Questions Mr. Higa answered via email after the webinar:
Who administered the ACES to parents or did the intake? Counselor? Admin?
When I was a principal it usually occurred in a group setting during a trauma-informed training session with me or other support staff, or someone from the university. Dr. Hokoda from SDSU. The best setting is with the principal and support staff alongside him/her. The message should be powerful and throughout the entire school and community of parents etc. Individual surveys could be done when a counselor for instance comes upon a situation to share ACES as an educational moment or more importantly in dire need at the moment to start the healing.
When you talked about discussing events from birth to present in your presentation who is guiding that part?
Usually during an SST - (student study team) or and any time when there's a need to understand the student and his/her background experiences that a meeting is called. I usually start the conversation, or it could be the counselor or school psychologist, teacher... I would suggest the person who knows the student's best and is seeking the information to help all members to understand and make the best decisions for the sake of the students. Sometimes the nurse for her wonderings based on health questions may inquire at the meeting.
How can we use trauma-informed practices... when we return to school after the COVID19 Pandemic?
The counseling staff could create lessons for students to share their fears and feeling for the future and allow then to TLK. Have each class spend a large amount of time in each class possible the entire 50 minutes to allow students to discuss and share together in a circle. Each class should allow students to participate in some sort of positive activity and not assign work but having the time to heal TOGETHER WITH THE TEACHERS.
The main thing to do is the do schoolwide assembly, pump up the energy by having staff perform, (sing, cheer, etc) principal/administrative staff enthusiastically welcoming all students and staff back to school. Make it s positives possible. I usually went to each class to welcome ll my students back from summer, or winter break. I had welcomed back assemblies with music and excitement.
Students want to be recognized for their resilience and wellbeing.
Students and families dealing with the loss of loved ones, financial hardships, emotional and social
distancing? How can we be preventative during this time of chaos and hardships?
To start my deepest sympathy goes out to all those who have experienced losing love ones.
I volunteered with Hospice here in California for five years working with the dying but the majority of the time working with the caregivers and the survivors. Look up the bereavement process and work with children and adults on the healing process. It always worked for me. The process could be used for any type of loss… Financial hardships etc. I would share your thoughts and expertise to the entire staff and possibly training staff before the students return on all of these issues. You will not know what type of loss and emotional situations the students and adults went through so we must treat everyone the same….. with compassion and hope….
Work with students and adults on change and how to cope with change and some benefits of change in our lives and focus on the positives and all staff must lead with compassion t this time of need.
How do we get parents buy into trauma-informed practices at the middle school and high school?
Believe it or NOT, the parents were always the easiest to accept the creating of becoming a Trauma-Informed/Restorative Justice school. When speaking to all parents and the community I have found that most parents want what is best for their child.
Hold parent workshops/training on TIC and RJ for parents and community members. After learning about brain research and the belief system of no suspensions using alternative means to help their child will promote positive reactions from the parents and communities.
My most positive experiences were working with parents and the communities in Hawaii. Principals should lead this training with someone to encourage the fact that the school can’t do it alone and we must break the the cycle of trauma in school and in the communities.
I wish we had preschool/kindergarten classes to encourage parents to learn more about the effects and how we as adult parents can choose to break behavioral cycles?
The need for spreading the word on this most important message and to start from with the elementary school level so that when students come to you in Middle and High they have a greater chance to survive the caught in the middle and High school life
When I presented in Baltimore MD, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 800 participants, someone from the audience came up to me who was training in schools on TIC and RJ. She wanted to know what to do when schools run their campuses like military booth camp and all staff were negative and felt it's them or us and treating the students that way was the only way to work with students.
My best answer to her…. Trauma-informed practices or becoming a trauma informed schools do not change schools overnight but we must start early in the lower grades and train all administrators who lead all of the schools in Hawaii learning the brain research and leading with compassion are crucial in creating a positive learning environment conducive to learning.
Thank you for your questions after the presentation. I hope I was able to answer your questions sufficiently, if not let me know. It was a true pleasure working with all of you and hope to see you soon in person someday. Mahlo Godwin