The CDC statistics on youth victimization in the United States are troubling. The organization reports that one in four children experiences some mistreatment (physical, sexual, or emotional abuse); and one in four women has experienced domestic violence. Also, one in five women and one in 71 men have experienced rape at some point in their lives — 12% of these women and 30% of these men were younger than ten years old when they experienced their sexual assault.
The CDC statistics indicate that a significant number of people have experienced severe trauma at some point in their lives. Trauma-informed environments are highlighted by open-mindedness and compassion that all young people deserve an understanding of how their lived experiences affect their mental wellbeing. Organizations that work with young people need to recognize that many of the children under their care have a history of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, as well as having faced negative experiences related to historical trauma.
IINII uses a revolutionary Design Thinking process to help your school community gain an understanding of one’s sense of self, as well as developing an understanding of students’ values; having an understanding of one’s values matters because research has shown that it is linked to better well-being, less stress, and increased confidence in one’s ability to succeed.
Understanding students’ values can be developed with culturally responsive practices that reflect a student’s identity and experience. Particularly helpful is focusing efforts on cultural competence and relevance and providing opportunities for students to practice bridging differences between diverse identities in a safe environment. To learn how you can create a dynamic learning environment that honors your student community, visit our website at www.iinii.org, or contact us at iinii@iinii.org or 1800-507-2502.
