Carl Young

Meet Carl Young

Carl and his wife are parents of five, three who have special needs of some kind. Their youngest was adopted at 18 months and has been impacted by early trauma and attachment disorders. Carl is a passionate advocate, frequently speaking to the state legislature and serving on task forces in North Dakota. He plays an active role in his state’s Protection and Advocacy Project, Family Voices of North Dakota and the Consumer Advisory Council at North Dakota Center for Persons with Disabilities. He’s the past chair of the ND Behavioral Health Planning Council. Carl also supports other parents through the IEP process as a volunteer advocate. Carl was a child of adoption and in 2015 traced his birth family and is learning more about them. His business card reads “Father-Advocate-Blogger” because he feels being a father is the most important thing he’s ever done. Carl frequently shares his family’s story in their on-going quest in getting appropriate mental health services for their youngest son.  Email Carl

Meet More ATN Team Members

Rebekah Drumsta - ATN Board Member
ATN News
Julie Beem

Rebekah Drumsta

For over two decades, Rebekah has held a global presence through devoting her efforts to various nonprofits and organizations.  Her background is diverse, including educational and mental health content development,

Read More »
Kimberly Smathers
ATN News
Attachment & Trauma Network

Kimberly Smathers, Vice President

Kimberly Smathers has 20 years of experience – as a business leader, advocate, consultant, and researcher – in working toward person-centered and equitable approaches to enhancing health and well-being. In

Read More »
Sandra Lake, Board Member
ATN News
Attachment & Trauma Network

Sandra Lake, Secretary

Sandra Lake is the K-5 STEAM & Technology Coach for Brumby Elementary in the Cobb County, GA School District.  She has spent nearly two decades as an educator, coaching and

Read More »