Exploring Implementation of Trauma-Engaged Practices in Alaska Schools

REL Northwest’s study examined how Alaska’s schools implement trauma-engaged practices consistent with Transforming Schools: A Framework for Trauma-Engaged Practice in Alaska and supplementary resources. Alaska Department of Education and Early Development (AK DEED) and partners designed the framework in 2019 to help schools address the negative impacts of childhood trauma, and the state wanted to gain understanding of how schools used the framework and related resources.

Using administrative and survey data gathered by AK DEED and the Association of Alaska School Boards, this study found that implementation of trauma-engaged practices varies across Alaska’s schools, with most schools demonstrating an emerging level of implementation. However, schools that reported awareness of and use of Alaska’s trauma-engaged resources demonstrated a higher level of implementation. Additionally, implementation level significantly predicted student ratings on two subscales of the state’s School Climate and Connectedness Survey, the Caring Others scale, and the Cultural Connectedness scale.

State education agencies such as AK DEED can use the findings from this study to develop strategies to increase implementation of trauma-engaged initiatives across schools. For example, study interview data highlights the importance of staff buy-in and the value of investing in a trauma-engaged approach by hiring support staff, providing training, allocating funding, and establishing partnerships. Interview data also provides actionable suggestions to improve Alaska’s trauma-engaged resources to ensure they provide concrete strategies to translate concepts to action in a school or classroom setting.