Page 5 - 2019-2020 Leader Manual

Why Trauma Informed Practice?

Some participants of Calgary AfterSchool programs have survived very difficult experiences. Some of
these experiences may be on-going. Trauma-informed practice creates a program environment where
every participant feels safe and supported, and where leaders understand how trauma affects behaviours
and emotions. This approach gives us a shared understanding and common language about how to
create welcoming, caring, respectful, and safe programs. All participants benefit from skill developing
environments that are calm, predictable and supportive.

Calgary Afterschool programs have responded with a trauma-informed model called Noticing Me:
Noticing Us: Noticing New (N:N:N). N:N:N operates at two levels: material for participants, and
resources and training for frontline staff.
How?

N:N:N supports participants by
o Leveraging interests and building on
strengths. We have more success
o Teaching missing social emotional learning
skills. when we meet participants
o Working within a SAFE (sequenced, active, as they are in this moment.
focused, explicit) and SEL (social emotional
learning) centered environment.

N:N:N supports program staff in:
o Understanding the impact of trauma on development
o Structuring programs for success.
o Responding to individual participant’s strengths and challenges.
o Building resilience in staff and participants

Why Noticing Me and Noticing Us?

Social and emotional skills are key life skills. We can teach these skills if they are missing, and we can
strengthen existing skills. Noticing Me and Noticing Us are tools for teaching these skills.

What?
 Noticing Me

 Self-awareness activities.
 Brain games for focus.
 Noticing Us
 Obvious (explicit) posters of social emotional learning themes.
 Debrief questions for the theme at the end of the day.

Leader Manual, Social Programs, Calgary Neighbourhoods page. 5