Minnesota Institute for Trauma-Informed Education

This self-guided, online course provides educators with the tools to identify and help students who face the impacts of trauma.

In this introductory course, you will learn the basic understanding of psychological trauma and its impact in both K-12 and higher education and strategies for intervention. Learners will be able to recognize and respond to signs of traumatic stress and know where to find additional help when necessary.

This course is offered at no cost thanks to our generous funders.

This course outlines guiding principles, research, and strategies for implementing a trauma-informed education framework at the school and systems level through a focus on school policies, practices, environment, and overall mindset shifts.

This course is delivered in a self-paced, asynchronous format, there are no synchronous meetings or collaborative components.

This course will equip school staff and leaders with the knowledge and skills to build authentic, empathetic, and resilient relationships with students through a trauma-engaged education framework and emphasis on social emotional learning.

Learners will explore the biology of stress and the power of breath for self-care within a restorative framework as well as "The Circle" process. Modules will go into real-world examples of restorative justice practices and how they foster empathy, accountability, trust, and comfort.

This course will outline ways traumatic stress and vicarious trauma can impact educators with a focus on the influences of social identity, teach participants how to identify warning signs and risks involved in navigating trauma in educational contexts, and offer strategies for practicing self and community care, promoting healing, and fostering educational cultures that provide ongoing and culturally-sustaining support for educators.