Barry University Assistant Professor of Social Work Jennifer Williams, Ph.D., LCSW, will present her research at an international conference in September 2021. She will discuss her study, “Empowering Elementary School Teachers to Build a Trauma-Informed School Through Mindfulness Interventions,” at the 11th International Conference on Health, Wellness and Society in Paris, France.
According to Dr. Williams, the conference allows leaders and scholars to share their work “acknowledging the deep interconnections between physiological health, and the psychological, physical, spiritual, and social needs that are necessary for people to embrace their life’s potential.”
Dr. Williams’s study, funded by a research grant from the Center for Human Rights and Social Justice, evaluated the effects of a mindfulness-based program on elementary school teachers working in a Title I school. Teachers were introduced to trauma-informed approaches through the use of mindfulness practices over the 12-week study to assist in creating a trauma-informed environment. Dr. Williams said her study can be used to develop school policies to create compassionate school communities, prevent teacher burnout, and improve student learning.
Dr. Williams has dedicated her career to exploring, researching, and advancing knowledge of the mind and body connection. She is a leader in study of neurobiology and trauma. For more about Dr. Williams, check out her Barry bio.