National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3)

The NCS3 is part of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), serving as a Category II Treatment Services and Adaptation Center. The NCS3 reflects a national-regional partnership between the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH), the NCTSN Center for Trauma Care in Schools (CTCS; Massachusetts), and the Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR; Illinois).

University of Maryland School of Medicine

National Center for School Mental Health

The National Center for School Mental Health leads training, research, practice, and policy efforts to support evidence-based, innovative school mental health programming and training for diverse school, family, and community stakeholders across the United States. The NCSMH has about 50 team members that include clinical and research faculty and staff with nationally recognized expertise in school mental health, TIS and trauma treatment, school climate, and MTSS. The goal of NCSMH is to strengthen policies and programs in school mental health to improve learning and promote success for America’s youth.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Center for Childhood Resilience

The Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR) at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago builds the resilience of children and youth by partnering with schools and communities to implement a public health approach to address the impact of trauma. CCR develops, evaluates, and disseminates best practices that are critical to launching successful trauma-informed, culturally attuned programs consistent with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) framework. CCR is also the lead trauma training entity for disseminating NCTSN-endorsed school-based group interventions in Illinois. CCR provides professionals with new perspectives, tools, and strategies to promote equitable mental health and wellness where kids live, learn and play.

Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention

Center for Trauma Care in Schools

The Center for Trauma Care in Schools (CTCS) at the Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention (AIP) has helped public school systems integrate and expand evidence-based behavioral health services, with a special emphasis on trauma. AIP began the Center For Trauma Care in Schools, funded by SAMHSA as a part of the NCTSN to scale evidence-based trauma screening and treatments within public schools. AIP is a private mental health and special education organization that provides school and community-based services to urban youths facing social, emotional, behavioral and academic challenges. This organization focuses on demonstrating new and more effective models for advancing the mental health and school success of children at high risk. Their goal is to advance school achievement and life outcomes for children facing serious challenges or other risk factors.

National Trauma-Focused Intern Training (T-FIT) Program for Graduate Social Work and Counseling Interns

National Trauma-Focused Intern Training (T-FIT) for Counseling, Psychology, Social Work and other School Mental Health Trainees

The National Trauma-Focused Intern Training (T-FIT) for Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, and Other School Mental Health Trainees is a 9-module video series designed for school-based clinical trainees that is divided into two separate courses: 1) Foundations of Trauma-Informed School Mental Health and 2) Trauma-Informed School, Classroom, and Counseling Supports. The presented content in each module is enhanced by opportunities for self-reflection and strategizing as well as interviews with educators, administrators, school counselors and clinical trainees, parents, and students. Both courses are now available. We encourage you to share this learning series with your students, colleagues, and supervisors!

Valuable learning materials for school mental health:

Critical concepts and skills for understanding trauma in schools and responding to children’s and teens’ trauma
Features interviews with educators, administrators, school counselors, clinical trainees, parents, and students
Emphasis on cultural responsiveness, anti-racism, and equity
Prompts for learner self-reflection and
strategizing
Focus on research-validated approaches
Led by expert faculty in K-12 school-based mental health
Designed for school-based trainees in social work, counseling, school psychology, and other mental health disciplines

Course 1: Foundations of Trauma-Informed School Mental Health

Module 1: Comprehensive School Mental Health
Module 2: Introduction to Trauma
Module 3: Identifying Trauma in Schools
Module 4: Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism, and Equity (CARE)
Module 5: Secondary Traumatic Stress
Module 6: Trauma-Informed Schools

Course 2: Trauma-Informed School, Classroom, and Counseling Supports

Module 7: School Approaches to Support Students
Module 8: Classroom Strategies to Support Students
Module 9: Early Identification, Intervention, and Treatment

What: Two courses, (Course 1: Foundations of Trauma-Informed School Mental Health and Course 2: Trauma-Informed School, Classroom, and Counseling Supports) 9.5 hours total.

How: There are TWO ways to access these courses:

1) If you would like to access the full course content (including additional resources and knowledge quizzes), you can sign up for courses HERE through the NCS3's online learning platform.

2) If you would prefer to view the videos without the supplementary materials, the videos of each session are included below.

