Sunny Shin Virginia Commonwealth University

(The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.)

Sunny Shin, Virginia Commonwealth University

(THE CONVERSATION) As the first person to hold the new role of Surgeon General of California, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is pushing an unprecedented plan to implement universal screenings for childhood trauma within the state’s schools.

Childhood trauma is defined by the National Institute of Mental Health as an “emotionally painful or distressful” event that “often results in lasting mental and p...