School-based interventions critical to address childhood trauma

Regarding “Kaiser Permanente seeks to address trauma in 25,000 schools by 2023” (ModernHealthcare.com, Dec. 12), as an advocate in the mental health provider community, I applaud Kaiser for addressing a critical and missing service in our schools.

According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, almost half of children in the U.S. have experienced at least one or more types of serious childhood trauma; and nearly a third of U.S. youth ages 12-17 have experienced two or more types of childhood adversity.

Children who have experienced a traumatic event are vulnerable to the lasting impact of the trauma. When exposed to repeated or chronic trauma, a child’s underdeveloped brain remains at a heightened state of stress. This can affect emotional development and physical health, and causes changes in emotional, behavioral and cognitive functioning. These changes are the brain’s way of simply trying to survive.

As a forensic practitioner, I regularly consult on criminal cases where the defendants are minors. In most cases, the defendants have a long history of multiple traumas. Whether they have experienced the death of a parent, addiction, bouncing around the fostercare system, child abuse or neglect, all of these circumstances are traumatic events for a child and play a significant role in shaping their futures.

Recently, I served on a panel with experts from Communities in Schools to address the issue of childhood trauma in schools in Chicago. A portion of the discussion centered around the need for more trained mental health counselors in schools to help navigate issues associated with childhood trauma and how it affects learning.

Symptoms of childhood trauma can mimic behavioral and social issues. Early on, school staff may misread these symptoms as defiance or ambivalence. Having an awareness of trauma and implementing trauma-informed practices can help create environments for children to do their best learning and develop positive social-emotional learning skills that will stay with them throughout their time at school and beyond.

Gil Singletary, Ph.D. Senior director, School of Healthcare Professions Chamberlain University