“Before the ACEs training, our staff didn’t realize how many layers a lot of children and adults walk around with — and how that can affect how we interact with one another. Lots of eyes were opened, and I would say even hearts were opened. Now we can begin to understand why a child is behaving a certain way.”
– Principal Zebbie Belton, Carroll Robbins Elementary School (Trenton, NJ)
After struggling through the pandemic, children of all backgrounds show significant mental health needs as they return to in-person learning. School officials report an increase in students displaying symptoms of anxiety and depression. The CDC reports an increase in mental health-related hospital emergency room visits among children aged 5-17. Furthermore, the pandemic has increased such home-based stressors as food insecurity and housing instability.
The Foundation for Educational Administration (FEA) works with school leaders and community partners throughout New Jersey to address these needs through a new model for healing-centered engagement in schools. Launched in 2020 in 26 New Jersey public schools, this pilot initiative offers interactive training workshops and tailored coaching on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), trauma-informed care, healing-centered engagement, and Mental Health First Aid.
All aspects of the pilot initiative, including training and coaching, are offered free-of-charge to selected schools. Key partners on the project include NJEA and the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. The Burke Foundation supports the pilot with the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Health Initiatives, Princeton Area Community Foundation, and the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund.
The program takes a whole-school approach — reaching teachers, administrators, school staff, and families across regions and grade-levels — to build trusting relationships and provide practical tools and strategies for educators to support students who experience trauma. It includes a deep focus on establishing community connections, providing resources, and facilitating service referrals to meet the needs of students and families inside and outside the classroom.
To date, over 2,000 educators and school staff received training through the pilot initiative.
Evaluators found that 87% of pilot program participants found the trainings valuable.
In the 2021-2022 academic year, the initiative is expanding to 35 more schools, with a focus on the Mercer County area through the Princeton Area Community Foundation’s generous support.
In New Jersey, 40% of children, more than 782,000, are estimated to have experienced at least one ACE, and 18% have experienced multiple ACEs.
Children who experience multiple ACEs are at higher risk of poor educational outcomes, including failing a grade or dropping out of school.
“A healing-centered approach views trauma not simply as an individual isolated experience, but rather highlights the ways in which trauma and healing are experienced collectively. The term ‘healing-centered engagement’ expands how we think about responses to trauma and offers a more holistic approach to fostering well-being.”
Program in Action
