This partnership between the Center for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect, Oregon Research Schools Network, and the South Coast ESD began in August 2020 and focuses on implementing trauma-informed school systems. Find out more about ORSN here, and read about the partnership in “Around the O” here.

CPAN is working with school districts in Coos and Curry counties to train current staff members as student support specialists, who offer students emotional and social support and connect them with professional mental health specialists as necessary.

“There is research and wisdom that if a student feels connected and like they belong, then it translates into better student outcomes,” CPAN Director Jeff Todahl told the Curry Coastal Pilot in February 2021. “Schools around the United States who have done a good job of being more trauma informed showed higher graduation rates, higher retention rates, fewer discipline referrals. There are powerful outcomes that can happen.”

CPAN has developed a series of Micro PDs – short professional development videos – to aid in the training of student support specialists. With tech wizardry courtesy of the UO’s Sol Joye, Jeff Todahl recorded this Micro PD on building trust with students: