A needs assessment is facilitated by the Safe Schools NOLA School Support Specialist to identify shared priorities that can be addressed in the trauma-informed action plan. The school’s leadership and peer support teams complete a series of measures as part of the needs assessment, including a checklist to identify trauma responsive programming and policy across a number of domains, a walk-through assessment of the school environment using a trauma-informed lens, and a review of school policies and procedures using a trauma-informed lens. Student and parent focus groups are also conducted to understand their perspectives on school safety and support. Once the needs assessment is complete (ideally in the fall), leadership and peer support teams then began their action planning process through a shared data review and facilitated discussions modeled after the Flexible Framework approach introduced by the Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative. See below for needs assessment tools utilized during the Safe Schools NOLA intervention. 

• Trauma-Sensitive Schools Checklist (Lesley University & Massachusetts Advocates for Children)

• Trauma Responsive Schools Implementation Assessment (NCTSN Treatment and Services Adaptation Center for Resilience, Hope, and Wellness in Schools and the Center for School Mental Health)

• Safe Schools NOLA Trauma-Informed Schools Walk-Through Observation Tool 

• Walk-Through Observation Discussion Questions 

• Safe Schools NOLA Policy, Procedure & Practice Review 

• Parent Focus Group Guide 

• Student Focus Group Guide