Our Work

The Institute for the Pedagogy of Humanity (TIPOH) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the first and only institute in West Virginia dedicated exclusively to the study and application of trauma's impact on learning. Our work centers the adults in a child's life- because we believe that by changing the system around the child, we empower the whole community to become one village, offering a hand up, not a hand out, to protect all children. We work at every level of the ecosystem surrounding a child: from the home to the classroom to the community to the systems and policies that shape them all.

The Number Story

West Virginia's children carry a disproportionate burden.

356,000

children in West Virginia, per 2024 census

80,100 (22.5%)

of WV children with 2 or more adverse childhood experiences- nearly 1.5× the national average of 14.1%

21,122

grandparents responsible for raising grandchildren

7,782

grandparent-headed households with no parent present

5,880

children in child welfare placements, including placement with kin, grandparents, foster parents, and residential facilities.

0

trauma-based educator preparation programs anywhere in the United States

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau; United Health Foundation; WVDHHR

Homes & families

For caregivers

Child Placement Resource Toolkit

Practical, trauma-responsive resources for foster parents, kinship caregivers, and grandfamilies navigating the complex needs of children who have experienced trauma.

Caregiver support & advocacy

Support for families navigating school systems, IEPs, and special education, including resources to help caregivers advocate effectively for their children.

Schools & educators

For school staff

Foundations of Trauma-Responsive Guidance

A school-year professional development program delivered on-site. We stay with your team all year, training, observing, and adapting alongside you.

Trauma-responsive curriculum

Curriculum development and consultation for schools and districts working to embed trauma-responsive practices into everyday instruction.

Communities

For neighbors & organizations

Preventing food scarcity

Community garden and food access initiatives that address one of the most fundamental barriers to safety and stability for children and families.

Direct service workforce training

Partnering with community organizations to develop curriculum and training for direct service providers working with individuals and families facing significant trauma and adversity.

Community workshops & events

Public learning events and workshops that bring trauma-responsive knowledge directly to the communities where children and families live.

The field

For researchers & systems

Educational Traumatology research

Original scholarship establishing Educational Traumatology as a formal academic discipline, including peer-reviewed research, theoretical frameworks, and open-access publications.

Policy & systems engagement

Engaging with policymakers, coalitions, and state and national networks to advance trauma-responsive practice at the systems level.

Speaking & conference presence

Keynote addresses, conference presentations, and public scholarship that bring TIPOH's framework to national audiences and advance the field.