How to support traumatised children and young people

• An online course full of videos, interactive exercises and case scenarios that raises awareness of trauma and its effects on children's health and development and introduces effective practices in supporting them.
• The result of an international collaboration of trauma experts, the trauma-responsive approach consists of 4 modules originally from the USA translated into English and supplemented with practical information for the Czech context. SOFA, in collaboration with international partners, developed the final module, Module 5, which focuses on trauma in the context of war and forced displacement. The e-learning is designed to be used globally.
• It will take you approximately 3 to 5 hours to complete the entire course, depending on the extent of use of the accompanying materials. You can interrupt the course at any time and come back to it later.
• After successfully completing the course and filling out the feedback questionnaire, you will also receive a certificate of completion.

The course is available on the web at https://www.strongresilientyouth.org/get-started#czech 

CONTENTS

Module 1: Supporting children - a trauma-informed approach

The first module presents basic information about trauma and its common manifestations in children and young people. Experts and practitioners explain the importance of a trauma-informed approach and introduce useful methods: the 4P approach and the 3Z technique. The module includes tips on personal wellbeing for educators and carers, which is a prerequisite for working with traumatised children.

Module 2: The basics of supporting the development of resilience to trauma

The second module looks at how negative experiences in childhood can affect children and young people beyond school. The focus is on how a trauma sensitive approach can be translated into working with them, supporting their strengths and building their resilience.

The module also includes information on the duty to report. The specifics of the duty to report in the Czech Republic are covered in an annex to the e-learning supplementing the Czech context.

Module 3: How to address collective traumatic events with children and young people

The third module looks at how trauma can impact different groups of people, including children and young people. It touches on issues of social inequalities and explains how perceptions of difference and unconscious biases affect us in our interpersonal interactions. Another topic addressed in the module is collective traumatic events and their impact on children and young people.

Module 4: Trauma resolution with children, families and carers

The fourth module looks at how to apply a trauma-informed approach to communication with carers and families of children. It also explains why it is important to maintain trusting relationships with caregivers and families. The module also provides activities to review and practice the techniques introduced during the e-learning course.

Module 5: Trauma in the context of conflict and displacement

The fifth module focuses on trauma caused by (war) conflict and forced displacement and its impact on the experiences and behaviour of children and their families. It presents tips on how to interact with such traumatised people and effective strategies to help overcome this kind of trauma. Space is also devoted to the importance of self-care for educators and caregivers.

All supplementary materials for the course (appendix supplementing the Czech context, workbook, discussion group guide, registration guide, e-learning evaluation) can be downloaded from the project website.