Welcome to the 3rd annual conference on Trauma-Informed Care hosted by Three Rivers Adoption Council.

As we are all aware, Trauma-Informed Care is one of the most significant developments in child behavioral health in recent decades. Recognizing that children who have been forced to face challenges due to neglect, abuse, disruptive family relationships, and poverty, are traumatized, Trauma-Informed Care is providing exciting direction for parents and professionals.  Increasing our knowledge regarding the effects of trauma on brain function will equip the professional with the tools needed to assist the traumatized child in the healing process.

In line with the goals of The National Center for Trauma-Informed Care, this conference continues TRAC's year long training efforts focusing on the effects trauma has on the children we serve, in hopes to continue the shift from the current paradigm of asking "what's wrong with you?" to one that asks, "what has happened to you?"; thus recognizing youth as victims of traumatic life events, and supporting them in their journey of survival.

During these next 2 days, you will be challenged to do an inventory of some of the painful events of your own lives and assess how they have influenced your relationships and the ways in which you interact with the children and families we serve. Our goal for this conference is to cross organizational and professional boundaries in order to further advance the systemic change in the way we work with children involved in the child welfare system.  This holistic approach of engaging child welfare & mental health professionals, educators and parents,  will not only yield a greater understanding of trauma across all facets of a child's life, but will equip each of us with the knowledge to respond to the hurting child with one unified, healing voice.

Sincerely,
                         

Jacqueline D. Wilson, PhD, LSW

CEO 

Three Rivers Adoption Council