Trauma is the psychological, emotional, and physiological response to a life event or experience that’s deeply disturbing or distressing to an individual. While this can occur at any age, when such experiences happen to children 18 or younger, they are often referred to as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
Now a widespread mental health concern, ACEs have become quite costly for schools around the world. They can limit students’ academic potential, affecting cognitive thinking in several ways:
- Limiting rational thought by hindering the ability to process information logically and make sound, evidence-based decisions.
- Impairing problem-solving skills through diminished capacity to evaluate options and develop effective, creative solutions to challenges.
- Reducing complex thinking abilities by disrupting cognitive functions needed for analyzing and synthesizing intricate ideas or concepts.
That’s why trauma-informed education training for professionals working with children is essential in the everyday school setting.
How Does Supporting Students Who Have Experienced Trauma Impact School Administration & Staff?
Working with children who have experienced trauma can add significant strain on school administration and staff. Direct costs include the need for third-party specialists, counselors, and trauma-informed professional development to adequately support affected students.
Indirect costs manifest through increased absenteeism and disengagement, as students struggling with the impact of trauma may face challenges in focusing or attending school regularly.
These issues place additional strain on staff, who must manage more frequent behavior issues, address learning gaps, and create supportive environments, all of which demand time, resources, and emotional energy.
SB 144 Requirements for Trauma-Informed Care Training
Pennsylvania’s SB 144 requires each school entity to provide at least one hour of trauma-informed education training to ensure school staff understand trauma and its impact on students so they can provide appropriate support.
This bill directly benefits students because providing trauma training for educators:
- Creates safer, more supportive classrooms for all students.
- Helps teachers recognize and respond to trauma-related behaviors.
- Reduces disciplinary issues and improves student behavior.
- Increases student engagement and focus in school.
How Vector Solutions Can Help Meet SB 144 Trauma-Informed Care Training Requirements
Vector Solutions’ Inclusive Instruction & Interventions course library is a great resource to help teachers, administrators and paraeducators support students with diverse learning needs and backgrounds. This course library features over 100 expert-authored courses on a wide range of topics, including trauma-informed education training:
The Inclusive Instruction and Interventions library can easily be added to your existing training platform to help assign, manage, and track all your trauma-informed care training in one system.
Additional Pennsylvania Training Mandates for Educators
Vector Solutions’ online safety and compliance courses can help you train your administration and staff on crucial topics that meet the requirements of additional PA training mandates, including:
PA Act 71 – Youth Suicide: Awareness & Prevention
Youth Suicide: Awareness & Prevention – This course covers the scope of the problem of youth suicide, common risk factors related to youth suicide, successful strategies for youth suicide prevention, the immediate steps a staff member should take if they encounter a student who is threatening suicide, and best practices for intervention after a suicide (“postvention”).
PA Act 126 – Child Abuse Recognition & Mandatory Reporting
Child Abuse Recognition & Mandatory Reporting – This course is Part 1 of Pennsylvania’s Act 126 mandatory training for school employees. The training focuses on the following topics: essential elements of the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law, facts about child abuse, mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse and sexual misconduct. The training will provide school employees with the information they need to know regarding the basics of Pennsylvania law involving child abuse and student abuse as well as their duty to report abuse.
PA Act 126 – Educator Discipline Act & Sexual Misconduct
Educator Discipline Act & Sexual Misconduct – This course is Part 2 of Pennsylvania’s Act 126 mandatory training for school employees. The training focuses on the following topics: a brief review of Act 126 basics, including Mandatory Reporting; the Pennsylvania Professional Educator Discipline Act (PEDA); and maintaining appropriate boundaries between students and school employees (Boundary Invasion.)
PA Act 195 – Medication Administration: Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
Medication Administration: Epinephrine Auto-Injectors – This course provides staff with a basic understanding of the procedures required to safely administer an epinephrine auto-injector (EAI). Topics covered include common allergens, signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, general administration instructions for all epinephrine auto-injectors, and simple first-aid steps.
Download our Pennsylvania Compliance Guide for more information on PA-specific requirements and corresponding Vector Training courses.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does trauma-informed teaching include?
Trauma-informed teaching includes strategies and practices designed to create a supportive and empathetic learning environment for students who have experienced trauma. It focuses on recognizing the impact of trauma, building resilience, and fostering emotional and academic growth.
What is trauma awareness training?
Trauma awareness training is a professional development program designed to educate individuals, such as educators, on the effects of trauma and how to respond effectively. It equips participants with the knowledge and skills needed to support those who have experienced trauma. Topics should include understanding trauma, recognizing signs of trauma, strategies for building resilience, and awareness of secondary trauma.
