Initiation and Planning
Which strategy helps a youth struggling to start tasks?
Provide a visual checklist and co-create a first step.
What's the first step in supporting emotional regulation?
Connect and co-regulate.
How can we support youth struggling with working memory?
Use written or pictorial reminders.
What's an effective strategy during transitions?
Provide countdown timer and prep time.
How are trauma and EF connected?
Trauma impacts brain development affecting EF.
How can staff help break down overwhelming tasks?
Break the task into chunks with visual steps.
What should NOT be the focus during dysregulation?
Problem solving and teaching.
What should staff do when a youth keeps losing schedules?
Use laminated visuals in personal spaces.
Youth panics moving between activities. What is the first support strategy?
Give a countdown & check emotional readiness before transition.
What’s a good support for time management?
Use visual timers and build time estimation skills
A youth keeps saying “I’ll do it later” but never begins. What’s a trauma-informed support?
Offer co-regulation first, then collaborate on “start now for 2 mins” with timer.
What signals staff that a youth is hitting “fight or flight,” not being oppositional?
Rapid breathing, loud voice, pacing, clenched fists – high arousal before intent.
What can staff use for a youth who forgets steps despite reminders?
Use visual task strip and cross off completed items.
How can staff use routine to reduce transition stress?
Use “predictable anchors”—same music, checklist, or phrases every time.
What’s a trauma-informed way to teach coping ahead of conflict?
Roleplay scenarios during calm time using strength-based framing.
Youth refuses to start homework after a bad day. What should staff do before giving a task reminder?
Validate emotions & reconnect ("looks like today took a lot out of you, want 5 min to regroup?").
What is the best staff response during dysregulation?
Model co-regulation, remove demands, speak softly, prioritize safety.
How to adapt house rules so youth with EF deficits can access them?
Post visually, break into steps, review at calm times not crisis.
Youth refuses to leave room. What trauma-informed support might help?
Offer gradual step-out plan & let youth carry a safe/comfort object.
Youth gets overwhelmed by choices. How can staff support?
Offer 2 regulated options, not open-ended questions.
How can you support task initiation during shift changeover?
Frontload: Include small first-step cue & youth-preferred support person in handover.
A youth refuses calming strategies offered. What trauma-informed approach should staff take?
Respect refusal, offer choices, stay supportive nearby without pressure.
Youth loses personal items daily. What’s a trauma-informed strategy?
Create consistent “home location” poster & use positive habit-building.
A youth becomes aggressive when asked to stop a preferred activity and move to a less preferred one (e.g., gaming to bedtime). What is a trauma-informed executive functioning support strategy?
“5 minutes left, then pause.”
Help them save progress or pick a carryover element
Offer choice in how to transition (“Do you want to brush teeth first or put away the game?”).
A youth struggles after the plan changes unexpectedly. What support builds flexibility?
Pre-teach “backup plans” & use visual “Plan A–Plan B–Plan C” strategy.