Some very good points from the following article explaining why trauma-informed/responsive classrooms, schools, and programs like REACH are so important: "Working with trauma-affected students is a difficult balancing act. We acknowledge the harmful impacts of the past, and hold out hope for a future of healing. We create a safe environment for students to share their lives, yet maintain professional boundaries. We provide our caring and our help to others, but have to pay attention to our own well-being, too. We work in our classrooms but depend on the support of our community. As teachers we need to focus on the individual student and the strong, one-to-one relationships that support our trauma-affected kids. Creating these bonds requires a broader cultural adjustment and reprioritization, where the whole community works together to cultivate a space in which students, educators, and staff members thrive. What about classrooms without a lot of trauma? It’s risky to assume that our students haven’t experienced trauma—according to a seminal study from the Centers for Disease Control, childhood trauma is far more pervasive than previously believed and is often invisible. Trauma-informed and SEL practices benefit all children, building critical skills like self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and an openness to teamwork and cooperation." https://www.edutopia.org/article/how-and-why-trauma-informed-teaching?utm_medium=socialflow&utm_source=facebook