What is Trauma The word trauma is used

What is Trauma? • The word “trauma” is used to describe experiences or situations that are emotionally painful and distressing, and that overwhelm people’s ability to cope, leaving them powerless.

Traumatic Incidents Impact Our Children

Exposure to Trauma can include: • Domestic Violence • Child Abuse • Death in the Family • House fire/Loss of Home • Witnessing a Crime

What does trauma look like? AVOIDANCE

What does trauma look like? NEGATIVE MOOD

What does trauma look like? NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS

Stanislaus County Population: 525, 491 Students: 106, 126 School Districts: 26 Local LE Agencies: 6

Program Overview

F. O. C. U. S. (FOCUSING ON CHILDREN UNDER STRESS)

F. O. C. U. S. Notice A simple F. O. C. U. S. Notice Provides 1 st Responders with the ability to alert the school that this child may have been involved in a traumatic incident recently and may have academic or behavioral problems today * No details are given * Just ONE simple word: “FOCUS”

First Responders send this sample notification form to the school for all school aged children (K-12)

What’s next?

Individual Academic Interventions Postpo ne testing Rest IEP Retesting

Individual Behavioral Interventions

What if school interventions are not enough?

Community Resources • Stanislaus Behavioral Health and Recovery Services • Family Justice Center • Boys & Girls Club • Center for Human Services • Sierra Vista, Aspira, & other private counselors

FOCUS • Does not excuse bad behavior • Children are still accountable for their actions • F. O. C. U. S. seeks to provide students with tools and skills to appropriately respond in an acceptable manner

F O C U S In Summary • Helps to identify “at risk” children • Provides teachers with a heads up • Connects children with accessible mental health services if needed • Strengthens collaboration between 1 ST Responders, Prevention, and Education Programs.

Updates • In October 2016 we presented at the 1 st Handle With Care Conference in Charleston, West Virginia • In November 2016 we presented at the CA Dept of Education School & Community Safety Advisory Committee • In January 2017 we presented to Albuquerque Public Schools District in Albuquerque, New Mexico • In July 2017 we will be presenting at the Safe Schools Conference in Garden Grove, CA

From April 2016 to July 31, 2018, we have received: 223 total referrals Impacting A total of 367 students

www. focuscalifornia. org

In closing Success in school is success in life. Our goal is to have children succeed in school everyday to the best of their ability no matter the environment they live in!

Contact Information Maribel Garcia George Papadopoulos Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency Office: (209) 558 -6300 Cell: (209) 450 -6473 Fax: (209) 558 -8714 Email: Garcia. Mb@stancounty. com Stanislaus Drug Enforcement Agency Office: (209) 558 -6300 Cell: (209) 595 -3474 Fax: (209) 558 -8714 Email: george. papadopoulos@standa. org ail: