She studies trauma in kids. Here’s how she says schools can help amid immigration sweeps.

For three decades, Tulane University psychology professor Stacy Overstreet has studied the impact of chronic stress and trauma on New Orleans children — from community violence and poverty to devastating hurricanes and the COVID pandemic.

In 2015, she was one of several experts the New Orleans City Council recruited to help address crises that happen outside schools but affect student learning. That work evolved into helping schools support students who are dealing with chronic stress.

Overstreet defines trauma as an event that results in the harmful interruption of a person’s sense of safety, agency, dignity and belonging. She says it can include economic insecurity and racism faced by many children of color, or fleeing violence and being separated from family members experienced by s