1. There is hereby established within the department of elementary and secondary education the “Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative”.

2. The department of elementary and secondary education shall consult the department of mental health and the department of social services for assistance in fulfilling the requirements of this section.

3. The department of elementary and secondary education shall:

   • (1) Provide information regarding the trauma-informed approach to all school districts;

   • (2) Offer training on the trauma-informed approach to all school districts, which shall include information on how schools can become trauma-informed schools; and

   • (3) Develop a website about the trauma-informed schools initiative that includes information for schools and parents regarding the trauma-informed approach and a guide for schools on how to become trauma-informed schools.

4. Each school district shall provide the address of the website described under subdivision (3) of subsection 3 of this section to all parents of the students in its district before October first of each school year.

5. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

   • (1) “Trauma-informed approach”, an approach that involves understanding and responding to the symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma and traumatic stress across the lifespan;

   • (2) “Trauma-informed school”, a school that:

   • (a) Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;

   • (b) Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, teachers, and staff;

   • (c) Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into its policies, procedures, and practices; and

   • (d) Seeks to actively resist re-traumatization.

1. Subject to appropriations, the department of elementary and secondary education shall establish the “Trauma- Informed Schools Pilot Program”.

2. Under the trauma-informed schools pilot program, the department of elementary and secondary education shall choose five schools to receive intensive training on the trauma-informed approach.

3. The five schools chosen for the pilot program shall be located in the following areas:

   • (1) One public school located in a metropolitan school district;

   • (2) One public school located in a home rule city with more than four hundred thousand inhabitants and located in more than one county;

   • (3) One public school located in a school district that has most or all of its land area located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than nine hundred fifty thousand inhabitants;

   • (4) One public school located in a school district that has most or all of its land area located in a county with a charter form of government and with more than six hundred thousand but fewer than seven hundred thousand inhabitants; and

   • (5) One public school located in any one of the following counties:

   • (a) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than forty-one thousand but fewer than forty-five thousand inhabitants;

   • (b) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than six thousand but fewer than seven thousand inhabitants and with a city of the fourth classification with more than eight hundred but fewer than nine hundred inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (c) A county of the third classification with a township form of government and with more than thirty-one thousand but fewer than thirty-five thousand inhabitants;

   • (d) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than fourteen thousand but fewer than sixteen thousand inhabitants and with a city of the third classification with more than five thousand but fewer than six thousand inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (e) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than eighteen thousand but fewer than twenty thousand inhabitants and with a city of the fourth classification with more than three thousand but fewer than three thousand seven hundred inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (f) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than eighteen thousand but fewer than twenty thousand inhabitants and with a city of the third classification with more than six thousand but fewer than seven thousand inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (g) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than fourteen thousand but fewer than sixteen thousand inhabitants and with a city of the fourth classification with more than one thousand nine hundred but fewer than two thousand one hundred inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (h) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than thirty-seven thousand but fewer than forty-one thousand inhabitants and with a city of the fourth classification with more than eight hundred but fewer than nine hundred inhabitants as the county seat;

   • (i) A county of the third classification with a township form of government and with more than twenty-eight thousand but fewer than thirty-one thousand inhabitants; or

   • (j) A county of the third classification without a township form of government and with more than twelve thousand but fewer than fourteen thousand inhabitants and with a city of the fourth classification with more than five hundred but fewer than five hundred fifty inhabitants as the county seat.

4. The department of elementary and secondary education shall:

   • (1) Train the teachers and administrators of the five schools chosen for the pilot program regarding the trauma-informed approach and how to become trauma-informed schools;
   • (2) Provide the five schools with funds to implement the trauma-informed approach; and
   • (3) Closely monitor the progress of the five schools in becoming trauma-informed schools and provide further assistance if necessary.

5. The department of elementary and secondary education shall terminate the trauma-informed schools pilot program on August 28, 2019. Before December 31, 2019, the department of elementary and secondary education shall submit a report to the general assembly that contains the results of the pilot program, including any benefits experienced by the five schools chosen for the program.

6. (1) There is hereby created in the state treasury the “Trauma-Informed Schools Pilot Program Fund”. The fund shall consist of any appropriations to such fund. The state treasurer shall be custodian of the fund. In accordance with sections 30.170 and 30.180, the state treasurer may approve disbursements of public moneys in accordance with distribution requirements and procedures developed by the department of elementary and secondary education. The fund shall be a dedicated fund and, upon appropriation, moneys in the fund shall be used solely for the administration of this section.

   • (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 33.080 to the contrary, any moneys remaining in the fund at the end of the biennium shall not revert to the credit of the general revenue fund.
   • (3) The state treasurer shall invest moneys in the fund in the same manner as other funds are invested. Any interest and moneys earned on such investments shall be credited to the fund.

7. For purposes of this section, the following terms mean:

   • (1) “Trauma-informed approach”, an approach that involves understanding and responding to the symptoms of chronic interpersonal trauma and traumatic stress across the lifespan;
   • (2) “Trauma-informed school”, a school that:
   • (a) Realizes the widespread impact of trauma and understands potential paths for recovery;
   • (b) Recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students, teachers, and staff;
   • (c) Responds by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into its policies, procedures, and practices; and
   • (d) Seeks to actively resist retraumatization.

8. The provisions of this section shall expire December 31, 2019.

This webpage provides information and resources on the Missouri Trauma-Informed Schools Initaitve. Included are links to the Missouri Model for Trauma-Informed Schools, which provides guidance for schools on incorporating a trauma informed approach into practice, and an introduction to trauma professional training webinar.