A best practice training for foster and kinship caregivers; child welfare professionals

Why is it that some children are deeply impacted by neglect and trauma while others seem to bounce back more easily?  We say that those who bounce back are more resilient, but what does that mean?

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats or significant sources of stress. It is not necessarily a trait that children and youth either have or do not have. It involves behaviors, thoughts and actions that can be learned and developed in anyone. Being resilient does not mean that a child doesn’t experience difficulty or distress. Emotional pain and sadness are common in children who have experienced trauma. In fact, the road to resilience is likely to involve considerable emotional distress.

In this workshop, we’ll talk about what resiliency is and how we, as adults who care about children, can nurture and building resiliency in the children we care about.  We’ll dive into connection and the role it plays in building resiliency.  Finally, we’ll talk about how resilient children become strong adults.

This workshop can be offered in tandem with The Circle of Trauma.

• Length: 90 to 120 minutes
• Subject Areas: Trauma and Resiliency
• Facilitate by: Amy Drayer and Coalition staff