In response to an urgent request from the U.S. federal government, Starr Commonwealth is opening its Albion campus to help alleviate the developing humanitarian challenge at the southern border. A leader in healing trauma and building resilience... Continue reading.
Introducing Starr Commonwealth’s Resilient Schools Project Whitepaper
Starr Commonwealth’s flagship Resilient Schools Project is an evidence-informed and comprehensive systems approach to establishing a culture of resilience and trauma-informed practices in K-12 school buildings and districts nationwide. The goal is... Continue reading.
Post-COVID Stress Disorder and Pandemic Trauma and Stress Experience
The COVID-19 pandemic is triggering a wide variety of emotional, physical, and economic issues. There is extreme distress and children and adults alike are reporting worry, fear, hurt, and anger along with symptoms and reactions such as anxiety,... Continue reading.
The Core Pillars of Intervention
There are three inter-related core needs or pillars of intervention as referred to by Bath & Seita (2018) for successful intervention with children affected by adversity. These pillars include: safety, connection, coping ability. A felt sense... Continue reading.
Expressive Art and Sensory-Based Interventions
The somatic effects of stress and trauma have been long misunderstood, or identified as symptoms of a terror experience that left no apparent physical injury or scar. However, advances in science now confirm the invisible wounds of trauma are... Continue reading.
Rituals: How to support a smooth transition back to in-person, remote or hybrid learning
Many students and educators are back to school in various formats. In-school, virtual, and hybrid variations of teaching and learning for many have made scheduling and establishing a routine a challenge. During the pandemic, while some days are... Continue reading.
How to talk to children about traumatic current events and media exposure
As much as possible, keep children away from media coverage following traumatic events such as the Nashville, TN bombing and the Washington DC Capitol Hill riot. For younger children, this is easy. Keep the news turned off and avoid talking about... Continue reading.
The APA Stress in 2020 Survey and Overlapping Symptomology
The American Psychological Association’s 2020 Stress in America survey revealed that Americans are experiencing a significant and negative impact as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Americans of all ages are struggling to cope with the... Continue reading.
Starr Commonwealth Awarded Community Grants to Provide COVID-19 Relief to Marshall Public Schools
MARSHALL, MI – The Marshall Community Foundation Youth Advisory Council through the Marshall Youth Fund has awarded Starr Commonwealth, in partnership with Marshall Public Schools, a $10,000 grant to provide services for staff and students in... Continue reading.
Intentional Connection Over the Holiday Break
This is the final week of instruction for many before schools close for holiday breaks. Time to step away from both in person and virtual teaching and learning may present a welcomed change–especially for those experiencing what has become... Continue reading.
Victim vs Survivor Thinking
One of the hallmarks of trauma work is to help facilitate movement from victim-thinking to survivor-thinking. This is why we spend just as much time processing trauma themes as we do promoting experiences where children can feel safe, empowered... Continue reading.
Students as Resources: Navigating Virtual Learning
Educators have reported some surprises in virtual education. Some students who were disengaged during in-person school are actively engaging virtually. Not all students who were actively engaged in-person are engaged virtually. Let’s remember... Continue reading.
8 Quick Ways for Youth to Practice Gratitude
Gratitude is thankful appreciation and acknowledgement of the goodness a person receives or experiences in their life. In positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater well-being. Gratitude helps... Continue reading.
Emotional Awareness and Regulation
The use of body maps to help with body scans is a great way to teach and practice emotional awareness. It is very difficult to manage emotions and behavior if you don’t know how to notice and pay attention to the sensations your body provides... Continue reading.
Connection and Vulnerability
The need and desire to connect with others remains essential. The prolonged need to physically distance, teach, learn and work remotely coupled with the inability to visit friends and family due to travel restrictions and other necessary... Continue reading.
