South-Western City Schools is collaborating with the Buckeye Ranch to launch a program aimed at helping pre-K students and their families address childhood trauma before they enter kindergarten.
This initiative, led by Buckeye Ranch—a nonprofit focused on behavioral and mental health services—is currently available at Finland and Stiles elementary schools. Andrea Weisberger, the director of education and early childhood mental health at Buckeye Ranch, emphasized the program’s goal to fill the gaps in mental health services for young children through proactive measures.
“We often see that when preschoolers are struggling, it’s often because their families are facing challenges as well,” Weisberger explained. “We need to consider the broader context of what families are experiencing.”
The program, known as the PRESCHOOL program, aims to provide Black students and their families with essential tools to succeed in kindergarten and beyond. It seeks to prevent worsening mental health issues, particularly those exacerbated by excessive discipline.
Research indicates that Black children are disproportionately affected by disciplinary actions and expulsions in early education. According to The Scientific American, Black preschool boys account for more than half of preschool expulsions each day in the United States. While Black preschool students make up 18.2% of total enrollment, they represent 43.3% of out-of-school suspensions, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Disciplinary issues often stem from what experts refer to as “Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs),” which can arise from generational trauma. A 2019 report in the Child Abuse and Neglect journal found a strong link between ACEs and preschool suspensions or expulsions.
A significant aspect of the program involves working with parents and caregivers who may also have trauma responses that affect their parenting. Buckeye Ranch provides these caregivers with practical strategies to handle challenges such as temper tantrums and school-related issues.
“We find that parents can be triggered by their child’s behavior, which may remind them of their own past traumas. Trauma can be generational,” Weisberger noted. “If they didn’t have positive parenting models, they might feel lost when raising their own children.”
Trauma responses in young children can manifest in various ways, including physical or emotional outbursts. Weisberger highlighted that some children react by withdrawing or shutting down emotionally.
“Children who are anxious may seem overly compliant. They may just sit quietly and follow instructions, but their anxiety prevents them from truly engaging and learning,” Weisberger explained.
The program was introduced in South-Western City Schools due to Buckeye Ranch’s established presence in the district, which has worked diligently to meet family needs.
“We wanted to implement the program gradually, understanding that opening the floodgates too quickly could overwhelm our resources,” Weisberger said.
Nicole Tyo, the special education director at SWCSD, expressed optimism about the long-term benefits of the program. She believes that the support provided to students and families now will enhance their readiness as they grow.
“The district will start seeing the positive impacts as these children move through school. Parenting and life can be challenging without the right tools,” Tyo remarked.
Weisberger acknowledged that limited funding remains a significant barrier to expanding programs for young children before their trauma and mental health issues escalate. The current funding is partly provided by the Ohio Children’s Alliance, a network dedicated to improving children’s lives.
“We often allocate funds to address problems that have already become serious,” Weisberger said. “It would be more cost-effective to tackle these issues before they spiral out of control.”
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