A New Milestone in Supporting Student Needs

It’s a feeling many educators and caregivers know all too well: standing in front of a student who’s clearly struggling, carrying the weight of something unseen, and not knowing exactly how to help. Supporting students who have experienced trauma can feel overwhelming, leaving us unsure if we’re doing enough—or doing the right thing. But there’s good news. Research has illuminated powerful, effective strategies to help students not only cope with their challenges but rise above them. By equipping students with the right skills and fostering supportive environments, we can empower them to regulate their emotions, build resilience, and pursue their goals with confidence.

CharacterStrong is proud to announce the addition of Regulated and Rising, a trauma-focused pathway, to our Tier 3 curriculum suite. Designed to address the unique challenges faced by students experiencing trauma and trauma-related stress, this new curriculum pathway provides targeted interventions that support recovery and self-regulation. This addition further enhances our comprehensive Tier 3 offerings, ensuring facilitators and support staff have the tools to meet the diverse needs of their students.

Enhancing the Tier 3 Suite

The Tier 3 curriculum suite now includes targeted Skills curricula to address:

• Anxiety and Worry: Courageous and Confident
• Depression and Low Mood: Purposeful and Proud
• Executive Functioning and ADHD: Focused and Successful
• Trauma and Trauma-Related Stress: Regulated and Rising

This robust collection ensures that students receive precise interventions that are tailored to their specific needs, with Regulated and Rising addressing the vital area of trauma.

Curriculum Focus: Trauma Recovery and Regulation

The Regulated and Rising curriculum equips educators with the resources to establish supportive relationships and teach students skills to manage challenging experiences effectively. By fostering self-regulation and positive coping, the curriculum enables students to fully engage with their education and thrive in their school and social environment. Key components of the curriculum include:

• Relaxation techniques to manage trauma-related anxiety.
• Reframing Thoughts to be more helpful and hopeful.
• Understanding the body’s response to traumatic experiences.
• Step-by-step strategies to gradually work through difficult experiences in a safe and supportive way.

Key Features in Regulated and Rising

Curriculum Design

• Lessons are adaptable to meet the readiness and comfort levels of students, allowing flexibility for facilitators.
• Content emphasizes trauma management, empowering students to feel more regulated and rise above their experience to feel and function better.

Required Facilitator Training

Trauma-focused lessons include free, asynchronous modules and two mandatory training videos embedded in the platform to ensure facilitators are prepared and confident:

• Initial Training: Unlocks the first set of lessons and provides an overview of the trauma curriculum .
• Midpoint Training: Equips facilitators to guide students through supportive, step-by-step activities for processing difficult memories.

Step-by-Step Practice Sessions

• Sessions help students address fears and frustrations surrounding challenging experiences in a safe, incremental manner.
• Facilitators can opt out of these sessions for students who may not be ready or for whom this approach is less relevant.

Matching Tools

• Trauma-focused interventions should include verification of trauma to ensure that the support is properly matched to the root cause.
• Facilitators are guided to complete these assessments and review criteria to ensure matching a student to Regulated and Rising is the best fit.

Facilitator Roles and Considerations

• Typical facilitators (school counselors, mental health professionals, lead teachers) are supported to deliver trauma-focused content.
• The curriculum is designed to be accessible, even for facilitators without explicit trauma support training.

Gatekeeper Features

• Built-in checks ensure trauma is confirmed as the priority focus area through verification tools.
• Family consent is required before students participate in the trauma pathway.
• Safety and de-escalation tools are embedded within the curriculum to support facilitators and students at critical moments.

Implementation Notes

The Regulated and Rising pathway is tailored for students experiencing trauma-related challenges that interfere with their ability to learn. Student needs can be verified using brief trauma assessment tools recommended in the platform.

Access and Training

• Facilitators must complete the required training sessions to unlock and deliver lessons.
• Teams are encouraged to reevaluate student needs regularly using tools like the Top Needs Tool and trauma need assessments.

Visual and Content Updates

• The curriculum’s structure aligns with existing Tier 3 pathways, ensuring consistency and ease of use for educators.
• Separate curricula for elementary and secondary levels provide developmentally appropriate content.

Support for Educators and Families

The trauma curriculum includes comprehensive resources to ensure seamless collaboration among educators, students, and families:

• Brief Videos: Engaging, easy-to-understand videos help communicate key concepts and objectives to important adults supporting students.
• Email Templates: Facilitators can use pre-designed templates to communicate session content with caregivers and families.
• Touchpoints: Regular opportunities for connecting with caregivers and educators are embedded throughout the curriculum.
• Supplemental Resources: Additional content equips adults with strategies to support students effectively.

Supporting Students Through Trauma Recovery

With the addition of Regulated and Rising, CharacterStrong’s Tier 3 suite now offers comprehensive support for anxiety, depression, executive functioning, and trauma. 

When we know better, we can do better—and that’s especially true when it comes to supporting students who have experienced trauma. With access to the right resources and professional development, we can deliver effective trauma-informed interventions that truly make a difference. Together, we can create environments where students feel safe, supported, and empowered to rise above their challenges, regulate their emotions, and achieve their goals. Every step we take toward understanding and action brings us closer to unlocking the potential of every student, no matter their story.

Learn more today about our Tier 3 Suite. Request a quote or book a call with one of our team members to get started.

We’re hosting a National School Counseling Summit to support school counselors in navigating today’s educational challenges. This 1-day event is packed with growth, collaboration, and community as we work together to create meaningful change. Enjoy online sessions, inspiring interviews, and success stories that will leave you energized and equipped. Learn more and sign up here!