DSW Showcase Student Presentation

Laura Navarro

LMSW, DSW Candidate

Creating Trauma-Informed Environments in Schools for Newcomer Students: A School Social Work Approach

Concentration - Clinical Social Work

Abstract

This presentation will highlight the importance of the critical role school social workers play in creating trauma-informed environments in school settings for newcomer students. School social workers, despite their differing roles, are bound by the same core values and code of ethics. School social workers highlight social justice in the education setting, advocating for every child despite the challenges in their lives. Newcomer students face unique challenges and stressors when entering school in the United States. Oftentimes, school systems are deficit-focused instead of focusing on the diverse strengths of newcomer students. Newcomer students bring a diverse set of languages, cultures, religions, and socioeconomic statuses. Newcomer students are often exposed to stressors that can manifest in various mental illness symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress. An overview of the capstone products will be given, and information will be disseminated from the project papers: Systematic Literature Review, Conceptual Paper, and Practice Application Paper. Additionally, key research findings will be presented, highlighting the implications for clinical social work practice in schools. Lastly, recommendations and conclusions will be presented to better serve newcomer students.

Biography

Laura Navarro Etheridge earned her Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Social Work, and a Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the University of Georgia. Laura is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky, pursuing her Doctor of Social Work degree and focusing her research on trauma-informed schools for newcomer students. Laura is a school social worker at the Barrow County School System in the beautiful state of Georgia.

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp highlighted Laura’s mental health efforts at Apalachee High School in his 2025 State of the State Address, which she attended as a special guest. The School Social Worker Association of Georgia proudly named Laura the 2024-2025 School Social Worker of the Year for District 9. Laura serves on the 2024-25 Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) School Social Work Advisory Board. In the 2023-2024 school year, Laura joined the DFCS Human Trafficking Policy Development – Education Workgroup in an effort to develop policies for schools for survivors of human trafficking. Laura received the Barrow's BEST (Barrow's Exceptional Support Team) Award for Contributing Professional in the 2022-2023 school year, where her work with unaccompanied and foster care youth was highlighted.

Laura is a proud daughter of Mexican immigrant parents, bringing awareness to language barriers, cultural norms, and differences in family dynamics. She is a compassionate advocate for all students and families and understands the importance of public education as a first-generation student. Laura is a fearless advocate and believes every child deserves an education, despite the challenges in their lives.