Trauma-Responsive Restorative Practices: Developing Relational, Emotional, and Adaptive Minds (DREAMs) Program.

The article focuses on the impact of childhood adversity on the well-being and academic success of Black or African American youth, who face higher rates of trauma and less access to mental healthcare compared to their White peers. It discusses the detrimental effects of punitive school discipline, such as suspensions and expulsions, which disproportionately affect these students and contribute to negative outcomes like academic failure and increased dropout rates. In response, the Developing Relational, Emotional, and Adaptive Minds (DREAMs) program was implemented as a trauma-responsive mental health intervention within the Just Discipline Project framework, aiming to improve school climate and reduce exclusionary discipline. Initial evaluations of the DREAMs program showed promising improvements in emotional and cognitive outcomes among participants, highlighting the need for integrating trauma-responsive supports within restorative practices in schools. [Extracted from the article]