- AN INTERNATIONAL
DELEGATION TOURED WISCONSIN THIS WEEK TO
SEE HOW THE STATE IS EMBRACING WHAT'S KNOWN
AS TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
FIRST LADY TONETTE WALKER TRAVELED WITH A GROUP FROM OSLO,
NORWAY TO VISIT LOCATIONS IN WAUPACA,
KESHENA AND MILWAUKEE TO SEE HOW SUCH CARE IS BEING IMPLEMENTED
IN SOCIAL SERVICE, SCHOOL AND TREATMENT SETTINGS.
THE NORWEGIANS ALSO MADE STOPS IN MADISON,
INCLUDING AT AN INNOVATIVE NEW PRESCHOOL
WHICH HELPS YOUNG STUDENTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS,
INCLUDING THOSE WHO ARE HOMELESS, FLOURISH AND LEARN.
- THE PLAYING FIELD SCHOOL IN MADISON OPENED ITS DOORS
IN 2016.
THIS WEEK, THE SCHOOL OPENED ITS DOORS TO VISITING POLICYMAKERS
AND EDUCATORS FROM NORWAY.
THEY CAME TO SEE HOW A NURTURING STAFF GUIDES CHILDREN RANGING IN
AGE FROM INFANT TO PRE-K IN THE LESSONS OF TRUST,
CARING AND EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS.
- YOU WANT TO FIX MY HAIR? - YEAH.
- THE SCHOOL SAYS ITS MODEL IS INTENTIONALLY BUILT TO PROMOTE
ATTACHMENT BETWEEN CHILD AND CAREGIVER TO BUILD RESILIENCE.
MANY OF THE CHILDREN THERE HAVE TRAUMA IN THEIR LIVES,
WHETHER HOMELESSNESS OR BEING REMOVED FROM PARENTS.
THEY PLAY AND LEARN ALONGSIDE CHILDREN FROM ALL ECONOMIC
BACKGROUNDS.
THE METHODS ARE GOOD FOR EVERYONE.
THE VICE-MAYOR OF OSLO DESCRIBED WHY WISCONSIN IS BECOMING A
MODEL FOR TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
- I THINK MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY
LOOKING TO WISCONSIN AND SEEING THAT, OH, WOW,
SOMETHING'S HAPPENING THERE AND IT WORKS.
- WE ASKED THE PLAYING FIELD'S DIRECTOR WHETHER SHE'S SURPRISED
HER PRESCHOOL IS BEING HELD OUT FOR INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION.
[LAUGHTER]
- I THINK IT'S KIND OF UNEXPECTED,
THAT WE WOULD -- I MEAN, WE KNEW WHEN WE STARTED WE WANTED TO
BUILD A MODEL PROGRAM AND I KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING
IS AHEAD OF THE CURVE.
BUT IT'S KIND OF SURPRISING TO GET THAT KIND OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT
AND THAT RECOGNITION.
- IT'S A RAINBOW!
RED, ORANGE.
- THE WISCONSIN TOUR FOR THE VISITING NORWEGIANS WAS
ORGANIZED TO HIGHLIGHT TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE,
AN ISSUE THAT TONETTE WALKER HAS TAKEN ON AS AN INITIATIVE CALLED
"FOSTERING FUTURES."