Congratulations to University of Iowa College of Education Assistant Professor Armeda Wojciak, PhD, LMFT and Clinical Associate Professor Carol Smith, PhD, LPC, NCC for receiving an external implementation grant ($87,718) from the Center for Educational Transformation from the University of Northern Iowa. 

In July 2015, Wojciak (pictured at right) and Smith received $25,000 from the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa to conduct a pilot grant entitled, “Trauma Informed Practice in an Iowa Elementary School” in an elementary school in College Community School District in Cedar Rapids. They have been conducting trauma-informed training and intervention strategies in order to:

• reduce behavioral concerns among students
• increase staff’s confidence in using trauma-informed practices
• increase staff satisfaction and self-efficacy beliefs, and
• impact school climate.

Wojciak said her team is excited about expanding this project and the resulting momentum/effect it is having on both teachers and children.

According to Wojciak, she is looking forward to expanding the intervention so that trauma informed practices can reach more children throughout Iowa, and she's hopeful that during the next year her team will see continued positive effects as a result of the intervention in four more elementary schools.