Beyond the Behaviors: Trauma, Mental Health, and Supporting Children in Educational Settings

Session Description

Children who have experienced abuse, neglect, violence, grief, or chronic adversity often communicate distress through behavior, learning challenges, withdrawal, emotional dysregulation, or changes in school engagement. This session focuses on common diagnoses and clinical concerns seen in children who have experienced trauma, including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress symptoms, ADHD, oppositional behaviors, conduct concerns, self-harm risk, and emotional dysregulation. Participants will explore how trauma can be mistaken for willful misbehavior and how schools can play a critical role in recognizing early warning signs, responding with trauma-informed classroom and schoolwide practices, and connecting students to appropriate mental health supports. The session will also examine how safe, stable, and nurturing relationships—including the impact of one caring adult, attachment, belonging, mentoring, advocacy, and consistent emotional support—can buffer the effects of trauma, prevent further harm, and help children feel seen, safe, valued, and connected.

Learning Objectives

• Identify trauma-related mental health concerns in children and how they may affect behavior, learning, regulation, and school engagement.

• Recognize how schools can identify and respond to signs of student mental health challenges.

• Apply trauma-informed, relationship-centered strategies that support safety, regulation, belonging, and resilience.

• Describe interventions that help prevent the long-term impact of childhood trauma.

2026 - 2027 Louisiana CASA Webinar Series: Healthy Minds, Safe Children: Preventing Child Abuse Through Mental Health Awareness and Support

This eight-part webinar series explores how mental health awareness, early intervention, trauma-informed support, and strong community partnerships can help prevent child abuse and neglect. Participants will examine how caregiver wellness, childhood trauma, adolescent mental health, and family stress influence child safety while learning practical ways to recognize concerns early, strengthen protective factors, and connect families to support before crises occur.