Trauma, Resilience, and the Power of Relationships: 3rd Annual Central Valley Convening

Date: October 10, 2019
Location: Fresno, CA

This event, hosted by the California School-Based Health Alliance and REL West at WestEd, focused on building youth resilience through a variety of strategies, with a particular focus on the research finding that positive adult relationships can help mitigate the negative impacts of childhood trauma.

Participants were presented with examples of how to build authentic, supportive relationships with children and youth. They also explored how to maintain organizational cultures that leverage positive relationships to sustain their work in education, healthcare, and social service settings. Sessions included several examples from students and colleagues in the Central Valley.

Attendees:

• Gained a better understanding of the impact of trauma on individual and community health and wellness;
• Spent time reflecting on how they and/or their organizations build relationships with children, youth, families, staff, and other youth-serving agencies to build resilience and mitigate the effects of trauma; and
• Left with practical strategies to try in their respective school, healthcare, mental health, or social service settings.

The event was the third annual convening of its kind in the Central Valley related to addressing trauma and mental health supports for children and youth in school and school-based health settings. All topics in this event series are prioritized through the work of REL West’s Central Valley Rural Education and Health Alliance, which focuses on evidence-based, cross-sector approaches for supporting students and families in the region.

Resources

Event Program and Agenda

Video: Six Strategies to Promote Student Resilience

This video presents highlights from Dr. Flojaune Cofer’s keynote presentation. In it, she describes key actions in six areas that adults can use to address youth trauma and promote resilience. She concludes with three reflection questions to help educators and health and mental health practitioners refine their approaches to supporting all students.

Download the Video Discussion Guide to follow along and reflect on the strategies presented by Dr. Cofer. The guide includes time notations for viewers to pause and consider how they might use each strategy in their own practice or setting.

• Video Transcript: Six Strategies to Promote Student Resilience

Video: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Building Relationships with Students

In excerpts from his keynote presentation, Dr. Sam Himelstein shares four research-based skills for building relationships with children and youth that promote healing from trauma: attunement, authenticity, deep listening, and skillful self-disclosure. A key takeaway is that effective relationship-building skills can be developed with intention and practice.

Download the Video Overview and Reflection Handout to review and reflect on the four relationship-building skills.

• Video Transcript: Trauma-Informed Strategies for Building Relationships with Students

Audience

Educators and healthcare practitioners, including student support services staff, school mental health services providers, school and School-Based Health Center (SBHC) nurses, and school staff in California’s Central Valley.