Additional Resources: Trauma-Informed Schools

The reading and resource list from the virtual summit on supporting students and educators dealing with trauma, maintained and updated. Frameworks, toolkits, and organisations that school teams can use directly.

Trauma Support for Schools · Resource list, reviewed as part of the site relaunch

Frameworks and foundational guidance

• SAMHSA, Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach (2014). The widely used federal framework defining trauma and the principles of a trauma-informed approach: safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, empowerment, and cultural and gender responsiveness.
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). The largest single source of free, evidence-based material on child trauma for educators and families, including the Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators and guidance on trauma-informed school systems.
• CDC, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) resources. Background research and prevention frameworks on adverse childhood experiences and their effects on health and learning.

For classroom practice

• NCTSN Child Trauma Toolkit for Educators. Practical, age-banded guidance on recognising trauma responses and responding in class.
• Child Trends, trauma-informed schools research briefs. Short, readable summaries of what the evidence says about whole-school approaches.
• National Center for Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE). Federal resource centre on school climate and conditions for learning, including trauma-sensitive schools material.

For school leaders and counsellors

• American School Counselor Association (ASCA). The ASCA National Model and position statements on trauma-informed practice and student mental health.
• National Center for School Mental Health. Quality assessment tools and guidance on building comprehensive school mental health systems and community partnerships.
• The Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) framework. The standard measure of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress in helping professionals, useful for staff wellbeing work.

For families

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (US and Canada). Call or text 988, at any time.
• SAMHSA National Helpline (US): 1-800-662-4357. Free treatment referral and information.
• Kids Help Phone (Canada): 1-800-668-6868, or text CONNECT to 45645.
• NCTSN family resources. Parent and caregiver guides on trauma, grief, and recovery after difficult events.

On this site

• Common Trauma Symptoms in Students and Helpful Strategies for Educators
• Trauma-Informed Classroom Strategies
• Connecting Students to Community Mental Health Services
• The virtual summit archive

If a listed organisation has moved or replaced a resource, the organisation's own website is the authoritative source. This list is reviewed when the site is updated; see our editorial policy for how resources are chosen.