Healing-Centered

Creating a Healing-Centered School District

In Fall 2019, Chicago Public Schools, led by the Office of Social Emotional Learning, embarked on a long-term effort to transform CPS into a healing-centered district, recognizing that to achieve our five-year vision, we need to ensure collective wellness for all CPS students, staff, families, caregivers, and communities.
Both trauma and healing are collective experiences. Each of us has a role to play in promoting healing for others and addressing our own healing. Explore our Healing-Centered website and framework to learn what it means to transform CPS into a more trauma-engaged, culturally-responsive school district.

Celebrate SEL Day

Beginning March 3, we're celebrating Social Emotional Learning Week, which culminates in SEL Day on March 7, 2025. Throughout the week, we're taking opportunities to spread the word about the importance and impact of SEL.Visit our SEL Day page to find activities for celebrating social emotional learning with students, staff and caregivers.

What It Means To Center Healing

Trauma-Engaged

Not only understanding and being aware of trauma, but proactively promoting collective healing as a whole school system while responsively meeting the individual wellness needs of each student.

Culturally-Responsive

Centering equity in healing by promoting a liberatory consciousness, recognizing a broad understanding of trauma (including historic and generational trauma), and affirming all cultures in the healing process.

Healing-Centered Project

The Healing-Centered Project is an opportunity to build on the work of OSEL to provide school communities with restorative and trauma-sensitive supports. It is an opportunity to bring together the many offices that work to ensure the whole school, whole community, and whole child are our focus.

Creating a Healing-Centered District

Reilly Elementary Peacemakers!

Contact Us Office of Social & Emotional Learning

Blue Notebook

View the Full Framework

For more information, including examples of what these components might look like for each stakeholder group, view the full Healing-Centered Framework.

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