Best and Promising Practices for Trauma-Informed Approaches in Preschools

Agency Environmental Components for Trauma-Informed Care

A checklist to help make sure the physical space in a building supports people who have experienced trauma.
Checklist on Trauma Informed Oregon’s website (PDF)

Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package

This tool includes 3 training courses and a guide with information on helping educators and administrators to better understand trauma and how it affects individual students, educators, and staff in regular school activities.
Training package on The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments’ website

Measuring Progress Towards Becoming a Trauma-Informed School

A summary of a trauma-informed program that can be used in the classroom to track progress to help schools. 
Summary on the Association of Alaska School Boards’ website (PDF)

1-2-3 Care: A Trauma-Sensitive Toolkit for Caregivers of Children

A guide to help caregivers, educators, and specialty providers understand and respond to children’s social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. This toolkit explains how children’s brains work, grow, and form relationships. It also offers tools to help kids manage their emotions. 
Toolkit on the Spokane Regional Health District’s website

Parent Training Modules

A series of guides to help parents understand their children’s behaviors and needs. It gives tips on handling problems like tantrums and supporting kids who have been through hard experiences. 
Modules on the Center for Social and Emotional Foundations of Early Learning’s website

Assessment of Complex Trauma by Parents and Caregivers

A checklist to help parents and caregivers know when to get help for their child who may have mental health needs.
Checklist on the National Child Traumatic Stress’s Network (PDF)

Trauma Sensitive Pedagogy

A program that gives clear instructions and goals to help educators support preschoolers who have been through hard experiences. 
Penn State University information about the program on Purdue University's College of Health and Human Services website (PDF)

Ready to Learn Through Relationships (RLR) Program

A program that helps educators learn about trauma-informed principles and practices.
More information about the program on the Springer Nature Link website

The Breakthrough Series Collaborative (TIC BSC) Initiative

A training on how to support young children, including those who may have experienced trauma in community settings. 
Training information on the Taylor and Francis Online website

Sunshine Circles

A program that uses play to help early childhood educators teach kids how to make friends, manage their feelings, and solve problems.
More information on the Taylor and Francis Online website

Head Start Trauma Smart (HSTS)

This program helps educators lower trauma related stress and create a kind and caring place by teaching preschoolers ways to get along with others. 
More information on the Teaching the Teenage Brain’s website (PDF)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach

A guide to help individuals recognize the signs of trauma and its impact on families, groups, organizations, and communities.
More information on the SAMHSA’s website (PDF)

Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) 101

A training that guides educators, caregivers, and specialty service providers to understand early childhood adversity and how to focus on calming feelings and taking care of relationships before trying to teach a new skill or behavior. 
Course outline on the Christian Science University’s website

Neurosequential Model in Education (NME)

These training courses help school staff understand how preschoolers who have had trauma experiences behave and perform in school. More information on the Neurosequential Network’s website

For help with a reference, email: iodres@temple.edu.