Increasing Trauma-Informed Awareness and Practice in Higher Education
1Dr. Doughty: Instructional Coordinator/Nursing Faculty, Delaware Technical Community College, Newark, DE.
Summary
Trauma-informed professional development significantly improved educators' knowledge and ability to support students in higher education. This initiative is crucial for fostering a trauma-sensitive campus culture.
Area of Science:
- Education
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Traumatic experiences significantly impact physical, social, emotional health, and cognitive development throughout life.
- Trauma-informed initiatives are expanding in public and healthcare sectors, yet are notably absent in higher education settings.
- Higher education institutions need to address the impact of trauma on students and educators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a trauma-informed professional development session for educators.
- To assess changes in educators' knowledge and perceptions of trauma-informed care (TIC) and trauma-informed educational strategies (TIES).
- To explore the potential for integrating TIC into higher education.
Main Methods:
- A pre-post survey design was employed to measure changes in knowledge and perceptions.
- Educators participated in a trauma-informed professional development session.
- Follow-up interviews were conducted to gain deeper insights into educators' understanding and application of TIC and TIES.
Main Results:
- The professional development session led to a statistically significant increase in educators' knowledge of TIC and TIES (p < .05).
- Educators reported an improved ability to support students following the training.
- The study indicates a positive shift in educators' understanding and preparedness to address trauma.
Conclusions:
- Implementing trauma-informed professional development is a vital first step toward integrating TIC in higher education.
- This initiative can facilitate a broader transition to a trauma-sensitive culture within academic institutions.
- Further integration of TIC is recommended to support student well-being and academic success.
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