View further resources to support back-to-school for adoptive, foster, and kinship families.

Trauma-Responsive Practices To Set Your Kids Up for Success in School

What are trauma-responsive practices, and how can they impact your child’s behavior, emotional well-being, and success in school? In this episode, we speak with Dr. Brandy-Lea McCombs, founder of STL234 Outreaches and a frequent speaker on reviving resilience in children, drawing from her professional research and her personal journey as an adoptive parent.


Follow on Your Favorite Podcast Player:  Apple • Spotify • Castbox • Other

In this episode, we discuss:

  • Can you briefly share your background and what led you to focus on trauma-responsive practices?
  • For parents & caregivers new to this language, can you please define what trauma-responsive means?
  • When people hear ‘trauma,’ they often think of major events—how should parents understand trauma in everyday situations for kids?
  • What’s happening in a child’s brain when they’re overwhelmed or triggered?
  • How does that trauma typically show up in a child’s behavior, at home or school?
  • What’s something parents often misinterpret as ‘misbehavior’ that’s actually a stress response?
  • What does being trauma-responsive actually look like at home?
  • In those tough moments, what’s the first thing a parent can do to shift their mindset?
  • How can parents balance empathy with boundaries?
  • What improvements or positive changes can parents or caregivers start to see when they begin trauma-responsive practices at home?
  • How can they take what they are learning and partner with their child’s school to better support their child?
  • What’s the one takeaway you want every parent to leave with?
  • Where can listeners connect with you or learn more?


Don’t miss an episode. Follow on your favorite podcast app.


Music Credit: Michael Ashworth; Podcast Producer: megownsoundworks.com; Photo by SAULO LEITE from Pexels: https://www.pexels.com/photo/pai-e-filho-estudando-27254264/