Positive Supports for Behavior and Discipline Resource Database

The IRIS Center develops and disseminates free, engaging online resources that help educators, leaders, and families use evidence-based instructional and behavioral practices to support the education of struggling learners and those with disabilities. These resources can be used in professional development activities for practicing professionals, as well as in college teacher preparation programs. Training modules include: Addressing Challenging Behaviors for early childhood, elementary and secondary aged students.

Research tells us that high-quality, supportive early childhood programs have a positive effect on the lives of infants, young children, and families. Recent data show a troubling number of children are expelled or kicked out of early childhood settings, impacting their ability to recieve the benefits that early childhood programs provide. This fact sheet offers data on early childhood expulsion and suspension, resources, and ways early educators and systems can help.

Trauma-attuned care services integrate an understanding of trauma within all aspects of a programs organizational cultures, policies and practices. This webinar showcases practices and principles of trauma-attuned care and stories from early childhood programs about implementing and innovating these core principles within their early childhood settings.

Early childhood education programs play a vital role in supporting the social and emotional and mental health of children and families. This support is particularly important when children and families are exposed to traumatic events or situations that overwhelm their ability to cope. 

Protective factors can help develop children’s ability to cope so that they can become resilient, heal, and recover. Head Start programs are uniquely positioned to provide protective factors, such as strong, trusting relationships and safe, stable environments that promote healing for children, families, and staff.

Head Start Heals supports increased awareness about how programs can help. Explore resources or watch videos here.

Topics include: 

• Trauma basics, and what it means to have a trauma-informed care approach. 
• How trauma intersects with topics including mental health, substance use, domestic violence, and child welfare. 
• How to approach trauma and toxic stress through a culturally appropriate lens. 
• How programs can have difficult conversations with families.

Adult and organizational well-being is critial to the well-being of young children. When adults and systems implement wellness in a meaningful way they are better equipped to build nurturing and responsive relationships with children and manage a wide array of behaviors. These 8 dimensions of staff well-being were adapted from SAMHSA's step-by-step guide to wellness.

Training modules (scripts, powerpoints, training activities, handouts) on practices for promoting social, emotional, and behavioral skills and addressing challenging behavior in the preschool classroom.