The mission of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) is to ensure that every learner has access to a world-class education system that academically prepares children and adults to succeed as productive citizens. Further, PDE seeks to establish a culture that is committed to improving opportunities throughout the commonwealth by ensuring that technical support, resources, and optimal learning environments are available for all students, whether children or adults.
These pages contain resources for parents, educators, and professionals serving children and youth in the school and community settings.
Note: links shared that take users beyond this website to a non-PDE website, organization, product, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by PDE, and, PDE is not responsible for the content featured on any of the sites or pages referenced.
Empowerment through common language in Pennsylvania
Access a dictionary of terms related to trauma-informed approaches in schools. (PDF)
Contact
For more information on Trauma-Informed Approaches in Schools, please contact Dr. Dana Milakovic: damilakovi@pa.gov
Physical Trauma and Sudden Injuries
Physical trauma is a serious injury to the body. The two main types of physical trauma are:
Blunt force trauma: when an object or force strikes the body, often resulting in concussions, deep cuts, or broken bones.
Penetrating trauma: when an object pierces the skin or body, usually creating an open wound.
T.I.P. in School
These pages provide a resource guide for trauma-informed practices in schools. Please note: the information on these pages is not exhaustive and inclusion on this list does not indicate endorsement by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Information is provided to give school teams a starting point for addressing and implementing Trauma Informed programming in their school.
Trauma Information
Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package
The Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package offers school and district administrators and staff a framework and roadmap for adopting a trauma-sensitive approach school- or districtwide. The Training Package includes a variety of resources for educating school staff about trauma and trauma-sensitive practices and for providing school leaders with a step-by-step process for implementing a universal, trauma-informed approach using package materials. School and district leaders are encouraged to begin by reviewing the Implementation Guide for an overview of the package components and their intended use.
Resource Guide to Trauma-Informed Human Services
This Trauma Informed guide was developed by the US Department of Human Services and is a web-linked compilation of resources from a range of Health and Human Service agencies, federal partners, and respected sources outside government. The site will contain both information and resources for human services leaders at the state, tribal, territorial, and local levels on recent advances in our understanding of trauma, toxic stress, and resiliency and specifically what these advances mean for program design and service delivery.
Some general trauma resources in the guide, which are applicable to all human services programs, include:
- What is Trauma?
- What are Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)? How are they different from trauma experienced at other times during the life course?
- What is Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
- How does exposure to trauma affect brain development?
- What do we mean by trauma-informed services and why is such an approach important?
PDE collaborates with HEAL PA to support our early education settings, K-12 schools and colleges to become trauma-informed and healing centered. Resources for educators can be found on HEAL PA’s Education Action Team’s site: https://www.healpa.org/education
Crisis Response Planning
Emergencies come in many forms, from natural disasters to medical emergencies to behavioral incidents. While we can't predict everything, we can be prepared. By proactively planning and implementing effective crisis prevention strategies, we can:
- Minimize the impact of a crisis on students, staff, and the entire school community.
- Promote a culture of safety where awareness and preparedness are the norm.
- Empower educators and staff to respond effectively in stressful situations.
- Enhance student well-being by fostering a secure and supportive learning environment.
This page offers frameworks and guidance that have been created to aid schools in crafting effective emergency operations plans that will provide support in the event of a crisis. Additional resources are available to facilitate the creation of supportive learning environments, which are proven to enhance physical and psychological safety within schools and mitigate the occurrence of crises within the school community.
Note: links shared that take users beyond the Pennsylvania Department of Education's website to a non-PDE website, organization, product, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by PDE, and, PDE is not responsible for the content featured on any of the sites or pages referenced.
A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools
The author organizations and cosigners of A Framework for Safe and Successful Schools represent the educators and community partners who work day in and day out to keep our children safe, ensure their well-being, and promote learning. The partnership between our organizations seeks to reinforce the interdisciplinary, collaborative, and cohesive approach that is required to create and sustain genuinely safe, supportive schools that meet the needs of the whole child.
Our joint statement outlines evidence-based policies and practices for improving school safety and increasing access to mental health supports for children and youth. Efforts to improve school climate, safety, and learning are not separate endeavors and must be designed, funded, and implemented as a comprehensive school-wide approach. We urge policy leaders to support this guidance to shape meaningful policies that will genuinely equip America's schools to educate and safeguard our children over the long term.
Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans
In 2013, the White House and six Federal agencies (U.S. Departments of Education; Homeland Security, led by the Federal Emergency Management Agency; Justice, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Health and Human Services) released guidance for creating, reviewing, and maintaining customized and comprehensive school emergency operations plans (EOPs). Schools can use the Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans (School Guide) to create new plans as well as to revise and update existing plans and align their emergency management planning practices with those at the national, state, and local levels. The intended audience of this guidance document is school safety leaders and members of core planning teams at K-12 schools (public, nonpublic, charter, rural, etc.). The School Guide may be accessed in two formats on the REMS TA Center Website.
The role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Plans: A Companion to the School Guide
This guide recommends that districts apply the same planning principles; follow the same six step process and complete the tasks associated with each step, that underlie the planning process described in the School Guide. The District Guide, however, provides more district-focused information. This guide also contains a checklist of activities and responsibilities for districts that allows them to stay on course and track their progress.
Guiding Principles for Creating Safe, Inclusive, Supportive, and Fair School Climates (PDF)
Developed by the U.S. Department of Education, this guide provides guidance on how to maintain safe, inclusive, supportive, and fair learning environments for students and school staff. This guide includes specific recommendations for evidence-based practices to give students what they need to learn and grow.