Bounce Back is a cognitive-behavioral, skills-based, group intervention to teach elementary school children exposed to stressful and traumatic events skills to cope with and help recover from their traumatic experiences. It is used most commonly for children who experienced or witnessed community, family, or school violence, or who have been involved in natural disasters, or traumatic separation from a loved one due to death, incarceration, deportation, or child welfare placement. It includes 10 group sessions where children learn and practice feelings identification, relaxation, courage thoughts, problem solving, and conflict resolution, and build positive activities and social support.
Last reviewed: 2024
Intended Outcomes:
- Reduce symptoms of PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
- Build skills to enhance resilience to stress.
- Enhance students coping and problem-solving strategies.
- Impact students' academic performance by improving their attendance and ability to concentrate.
- Build peer and caregiver support.
Continuum of Care:
Treatment
Topic Areas:
Anxiety, Behavioral Health/Mental Health, Trauma
Ages:
Childhood (4-12)
Geographic Locations:
Urban
Delivery Settings:
School-Based
Cultural Considerations:
Significant and well-articulated attention was given to disparities in outcomes
Audience:
Children in Kindergarten through fifth grade that have been exposed to at least one traumatic event and who are experiencing traumatic stress symptoms.
Credentials:
Licensed mental health professionals implement this program.
Manuals:
Yes
Is Training Required?
Yes, see developer info
Who can provide the required training?
Clinicians can receive Bounce Back training through several formats: live trainings (in person or virtual) and online through the developer.
Program Costs (materials, training, etc.):
Yes, refer to program website
Program/Practice Website:
https://traumaawareschools.org/index.php/learn-more-bounce-back/
Relevant Published, Peer-Reviewed Research:
Grassetti, S. N., Haut, B., Beveridge, R. M., Fowles, T. R., Andrews, L., & Seidenfeld, A. M. (2020). When Do Posttraumatic Stress and Related Problems Abate During School-Based Group Therapy for Elementary Students?. School Mental Health, 12, 689-702.
Nygaard, M. A., Ormiston, H. E., & Enderle, H. (2024). Examining the Classroom Impact of the Bounce Back Trauma Intervention: Implications for Selecting Progress Monitoring Tools. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 15345084231218614.
Ros, A. M., Brewer, S. K., Raviv, T., & Santiago, C. D. (2019). How do parent psychopathology and family income impact treatment gains in a school-based intervention for trauma?. School Mental Health, 11(4), 777-789.
Additional Sources:
https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/interventions/bounce_back_fact_sheet_2021.pdf
WV Rating:
Promising
»WV Ratings Info
Rationale for Rating:
Bounce Back has a beginning base of research, and could benefit from more randomized research. Most of the evaluation was a pre-/post-test design, and showed mixed results. The strongest outcomes throughout the research were reductions in post traumatic stress and increased coping skills. However, results were mixed for anxiety and depression. In one study, an inverse relationship was noted (Ros, et al, 2019): children of parents with low PTSD symptoms experienced significant reduction in symptoms and children with parents who have high PTSD symptoms experienced no symptom reduction. Due to the mixed nature of outcomes, Bounce Back could benefit from further study before earning a higher rating.
Contraindications or Concerns:
None identified
Other Registries/Ratings
The California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare:
Promising Research Evidence
Blueprints for Healthy Youth Development:
Not On Registry
Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness:
Unclear +
Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Model Programs Guide:
Promising - One study
Washington State Institute for Public Policy:
Not On Registry