Supporting School Engagement and High School Completion Through Trauma-Informed School Counseling

Abstract

Awareness of trauma and the impact it has on children is a growing concern for schools in the United States. Exposure to trauma has been linked to challenges with learning, social/emotional health, and behaviors, all of which can negatively impact school experience and lead to issues with engagement and high school completion. We discuss suggestions for how school counselors can use a trauma-informed approach to implement systemic interventions, targeted interventions, and collaborative partnerships.

WITHDRAWN – Administrative Duplicate Publication: Initial Validation of the ASCA-Informed Student Needs Assessment—High School Version

“…Although school counselors are mindful of their scope of practice, the ASNA-H can serve several functions regarding students' social/ emotional needs. First, research supports the benefits of traumainformed school communities that are sensitive to students' mental health needs (Rumsey & Milsom, 2019). Thus, school counselors could use the aggregate and disaggregated ASNA-H data to potentially advocate for evidence-based professional development opportunities for school staff that promote traumaand mental health-informed schools, such as Youth Mental Health First Aid training (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, n.d.).…”

Initial Validation of the ASCA-Informed Student Needs Assessment—High School Version

“…Although school counselors are mindful of their scope of practice, the ASNA-H can serve several functions regarding students’ social/emotional needs. First, research supports the benefits of trauma-informed school communities that are sensitive to students’ mental health needs (Rumsey & Milsom, 2019). Thus, school counselors could use the aggregate and disaggregated ASNA-H data to potentially advocate for evidence-based professional development opportunities for school staff that promote trauma- and mental healthinformed schools, such as Youth Mental Health First Aid training (National Council for Mental Wellbeing, n.d.).…”

School Counselors Implementing a Trauma-Informed Approach Through Evidence-Based Practices

“…ASCA (2016a) posits that school counselors can use comprehensive programs to promote school environments that provide students with safe places to learn, avoid retraumatization, and engage in collaboration to support students who have experienced trauma. School counselors are also situated to identify students who may have experienced traumatic events (ASCA, 2016a) and support students using trauma-focused interventions to aid in the successful completion of school (Rumsey & Milsom, 2019).…”

“…The alignment of comprehensive school counseling program with MTSS helps school counselors support students within the three ASCA domains of academic development, career development, and social/emotional development (ASCA, 2021). Through this tiered "umbrella," school counselors can advocate for students who have experienced trauma and collaborate with key stakeholders to extend their efforts from their school counseling program by working within the MTSS model through tiered systems of support (Rumsey & Milsom, 2019).…”