New Jersey § 18a:37-38

§ 18a:37-38.

As used in this act: “ Adverse childhood experiences ” means severe childhood stressors that, when experienced prenatal to three years

old, affect brain development and which are proven to be powerful determinants of

physical, mental, social, and behavioral health across a lifespan. Adverse childhood experiences may include, but are not limited to, child physical

or sexual abuse, child emotional abuse, child physical or emotional neglect, substance use disorder in the home, mental illness or suicidal behaviors in the home, incarceration of a

family member, exposure to violence in the home or community, and parental divorce

or separation. “ Restorative justice ” means a system of dispute resolution tools that allow all parties of a dispute to

be involved in defining the harm and devising remedies while giving the necessary

attention to community safety, victims' needs, and the need for offender accountability. Restorative justice practices shall include, but need not be limited to, student

or community court, restorative circles, mediation, and conferencing. “ Trauma-informed approach ” means an approach that recognizes the signs and symptoms of trauma in students,

families, staff, and others, and which responds by fully integrating knowledge about

trauma into policies, procedures, and practices for the purposes of promoting resiliency

and healing, resisting the recurrence of trauma, and improving educational outcomes.