For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

Speaker

Molly Pistrang-Gomes, M.Ed., Independent Evaluator and Public Health Research Consultant

Description

Trauma-sensitive, or trauma-informed school environments, are more than buzz words or quick solutions. This webinar series will be framed by SAMHSA’s framework of trauma-informed care and the CDC’s social ecological model for violence prevention; trauma-sensitive practices that require consistent, predictable, and comprehensive efforts across a school community. Participants will begin by learning about trauma and its physical, emotional, and behavioral impacts. Remaining sessions will explore strategies to support individual students, relationship level approaches, community norms and practices, and policy and systemic considerations. Participants will reflect on their roles and responsibilities while working with people who have experienced/are experiencing trauma, examine barriers for implementation, and build practices to promote sustainability as a whole school community.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Within 24 hours of the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session.

Session one will begin by defining trauma and unpacking the emotional, behavioral, academic, and physical impacts now and in the future. Participants will learn about how trauma impacts the brain, how we’ve evolved to protect ourselves, and what can happen if trauma stays locked in our bodies.

Session two will cover what many people consider to be trauma-sensitive, or trauma-informed care: classroom management, support, and care. Participants will use a lens of compassionate accountability to learn how to hold caring and firm boundaries. Our focus will focus on young people and the adults who create/ hold space for young people.

Session three will focus on boundaries and expectations. This will include how, when, and why we communicate our roles, the importance of modeling boundaries, and self-regulation and communication skills.

Session four will explore the importance of consistent, comprehensive, and predictable community norms and practices that promote healing, respect, and sustainability for youth and adults. Participants will learn how one teacher providing a “safe” space for students does not make a trauma sensitive school; it requires an environment of support and care.

Session five will return to the beginning- by defining trauma as a loss of power and control and examining how systems of power and oppression perpetuate imbalances and inequities. Participants will explore how trauma-sensitive practices have to come from the top down (or at least be accepted from the top) and use an anti-oppressive lens. Administrators and policies need to model and promote trauma-sensitive practices so they can be reinforced as fabric of a school’s culture.

About the Speaker

Molly Pistrang-Gomes, M.Ed., she/her/hers, brings extensive experience working with nonprofits and school communities from the elementary to university level. She worked for many years at nonprofit REACH Beyond Domestic Violence, partnering with school communities to promote healthy relationships and prevent violence. Molly uses a trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, evaluative, and participatory approach to examine policy, provide training, support organizational learning, data, and evaluation practices, write grants, and promote skill and capacity building, all while centering those most impacted by an issue. 

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must past the quiz.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

 

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All sessions are 12:00 – 2:00 pm

  • Session 1: October 1, 2025, What Is Trauma and How Does It Show up (Now and Later)?
  • Session 2: October 8, 2025, Whole Child: Strategies to Support Individuals
  • Session 3: October 15, 2025, Whole School: Relationship Dynamics and Boundaries, Boundaries, Boundaries!
  • Session 4: October 22, 2025, Whole Community: Consistent and Predictable Norms, Practices, and Procedures
  • Session 5: October 29, 2025, Whole Picture: Integrating Trauma-Sensitive Approaches Into a School’s Identity