The Impact of Trauma
Teaching Resilience Through Positive
Adult Relationships
Lincoln Demographics
 Current enrollment – 200 students




63.8% Caucasian
29.6% Hispanic
3.1% African American
3.5% Other
 71.6 % Free/Reduced lunch (State average is
42.3%)
 21.8% Special Education (State average is
12.6%)
What is Complex Trauma?
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can be measure by the number of traumatic
events a child experiences prior to the age of 18. These experiences are narrowed down
to the following areas:

Recurrent physical abuse

Recurrent emotional abuse

Contact sexual abuse

An alcohol and/or drug abuser in the
household

An incarcerated household member

Someone who is chronically depressed,
mentally ill, institutionalized, or suicidal

Mother is treated violently

One or no parents

Emotional or physical neglect
Impact of ACEs on Brain Development
A PET scan of a normal brain (left) shows a high level of brain activity in the temporal lobes of the brain.
The temporal lobes are responsible for regulating emotions and receive input from the senses. The
temporal lobes on the right are from a severely traumatize child in which the lobes are inactive. Children
with damage to this part of the brain suffer sever emotional and cognitive problems as well as have difficulty
in making and/or sustaining positive relationships.
Adverse Childhood Experiences Are
Common… National Survey of a typical
Household dysfunction:
Substance abuse
Parental sep/divorce
Mental illness
Battered mother
Criminal behavior
Abuse:
Psychological
Physical
Sexual
Neglect:
Emotional
Physical
27%
23%
17%
13%
6%
11%
28%
21%
15%
10%
classroom.
ACE Score
and Teen Sexual Behaviors –
National Data
Percent With Health Problem (%)
45
40
ACE Score
0
1
2
3
4 or more
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Intercourse by
Age 15
Teen Pregnancy
Teen Paternity
Relationship Between Number of Adverse Childhood
Experiences and Adolescent Pregnancy
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0
1
2
3
4
ACE Score
5
6
7-8
ACE Score and HIV Risks
20
Percent With Health Problem (%)
18
16
14
ACE Score
0
1
2
3
4 or more
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
Ever Injected
Drugs
Had 50 or More
Intercourse Partners
Ever Had an
STD
Percent attempted (%)
The ACE Score and the Prevalence of
Attempted Suicide
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
2
ACE Score
3
>=4
High Residential Mobility (>8 moves) During
Childhood by ACE Score
Percent who moved
8 or more times (%)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
0
1
2
3
ACE Score
4 or 5
>=6
“…early experiences help
to determine brain structure,
thus shaping the way people
learn, think, and behave for
the rest of their lives.”
I Am Your Child
Reiner Foundation
What Are We Doing To Build
Resiliency In Our Kids??
 In 2009, Lincoln opened the doors to the first
School Based Health Clinic in Walla Walla.
 The Clinic offers mental health counseling
(individual, group and family), primary care
and substance abuse counseling.
 Open communication between the clinic and
the school has provided a more holistic
understanding of our student’s situation and
needs.
Lincoln Health Center’s Impact…
 In the 2009-10 school year, the Lincoln
Health Center had 1073 visits from Lincoln
students. As of March this year, they have
already seen 1055.
 90% of the student population has been seen
at the health center this school year.



78% have seen a Registered Nurse
21% have seen a physician or nurse
practitioner
25% have seen a mental health counselor
Mental Health Disorders Breakdown
Mental Health Issues
2010-2011
Axis I & II Disorders
*Depressio n, A nxiety,
B ipo lar, etc.
Learning Disorders
4%
31%
Relational Disorders
18%
Adjustment
Disorders
Life changes that lead to
emo tio nal o r behavio ral
issues
50%
Primary Care Breakdown
Primary Care Issues
2010-2011
Sleep and Nervous
System Issues
5%
Skin Infections
2%
Preventative Care
10%
Chronic Illness
Management
0%
Stomach Issues
21%
Dental
1%
Muscle and
Bone Injuries
15%
Urinary and
Reproductive Health
13%
Respiratory Care
33%
Shift in School Philosophy of
Discipline
 Discipline is not reactive or based on punitive
measures.
 Empathy and compassion is at the forefront
and a true understanding of all components is
taken into consideration.
 Goal is to keep kids connected and in school
versus out of school discipline.
Discipline at the School…
50
45
39
40
30
20
20
19
13
10
0
5
5
0
1 day Suspension
2 day Suspension
3 day Suspensions
Feb. 28, 2010
6
5
1
0
4 day Suspensions
5 day Suspensions
Em ergency
Expulsions
Feb. 28, 2011
Number of Suspension Days Students were out of
School through November 30th
140
139
120
100
80
2009
2010
60
40
44
20
20
0
5
Suspension
Days
Expulsion
Days Out
6 1
Expulsions
Police Reports Filed on School Incidents
30
27
25
20
21
15
15
10
1718
1516
9
5
4
0
Fall 2009
Spring
2010
Fall 2010
Lincoln
Pioneer
Garrison
What do the Kids Think??
Student Questionnaire
90
80
89
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
62
46
25
64
60
43
Comfort
Growth
Over whelmed
41
20
6
Question 1
3
Question 2
6
Question 3
7
Question 4
6
Question 5