Definitions

Use the handout to record important information and definitions as you complete this section of the module.

What is Trauma?

Experiences of trauma are prevalent in our everyday lives. Trauma, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2019), is a moderate to severe stress reaction caused by an event or a series of events.

Examples of trauma include domestic or family violence, community violence, sexual or physical abuse, a natural disaster, a sudden, unexpected violent death of someone close, war or political violence - to name a few.

According to the Center for Family and Personal Growth, Inc. (n.d.), people who have experienced trauma are many more times likely to experience depression, use legal and illicit drugs, and attempt or commit suicide.

What is an ACE?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2019) defines ACEs as "potentially traumatic events that can occur in childhood (0-17 years)" (para. 1). These traumatic events could include exposure to direct violence, such as physical or sexual abuse, as well as events that threaten a child's "sense of safety, stability, and bonding" (para. 2), including being in a home where there is domestic violence or substance abuse.

As adults, individuals with ACEs may experience higher rates of physical illness such as COPD and liver disease, mental illness such as depression, higher rates of substance abuse such as alcoholism, and higher rates of continuing the domestic violence cycle (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019).

Important module terminology:

ACEs: adverse childhood experiences that occur in childhood, from ages 0-17. Can include direct events such as violence, abuse, or neglect, or witnessing those events. Can also include indirect events that impact the child's environment, such as having an alcoholic parent, or instability due to a guardian being in jail, for example (CDC, 2021).

Compassionate care: Showing students compassion in the classroom can manifest in many ways, such as genuine praise, assuming positive intentions, speaking to students in private rather than in front of peers when there is an issue, employing sincere forgiveness, and understanding students' perspectives (Marshbank, 2017).

Trauma: a singular or series of shocking, scary, or dangerous events that can affect someone physically and/or mentally and emotionally (NIMH, 2020).

Trauma-informed strategies: intentional practices and interventions used to approach challenges with executive functioning students may face (McInerney & McKlindon, 2014).