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September means back-to-school, and it is also National Kinship Care Month. While relative caregiving is positive for children, many relatives do not know that the children may have experienced trauma similar to youth in foster care. As one grandparent stated, “I knew what school my grandchildren attended, but I didn’t know a lot of the details. I didn’t know that they were missing school and having struggles. I only heard about the positives.” This September, we are highlighting the importance of helping youth who have experienced trauma succeed in school.
For many kinship caregivers, school can bring new challenges. A child who has experienced difficult or traumatic events may struggle with behavior, relationships, learning, or following school rules.
That does not mean the child does not care about school or cannot succeed.
Sometimes, difficult past experiences can affect the way a child responds to adults, handles stress, or gets along with others. Understanding what may be behind the behavior can help caregivers and schools find better ways to support the child.
There is help available. And with the right support, children can make progress.
When Past Traumas Show Up at School
Children who have been in foster or kinship care are suspended or expelled from school at higher rates than other children. Missing school because of suspension or expulsion can make it harder for a student to keep up with schoolwork and graduate from high school.
Children who have experienced maltreatment may also be more likely to:
- Need special education services
- Repeat a grade
- Receive lower grades
- Experience anxiety or low mood
- Become angry or aggressive
- Have difficulty making friends or building relationships
- Have trouble getting along with other people
These challenges can make learning more difficult and may sometimes lead to behavior that disrupts the classroom.
It is important to remember that behavior is not the whole story. A child may be reacting to experiences that happened before you knew them or before they came to live with you.
Schools are learning more about how difficult experiences can affect children and how they can respond in ways that support learning and reduce behavior problems.
A Caring Adult Can Make a Difference
One of the most important things a child can have at school is a caring adult who knows them, listens to them, and helps them feel that they belong.
Research has identified five important ways school professionals can support young people:
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Perseverance: Keep working with the child, even when progress is slow.
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Adaptability: Be willing to try different approaches when something is not working.
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Relationships: Build a trusting relationship with the child.
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Time: Give the child enough time and attention to feel supported.
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Honesty: Be open and truthful with the child and the people helping them.
These five simple ideas can help children feel more connected to school and better able to use the support available to them.
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