Students in the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District (KGBSD) experience trauma at extremely high rates due to region specific social, economic, and cultural conditions. Child sexual abuse, child abuse and neglect, exposure to domestic violence, intergenerational trauma, and bullying are all concerns within the KGBSD. A dedicated focus on trauma-informed capacity building district wide is needed to assure the successful support of students in the school system and build capacity to prevent trauma and promote healing in the community. The proposed project would allow the school district to collaborate with partner Women In Safe Homes (WISH): 1. Increase the accessibility of trauma-informed mental health services and student support; 2. Expand the capacity of the KGBSD to fully integrate trauma-informed policies and practices through staff training; 3. Operationalize the use of a common framework for trauma-engaged schools; and 4. Increase administrative oversight to assure compliance with best practices for trauma-informed and culturally responsive school systems.
The KGBSD and WISH have historically partnered to provide trauma-informed and culturally responsive services for students and training to educator. KGBSD and WISH currently partner to provide mental health support services available to students who have experienced domestic violence. The proposed program would greatly expand the number of students able to access mental health services, and expand the capacity of the district to provide social work services, educator training, and fully-realize being a trauma-engaged school district.
Goals for the program are to 1. Expand the Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District’s relationship with organizational partner WISH and other local mental health service providers and service agencies better identify, refer, and provide services to students impacted by trauma and their families; 2. Increase the capacity of the school district to identify students impacted by trauma and mental health struggles and provide them with access to comprehensive, low barrier supports and services to improve their social, emotional, and academic outcomes over the lifespan; 3. Operationalize a district wide administrative plan based on the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development’s Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma-Engaged Practice in Alaska, and 4. Implement a comprehensive training and oversight plan.
The program will utilize Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma-Engaged Practice in Alaska (TSF), developed by the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development in 2019. The evidence-based framework is a roadmap for effectively integrating components to fully-realize becoming a trauma-informed school system through improvements in the domains of: 1. Deconstructing trauma; 2. Relationship building; 3. Policy considerations; 4. Planning and coordination of schoolwide efforts; 5. Planning and coordination of schoolwide efforts; 6. Professional learning; 7. Schoolwide practices and climate; 7. Skills instruction; 8. Support services; 9. Cultural integration and community co-creation; 10. Family partnership; and 11. Self-care for staff. The proposed project includes specific activities at the direct service, administrative, and school-policy levels to assure full realization of a trauma-engaged school, as described in the implementation plan. The result of implementing TSF is a school-district that builds on existing efforts to fully integrate trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices in all aspects of operations.
The program will hire a Program Director, Evaluator, Three School Social Workers and Three School-Based Mental Health Counselors to carry out program services including student support services, school staff training and development, enhance community partnerships, and engage KGBSD families in activities that support student health, wellness, and achievement.