Trauma Informed Practices
In 2018, the Denver Public Schools Foundation received a $1 million grant from The Campbell Foundation, a donor-advised fund of The Denver Foundation, to support trauma-informed practices. This transformed the way educators could meet the needs of children experiencing trauma.
Identifying Opportunities
Given that one in four students nationwide is affected by trauma—ranging from car accidents to homelessness—it was essential for our school communities to not only recognize trauma but also to be equipped with the training and resources to support affected children.
How We Identified Opportunites
When Janice and Jim Campbell sought to make a significant contribution to Denver Public Schools, the DPS Foundation worked with them to identify impactful opportunities within DPS, ensuring their gift addressed crucial needs and achieved meaningful outcomes.
How We Overcame Barriers
This investment helped us overcome barriers and align with the resolution passed by the DPS Board of Education to become a trauma-informed district. It exemplified collaboration between Denver Public Schools and the DPS Foundation for the benefit of all students.
The Strategy
In addition to establishing a therapeutic day school within DPS, the grant funded a comprehensive strategy that included:
training and coaching for
trauma-informed practices
the creation of an official
trauma certification
for DPS staff
development of
educational environments
that address learning and behavior challenges as symptoms of underlying issues.