On Friday, March 6th, Dr. Dana Milakovic of PDE’s Office for Safe Schools provided regional workgroup participants with and update on the statewide initiative to advance trauma-informed practices throughout our educational system. She thanked all involved for their efforts. She also reported that PDE is working on the landscape analysis to provide data from all of the regional meetings, which was originally scheduled to come out this month, but delays with emerging urgent needs across the state have slowed the process. PDE is continuing to work on that area.

Dr. Milakovic also relayed some of the positive effects the workgroup has already had in the field, which include increased networking among schools and community agencies, increased inter-agency communication around the needs of schools related to trauma and mental health, and increased discussion around the development of procedures and policies. 

Upcoming plans continue to be to provide a common language document (as requested by the workgroup). Which is currently being worked on by a sub-group of the main workgroup and should be available in the next few months. PDE will also continue to work on the landscape analysis so everyone can see the results of the workgroups. Following this, there will be a large group meeting.

According to Dr. Milakovic, “One of the over-arching themes emerging from the workgroup was the desire for this work to be ongoing and we look forward to supporting that goal.”