Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Toolkit

Building a Trauma Informed System of Care Tra ma I formed Care Trai the Trainer

Rev. 5/2019

A Caution: ACEs Are Not Destiny

Toxic Stress and Brain Development

∗ Some children are more susceptible than others to toxic stress. ∗ There can be other adults to serve a buffering, caring role. ∗ There is a capacity to repair across development. ∗ Interventions can make a difference.

∗ Talking Point – Prolonged exposure to toxic stress on a child who has no nurturing, calming caregiver can derail brain development for learning. ∗ Talking Point – Just as new parents need to be taught the importance of using car seats and good nutrition, they also need to understand that nurturing is key in brain development.

How Brains are Built: The Core Story of Brain Development October 10, 2013 Palix Foundation Copyright 2015 Palix Foundation (formerly the Norlien Foundation) http://www.albertafamilywellness.org/resources/video/how-brains-are-built-core-story-brain-development

Build Better Brains

How Brains are Built

A 4 minute video that makes the point that young children MUST HAVE THE HELP of nurturing adults for healthy brain development

Teaching Kids to Understand “Whole Brain”

Fear Response

∗ The “fire alarm” of the brain is located in the amygdala . ∗ The frontal lobe of the cortex - at the top or the thinking part of the brain – shuts down to make sure a person is focusing completely on survival. ∗ That’s why it’s hard to think when in a crisis.

Short learning activity: Demonstrate and get participants involved. ∗ Upstairs brain – where you make decisions and do the right thing, even when you feel upset. ∗ Downstairs brain – where BIG feelings come from. Like letting people know you love them or when you feel sad, mad or angry.

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