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Responding to Community Trauma
Responding to Community Trauma
Traumatic events can impact student's learning, behavior, and relationships. It is important to have patience, recognize physical and emotional warnings, engage in positive activities, create a sense of safety, and engage in discussions to process the events.
APS staff and students will be facing many new and unique challenges for the coming school year. There will be a need to address the significant social and emotional toll this crisis has taken on both the students and the staff. Regardless of the instructional model employed at the start of the school year, many staff and students will experience anxiety and apprehension, and it is vital that we respond in a positive and supportive manner. Our plan for emotional recovery and wellbeing, centers on strategies and resources to address social-emotional and mental health needs of both the students and the staff at this critical time of re-entry. Emotional recovery and wellbeing plans for APS will be addressed in all three instructional re-entry models. It is important to recognize that staff and students' well-being and emotional needs need to be met prior to beginning academic instruction and continue throughout the school year. Our two main focus areas are professional development for school sites and resources needed to provide social emotional supports for students and staff.
Click here for more information on Psychological First Aid.
Covid-19
Covid-19
A Trauma-Informed Approach for Re-Entry: Preparing for Psychological Mental Health Concerns:
Research shows the importance of mental and emotional well-being for students and staff, which has both psychological and ultimately academic outcomes. Children with identified histories of trauma may be especially vulnerable to the impact of significant changes. Any type of stress that adults may be experiencing during this time of uncertainty will probably be mirrored in children so it is important we take care of ourselves, we’re showing them how they can take care of themselves, too. Adults are the best predictors of how our students and children are doing; they are watching and listening to us as the models for appropriate behavior and response. Access to school counselors and school-based health clinics helps students by providing wrap-around supports therefore counselors and school based health centers will play an extremely important role in the adjustment period when buildings reopen.
Phase One: Teaching and professional development opportunities for staff about trauma and trauma informed interventions through staff meetings/virtual presentations.
Phase Two: Supporting students through Psychological First Aid, restorative practices, and social-emotional learning lessons and strategies.
Phase Three: Supporting families with ongoing communication and resources.
First Weeks Back to School:
First Weeks Back to School:
PRIOR TO SCHOOL:
Professional development for principals on utilizing emotional recovery powerpoint template to design initial staff meeting(s) and drive school-wide goals to focus on emotional wellbeing as an essential component of creating a positive and responsive school climate.
Professional development for staff on addressing emotional concerns and cultural and linguistic responsiveness.
Professional development for teachers on how to access and utilize lessons and activities to do with students.
FIRST WEEKS OF SCHOOL:
Relationship building activities in person or virtually.
Teacher lessons on social emotional learning and relationship building.
Visits to the classrooms by Counselors.
Focus on student wellbeing and building connections prior to the start of instruction and assessment.
Incorporate social emotional learning and emotional connectedness into classroom sessions.
ONGOING:
Additional lessons for classrooms on social emotional learning, emotional recovery, and relationship building.
Ongoing professional development during staff meetings to address trauma, social emotional learning, emotional recovery, and relationship building.
Outreach and non-academic check-ins with families and students, as needed, to provide emotional support and resources.
"Wellness is the complete state of physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
World Health Organization (WHO)If the Corona Virus pandemic has done one thing it has highlighted, in glaring figures, the importance of total wellness in our society. From the prevention of chronic diseases like Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity to the need for mental health resources for employees to positively cope with life's challenging social and emotional demands.
APS Employee Wellness encourages an environment that promotes a culture of total well-being for all employees. We provide resources and programs to improve physical and mental health and safety, as well as reduce the risk of preventable chronic diseases. This not only boosts our immune systems, but also enhances our complete wellness state so that we are not merely surviving, but thriving.
APS EAP Services
APS "Life on Mindfulness"
Employee Benefits Mental/Behavioral Health Telemedicine
APS 2020 Wellness Incentive Program
Self Care Brochure.pdfSelf-Care & Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty:
Self-Care & Taking Care of Your Mental Health in the Face of Uncertainty:
Many of us have been worried and affected by Covid-19. We have never experienced a world-wide pandemic and we continue to live with uncertainty. It's normal to feel helpless and frustrated when we don't generally feel safe. This causes stress in our lives.
Stress takes a toll on our mental health. We don't always know it is happening. We might feel more on edge than usual, angry, helpless or sad. We might be short-tempered with others, or have a desire to completely avoid any reminders of what is happening.
The APS Employee Assistance Program is a free benefit to all employees. There is no co-pay and no need to show an insurance card. Staff can access this free counseling program by calling (505) 880-3718 to schedule an appointment for themselves or an immediate family member.
Sessions are facilitated in a confidential and nurturing setting for no charge to APS employees.
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
What is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?
EAP is a voluntary, work-based program that offers free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals and follow-up services to employees who have personal and/or work-related problems. EAP services address a broad and complex body of issues affecting mental and emotional well-being, such as alcohol and other substance abuse, stress, grief, family problems and psychological disorders. EAP is also active in helping employees address work issues. Mediation, stress reduction counseling and more are offered as needed.
It is important to take care of ourselves during this stressful time. We can always choose our response. If you are struggling please do not hesitate to take advantage of your benefits, which include free counseling with the EAP. Our therapists are licensed professional clinical counselors with many years of experience, and always available to support you.
Self-care is the act of taking positive steps every day to care for your mental, emotional, social, spiritual and physical health. Advocating in this way for your health can ease anxiety, depression, lower blood pressure and create a greater sense of overall well-being.
The APS-EAP flyer to the left provides an expansive list of self-care solutions. Try to choose one thing in one category to do every day. See how you feel!
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