Safety and Support in Schools: Trauma-Informed Design in K-12 Educational Spaces

Sep 30, 2024   |   MiEN Company

MiEN Company was founded in 2012 in the heart of Furniture City - Grand Rapids, Michigan. Innovative design and creative furniture have since produced a growing brand with a loyal dealer network. Specializing in manufacturing classroom furniture, technology integration and modular lounge units, MiEN Company serves K-12 and higher education markets to provide them with the latest and greatest furniture solutions.

Partnering with MiEN Company provides you with the expertise and the technology-driven collaborative environments that students and faculty require to be successful. In addition, partnering with an ally in purchasing, such as OMNIA Partners, can help your company save time and money while creating an ever evolving and innovative learning experience. Discover the benefits of creating a trauma-informed design for your K-12 educational space with the help of MiEN Company below!

 

Acknowledging Child Traumatic Stress in Educational Environments

For many students, school is not only an institution of learning, but also a sanctuary from the challenges they experience outside of the classroom. Not all students arrive at school equipped with the same sense of security; many carry the burden of trauma, whether from adverse experiences or external stressors. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), child trauma or child traumatic stress occurs when a frightening, dangerous, or violent event that poses a threat to a child's emotional or physical wellbeing, including witnessing a traumatic event that threatens the life or physical security of someone else.

Desk and chairs arranged in K-12 classroom

Notably, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased child trauma rates, which were disproportionately higher for children in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities. With more students experiencing trauma than ever before, it's crucial to enhance safety and support in schools by creating responsive learning spaces that consider students' different experiences, challenges, and vulnerabilities.

NCTSN worked hard during the pandemic to provide relief for children and families experiencing difficulties during this time. Examples include:

  • Provided COVID-specific resources and information, specifically through their website and social media platforms, in order to disseminate information relevant to COVID-19
  • Offered telehealth adaptations and offer consultations to many individuals
  • Provided e-learning courses and virtual trainings to meet the needs of the community
  • Worked to identify and support populations at greatest risk through trauma-informed consultations, and much more!

 

Adaptability & Flexibility in Learning Spaces

The principles of adaptability and flexibility are central to trauma-informed design. Because all students interact differently with educational spaces, it's important to enhance safety and support in schools by ensuring that furnishings, technology, and other resources can accommodate diverse student needs, fostering a positive experience for all. For instance, mobile chairs are a good option to meet students' physical and comfort needs, allowing them to not only adjust their seats for ergonomic purposes but also move around and make choices about their personal space. Similarly, modular desks and mobile tables make it easy to rearrange learning spaces when students' physical space or social interaction needs change.

MiEN + OMNIA Partners K-12 classroom offerings

Balancing Social Spaces & Private Spaces

Finding a balance between social spaces and private spaces in an educational environment is an important consideration for trauma-informed design. On one hand, community and connection are key to help students build a network of support as they process their traumatic stress. On the other hand, private and quiet spaces provide a refuge, allowing students a space to decompress and re-regulate when they are overwhelmed or triggered.

It’s important to design spaces that encourage student interactions, enhancing safety and support in schools, which can help foster a sense of belonging. This includes common areas, outdoor gathering spaces, media centers, and cafeterias. When creating social spaces, trauma-informed designers must consider all aspects of student safety, including creating accessible and navigable spaces and providing clear lines of sight, especially into closed rooms and secluded corners or hallways.

Within private spaces, designers should focus on student comfort and security. Students need spaces where they can decompress, reflect, or seek support. Breakout or study rooms, sensory spaces, and calming nooks all provide students with different levels of comfort when needed. Access to support services like counseling is also key, with the stipulation that student confidentiality is paramount to get students to take advantage of these services. Confidentiality and privacy should be built-in to the architectural design of a space, ensuring the office for these services are not exposed or located too closely to common spaces or main hallways of the school.

Click here to read the full MiEN Company Safety and Support in Schools Article!

 

About MiEN Company & OMNIA Partners

MiEN Company strives to stay on top of the latest educational trends in pedagogy, space planning, and ergonomics. Through the cooperative contract with OMNIA Partners, MiEN Company offers a full collection of award-winning furniture designed to adapt to evolving learning environments! MiEN Company partners with public sector agencies to address their ever-changing needs. Save time and money by utilizing the cooperative contract with MiEN Company and OMNIA Partners today!

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