February 3, 2020
Matrix of CARE approach works to support children impacted by ACEs
REI faculty, Drs. Loni Crumb and Kristen Cuthrell and CARE Coach Jasmine McKinney work with the Pines Elementary 2nd grade team, administrators and counseling staff to deliver services to children and families at Pines.
Note: The Matrix of CARE was featured in the Roanoke Beacon on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. A PDF of the scanned article can be found here: “Schools, ECU partner on Matrix of C.A.R.E.” in Roanoke Beacon.
As part of a N.C. Department of Public Instruction (DPI) school safety grant, the Rural Education Institute has developed the Matrix of Collaborative Action for Resilience in Education (CARE). This holistic approach incorporates cognitive behavior therapy and classroom supports for students impacted by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
The Matrix of CARE is currently being implemented at Pines Elementary School in Plymouth, N.C. and utilizes the Bounceback Program, which is a school-based group intervention for elementary students exposed to stressful and traumatic events.
Additionally, Community Learning Exchanges (CLEs) are conducted with students, families and community members in an effort to increase awareness surrounding trauma-informed practices and supports.
Recently, Drs. Loni Crumb and Martin Reardon, REI faculty members, presented at the RISE regional training in Winston-Salem, N.C. Jasmine Garland McKinney, the CARE coach at Pines Elementary and a counselor education graduate student at ECU, also presented with them.
REI faculty members Drs. Loni Crumb and Martin Reardon, CARE coach and counselor education graduate student Jasmine Garland McKinney, Pines Elementary School counselor Monique Cannon, and Pines Elementary School second-grade teacher Susan Berry attended the RISE regional training in Winston-Salem, N.C.
This training, supported by NC DPI, promotes resiliency, information, support, and empowerment – each of which is necessary to maintain positive learning environments for N.C. students.
Their presentation, titled “The Matrix of CARE: Effectively Supporting Students Impacted by ACEs,” focused on the impact that trauma and adverse childhood experiences have on children in the learning environment. The REI team was also joined by Pines Elementary School Counselor Monique Cannon and second-grade teacher Susan Berry at the conference.
One way that ECU is working is implementing CARE is through art. REI associate faculty member Dr. Robbie Quinn from the College of Fine Arts and Communication worked with McKinney, the CARE coach at Pines Elementary, on a culminating art project with students. This project focused on supporting the students through trauma-informed practices. According to Quinn and McKinney, the students loved painting as they showed their creativity and reflected on the work they’ve done with the CARE coach.
Dr. Robbie Quinn worked with Pines Elementary School students on an art project that focused on supporting the students through trauma-informed practices.
Students from Pines Elementary School work on their art project for CARE.