Module Introduction
The topics of trauma and mental health can be distressing. If you experience any trauma symptoms yourself as you review and/or discuss this material, please feel free to take time away from this topic and/or to seek support from a trusted individual.
A healing-centered approach encourages support to the whole person and restores well-being. It is holistic in that it involves culture, spirituality, civic action, and collective healing.
In this module, we will:
- Understand the components of healing-centered engagement
- Learn about trauma-informed programs and practices that support hope, healing, and equity
- Explore how and why educators can elevate Black joy
Healing-centered environments include:
- Developing an awareness of our own and others’ humanity
- Creating and sustaining healthy connections with others
- Enhancing identity and a sense of self
- Moving beyond “what happened to you?” to “what’s right with you?”
- Beginning by building empathy with young people who experience trauma
- Encouraging young people to dream and imagine–an important factor for fostering hopefulness and optimism
- Cultivating relational trust and connection
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health".
Individual Exploration
The topics of trauma and mental health can be distressing. If you experience any trauma symptoms yourself as you review and/or discuss this material, please feel free to take time away from this topic and/or to seek support from a trusted individual.
Practices that Build Hope and Healing
Take a moment and reflect on your own practice. In what ways are you cultivating a healing-centered environment in your context? Now, watch this video from Shawn Ginwright, Ph.D.:
Coco Wheeler, with True Colors United, provides an overview of Healing-Centered Engagement, drawing on the work of Shawn Ginwright, PhD.
Reflection
- In what ways do you support your own healing and well-being?
- What are ways you and your community create relationships with and among students? How might those relationships strengthen?
- What types of healing activities and/or circles are you already doing with students? What are other ideas?
- In what ways are you culturally grounded? In what ways are you supporting young people seeking justice in our classrooms, school, and community?
Developing Trauma-Informed Practices and Communities
At Fall Hamilton School in Nashville, we learn how the school transformed to meet the social and emotional needs of the students.
Transitioning to Trauma Informed Practices
Developing Trauma Sensitive, Healing-Centered Communities
(narrated by GGSC Associate Education Director Amy L. Eva)
Reflection
- What are some microaggressions you have heard, and you didn’t know how to respond?
- What are welcoming activities we offer/can offer to students of different races, ethnicities, gender-identities, and abilities?
Cultivating Joy as a Part of Healing
How can we cultivate joy in classrooms amidst the challenges of our times? Dr. Bettina Love, Author of We Want to Do More Than Survive discusses Black joy as part an abolitionist teaching pedagogy in this video.
Drawing from the article called Building Anti-racist White Teachers, consider the questions below:
- How can white educators center Black joy, without appropriating it, in classrooms and schools? What other cultural expressions of joy should we be elevating?
- For those of us who do not teach in classrooms with Black students, what does embracing and elevating Black joy look like? Why is it important for white students and students of color who are not Black to see Black joy represented in the curriculum?
- In We Want to Do More Than Survive, Bettina Love writes that “white folx can embrace Black joy by helping, advocating for, and wanting Black folx to win.” What does this look like in your school or organization?
- After discussing the questions above, take the time to set a concrete goal for yourself. How will you elevate Black joy in your classroom and school?
5.3 Take It Deeper: Creating Healing-Centered Environments
Let’s apply what we’ve learned about creating healing-centered environments. Here is a downloadable to help you.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health".
A reflection activity to help you apply what you’ve learned about creating healing-centered environments.
Group Facilitation
The topics of trauma and mental health can be distressing. If you experience any trauma symptoms yourself as you review and/or discuss this material, please feel free to take time away from this topic and/or to seek support from a trusted individual.
Before facilitating groups, spend time in individual exploration in order to experience and embody the learning. And if you haven’t yet explored our introduction to SEL in California, make sure you explore those resources.
When facilitating groups, use the following resources:
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional development opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topic of "Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health".
A revisable, turnkey powerpoint slide deck to use for professional learning sessions on the topic of "Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health".
A powerpoint slide deck with welcoming and closing activities to include in professional learning sessions.
A reflection activity to help you apply what you’ve learned about creating healing-centered environments.
Additional Modules
Addressing Trauma and Adversity: Supporting Student Mental Health
- Module 5.1 Defining and Understanding Trauma and Adversity
- Module 5.2 Recognizing the Signs of Childhood Trauma and Adversity
- Module 5.3 Creating Healing-Centered Environments
- Module 5.4 Developmental and Other Strategies for Healing
- Module 5.5 Mental Health Crisis Intervention: Steps and Strategies
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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