Trauma Informed Futures Blog - Education and Free Resources
Educator Resource, Social Emotional Learning Rachel Levy Educator Resource, Social Emotional Learning Rachel Levy

Trauma-Informed Schools: A Pathway to Suicide Prevention, Belonging, and Hope

Youth suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people, yet schools have the power to be life-saving spaces of connection, belonging, and hope. By embracing trauma-informed practices, cultural humility, and restorative approaches, educators can transform classrooms into protective environments where every student feels seen, valued, and supported. This Suicide Prevention Month, Resilient Futures calls on communities to invest in practices that not only strengthen academics but save lives and preserve futures.

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Free Downloads, Trauma-Informed Education, Social Emotional Learning Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Trauma-Informed Education, Social Emotional Learning Rachel Levy

How Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Can Reduce School Avoidance and Chronic Absenteeism

Chronic absenteeism has surged in U.S. schools post-pandemic, largely due to trauma, isolation, and unmet mental health needs. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) offers proactive, trauma-informed strategies that foster belonging, emotional regulation, and supportive relationships. All key factors in driving consistent school attendance. By shifting from reactive measures to care-centered practices, educators can help re-engage students and make schools places where young people feel safe enough to show up.

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Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers

An Educational Book Series from Resilient Futures

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches

[July 2022] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series Contemporary Perspectives on Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers provides reflections, examples, and implementation guidance for the innovative and important ways educators develop and implement trauma-informed practices across their programs, instituting broader curricular shifts to incorporate trauma-informed practices.

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms That Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches: Research Findings From the Field

[January 2023] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series was driven by a deep desire to ensure that teacher candidates are thoughtfully prepared to more fully address students’ needs and create classroom environments that are safe for students and teachers.

3D-rendered book cover titled 'Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches.' Authors listed include Ofelia Castro Schepers, Philip Bernhardt, and Megan Brennan.

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Intentional Partnerships to Create Classrooms That Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches

[May 2025] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series we delves into the heart of educational evolution: Intentional Partnerships to Create Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches.

Book cover titled Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers with a picture of a bee on a purple flower.

Childhood Trauma:

An event(s) that a child finds overwhelmingly distressing or emotionally painful, often resulting in lasting mental and physical effects.

Many think of trauma as a single life-changing event, but more commonly trauma manifests as a series of events or patterns of abusive or neglectful behaviors that compound over time.

Understanding Childhood Trauma

Purple infographic listing behaviors exhibited as trauma responses. Left column: social anxiety, anger, aggression, disassociation, reenactment of traumatic events, shyness, avoidance, bedwetting, loss of appetite. Right column: refusal to attend school/work, shyness, inability to focus (ADD/ADHD), panic attacks, insomnia/nightmares, fighting, self-harming, eating disorders.

In the Press

  • Resilient Futures named parter for MSU's School of Education Master's Program

    The majority of school children have experienced trauma. MSU Denver's School of Education is responding with programs focused on Trauma-Informed Practices and other initiatives that address persistent challenges in education. Resilient Futures is an official partner in delivering Trauma-Informed curriculum.

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  • “Preparing Future Teachers in Trauma-Informed Practices”

    Through our partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver School of Education, we are taking steps forward in shifting teachers’ mindsets from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

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  • “Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Eleonora Cahill of Resilient Futures”

    An interview with Dr. Eleonora Cahill on behalf of Voyage Denver.

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  • “Who Takes Care of Teachers?”

    Connecting with kids makes for better instructors, but the emotional expense takes a toll.

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  • "Changing the Conversation About Trauma”

    To best help children in need, educators need to change the way they talk about trauma. Here's how MSU Denver’s teacher-prep program in partnership with Resilient Futures is moving the conversation forward and helping teachers understand the language of trauma.

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  • “Extending Mental Health Help to Vulnerable Kids”

    U.S. News & Report takes a closer look at how trauma-informed clinics and schools recognize that families face daunting outside pressures.

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  • “Teachers tackle student trauma”

    Educators learn informed approaches to supporting children in need. The partnership between Resilient Futures, MSU Denver, and National Mental Health Innovation Center brings trauma-informed pedagogy to pre-service teachers. 

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  • "CCSD Schools Highlight Trauma-Informed Practices at Showcase"

    Through our partnership with Cherry Creek School District, we're implementing and building understanding about trauma-informed practices, wellness, and other restorative and equity-focused approaches.

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  • "Trauma & Developmental Disability" Podcast Series ft. Dr. Laura McArthur

    In this THINK+change vodcast/podcast series, Dr. Laura McArthur explains what it means to be a trauma-informed organization and why they can be valuable when supporting people with developmental disabilities.

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  • Resilient Futures helps ECE Students Meet New Colorado State Mandate

    Dr. Rosemarie Allen is an ECE faculty member at MSU Denver. Colorado's Universal Pre-K program will soon have new ways to help students who have been through trauma. Watch Dr. Rosemarie Allen weigh in on the new mandate from the State Department of Early Childhood in her interview with NBC 9 News about trauma-informed training for ECE teachers from Resilient Futures.

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Give to further our Mission

More than ever, our schools and youth-serving communities are in need of trauma-informed education, training, and resources. Your tax-deductible gift will directly fund our program expansion efforts, enabling us to provide trauma-informed training and resources to a greater number of educators, schools, and youth-serving organizations.

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