Trauma, Adverse, Childhood Experiences (ACES) and Brain Development: How System-Involved Youth Are Impacted

Sonja Lenz-Rashid, PhD, LCSW

Training Description

The training workshop will take a developmental approach, highlighting the impact of trauma on brain development and cognitive functioning at different stages of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This course provides an overview of Adverse Childhood Experience (ACES), early brain development, and how complex trauma can affect such development. Attendees will learn about the impact of such trauma, as well as gain a deeper understanding on how it may show up in all relationships, symptoms, and behaviors.

Learning Objectives

· Gain Knowledge about Neurodevelopment in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence

· Gain Knowledge about Trauma in Infancy, Childhood and Adolescence and outcomes of ACES

· Explore how Trauma impacts Neuropsychological Development and Functioning

· Identify 3 techniques supporting an individual’s healing from trauma in early childhood relationships

Agenda 

9:30-9:35am: Check in and introductions

9:35-10:00am: Types of crises brainstorm and small group discussion

10:00-10:30am: Assessment techniques during crisis/What works, what doesn’t work

10:30-10:45am: Break (CEUs will not be offered for this time)

10:45-11:30am: Intervention techniques and Verbal First Aid

11:30am-12:15pm: Processing post-crisis: The importance of follow-up

12:15-12:30pm: Check out and evalutions

Meet Our Trainer

Dr. Sonja Lenz-Rashid, LCSW, is a Professor of Social Work at San Francisco State University and a Co-founder and Faculty Research Evaluator of the SF State Guardian Scholars Program (GSP). Launched in 2005, the GSP serves over 90 current and former foster care youth on campus and has an annual budget of over $1 million (and is a non-profit on campus). Dr. Lenz-Rashid has studied the outcomes of, and best practice models for, former foster care youth at the national, state and Bay Area levels. Her research and publications have provided valuable feedback to child welfare administrators, legislators, and program developers in how best to serve these disenfranchised young people using evidence-based practice. She is also a consultant, trainer and clinical supervisor at a number of Bay Area non-profits serving children and youth being served by the foster care, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems. She has over twenty-five years serving vulnerable youth in the San Francisco Bay Area.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CEUs for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.