Trauma-Sensitive Schools and Social and Emotional Learning: An Integration
David Osher, Kathleen Guarino, Wehmah Jones, & Mara Schanfield; The Pennsylvania State University
This brief examines how trauma-sensitive schools (TSS) and SEL can be integrated and expanded — through shared understanding and vision, a readiness to integrate approaches, a shift in mindsets, joint implementation and evaluation, support of adult SEL, and an enhanced equity lens — to create safe, supportive, and culturally responsive schools that prevent school-related trauma and foster thriving, robust equity, and transformative learning.