Session 2.1: Understanding Trauma

This sessions begins by defining what trauma is and the kinds of trauma students can be exposed to, their experience of those events, and the short- and long-term effects it can have.

Session 2.2: Social Influencers of Health

This session explores social influencers of health, the social context of trauma and adversity, and how equity plays a role in determining physical and mental health outcomes.

Session 2.3: The Impact of Trauma on the Brain and the Stress Response System

This session focuses on the impact of trauma on the brain and the stress response system, an important element in the development of traumatic stress.

Session 3.1: Trauma in the Context of Schools

This session explores why it is important to recognize trauma in schools and then identifies the processes that produce particular manifestations in how students affected by trauma present themselves in schools.

Session 3.2: Manifestations of Trauma in Schools

This session looks at the emotional, behavioral, learning, and social manifestations that educators might encounter when working with students affected by traumatic stress.

Session 4.1: Understanding CARE

This section begins with an introduction to Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism, and Equity, for which we use the acronym CARE. We will define terms related to CARE and consider disparities and disproportionalities that exist in schools.

Session 4.2: Cultural Humility

This session provides an overview of cultural humility and considers how it fits in with culture and identity as well as power and privilege.

Session 5.1: Understanding Secondary Traumatic Stress

This session defines Secondary Traumatic Stress, including how it relates to other conditions, and its signs and symptoms.

Session 5.2: Preventing and Treating Secondary Traumatic Stress

This session addresses ways to prevent and treat STS for school-based professionals.

Session 5.3: STS in the Context of School Systems

This session examines effective policies and procedures that school systems can use to reduce the impact of STS on staff.

Session 6.1: Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports

This session focuses on Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports, an essential element of any Trauma-Informed Schools model.

Session 6.2: SAMHSA's Trauma-Informed Approach

This session explores the Trauma-Informed Approach from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (also known as SAMHSA).

Session 6.3: NCTSN System Framework

This session explores the System Framework for Trauma-Informed Schools from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (or NCTSN).

Session 7.1: School Climate

This Session focuses on school climate and the areas of engagement, safety, and environment.

Session 7.2: Social Emotional Learning

This session explores social emotional learning and the 5 core competencies of Self-Awareness,
Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making.

Session 7.3: Mental Health Literacy

This session addresses mental health literacy, why it is important, and how it fits into an MTSS.

Session 7.4: Positive Discipline Practices

This session addresses mental health literacy, why it is important, and how it fits into an MTSS.

Session 8.1: Effective Teacher Consultation

This session explore how you, as an intern, can provide a teacher with effective consultation
regarding students that you are working with.

Session 8.2: Classroom Setup and Routines

This session describes classroom setup and routines that are effective for all students, but
particularly important for students affected by trauma.

Session 8.3: Positive Relationships and Behaviors

This session focuses on the importance of developing positive relationships and behaviors in schools.

Session 9.1: Screening

This session is an exploration of screening students, both in general and with a specific focus on screening for trauma and its symptoms.

Session 9.2: Targeted Interventions

This session focuses on targeted interventions, the supports offered at the Tier 2 level of a multi-tiered system of supports.

Session 9.3: Effective School Counseling

This session describes the elements of effective school counseling.

Session 9.4: Evidence-Based Treatments

This session defines and explores evidence-based treatments and why they are important, especially for students affected by trauma.

Session 9.5: Cognitive Behavioral Treatment

This session focuses on cognitive behavioral treatment (or CBT) and its use in the treatment of trauma.

Session 9.6: Student, Family, and Community Partnerships

This session is a discussion of the importance of incorporating student, family, and community partnerships into your practice.

National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3)

National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3)

National Trauma-Focused Intern Training (T-FIT) Program for Graduate Social Work and Counseling Interns

Module 1: Comprehensive School Mental Health

Module 2: Introduction to Trauma

Module 3: Identifying Trauma in Schools

Module 4: Cultural Responsiveness, Anti-Racism, and Equity (CARE)

Module 5: Secondary Traumatic Stress

Module 6: Trauma-Informed Schools

Module 7: School Approaches ​to Support Students

Module 8: Classroom Strategies to Support Students​

Module 9: Classroom Strategies to Support Students​

Module 7: School Approaches to Support Students

Module 8: Classroom Strategies to Support Students

Module 9: Classroom Strategies to Support Students