates for Children offers here is vitally important and can improve the lives of countless Children who have been Traumatized by family violence.

8 Esta Soler, President, Family Violence Prevention FundAdditional Endorsements: Children s Law Center of Massachusetts, Children s League of Massachusetts, Federation for Children with Special Needs, Horizons for Homeless Children , Jane Doe Inc., Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children , Treehouse FoundationCopyright 2005 by Massachusetts Advocates for ChildrenSixth printing, September 2009 Library of Congress Control Number: 2005933604 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without permission of Massachusetts Advocates for photographs are for illustration purposes only and do not represent real life Art: Phoebe StoneDesign.

9 David CarlsonFunding for this publication was provided by Mellon Financial Corporation Fund and Partners HealthCare For information please contactAnne EisnerMassachusetts Advocates for (phone)617-998-0022 (fax)Copies may be purchased or downloaded at Helping Traumatized Children Learn Supportive school environments for Children Traumatized by family violence Massachusetts Advocates for Children Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative in collaboration withHarvard Law Schooland the Task Force on Children Affected by Domestic Violence Authors Susan F.

10 Cole, , Jessica Greenwald O Brien, M. Geron Gadd, , Joel Ristuccia, D. Luray Wallace, Michael Gregory, , Massachusetts Advocates for Children25 Kingston St., 2nd floor Boston, MA 02111 Advocates for ChildrenMission:Massachusetts Advocates for Children s (MAC) mission is to be an independent and effective voice for Children who face significant barriers to equal educational and life opportunities. MAC works to overcome these barriers by changing conditions for many Children , while also Helping one child at a time.