A Trauma-Informed Approach to Adult Literacy Services: 25+ Social-Emotional Learning Strategies to Empower Your Transformational Learners

Understanding the role of trauma in the experience of adult learners is crucial. Training for library literacy staff often focuses on reading, writing, language acquisition, and digital skills. However, the most important elements of effective learning and adult persistence are emotional and affective. When adult learners are overwhelmed by mental health stresses, they struggle with mastering new concepts and skills and often leave programs. Developing a trauma-informed approach helps staff and tutors understand the role of trauma relate to education, immigration, marginalization, poverty, and other factors. This workshop is designed to help literacy staff reframe their work through a trauma-informed lens, leading to more effective and empathetic practices in outreach, intake, assessment, instruction, and volunteer training. The content areas will focus on mainly three parts: a) acculturation analysis-understanding four stages and four responses to culture shocks; b) a basic overview of trauma and its impacts on English learners; and c) SEL strategies that could help both instructors and students to create a trauma-informed and welcoming environment.