Largest Gathering of Trauma-Informed Educators
BUILDING RESILIENCE & IMPROVING CHILDREN’S OUTCOMES
SAVE THE DATE: FEBRUARY 19-24, 2023
62% of all Americans have at least 1 ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences). ACEs left unaddressed can have a lasting impact on children’s mental health, behaviors, chronic disease and social outcomes.
ATN’s resources are accessed by over 10,000 parents seeking trauma-informed help each year.
1700 educators from across the US and around the world learn trauma-informed strategies at our annual conference.
National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System reports up to 5.5 million children referred to CPS for abuse or neglect annually. Our work is far from done!
Therapeutic Parenting - Empowering Trauma-Informed, Attachment-Focused Caregiving
Creating School-wide Trauma-Informed Reform led by Trauma-Focused Educators
A comprehensive online directory of trauma-informed, attachment-focused helping professionals
Are you seeking trauma-informed Professional Development Training or Consultations for your School?
Annual Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference.
Listen to our Bi-monthly Podcast on Trauma-Informed and Therapeutic Strategies
Shop for resources and tools to empower and support children, families, schools and communities
Join ATN - Together we can end the silence around childhood trauma!
Early Childhood Trauma
Trauma is defined as an “event outside normal human experience”. These events are generally emotionally painful and distressing, and overwhelm a person’s ability to cope, leaving him/her powerless. Feeling powerless is an important concept when trying to understand trauma – especially as you apply it to trauma in children. Many think of trauma as the result of a specific “event.” But, being impacted by trauma has more to do with how your brain and body react to the situations. Early childhood trauma often falls into the realm of chronic traumatic stress, especially in situations where children are exposed to repeated neglect, abuse and maltreatment.
Understanding How Attachment & Trauma are Connected
Attachment can be defined as a reciprocal relationship. In child development, it generally refers to the relationship that develops first between the infant/child and his primary caregiver (often Mother). The quality of this attachment impacts the child’s physical, emotional, psychological and cognitive development. This early relationship shapes the child’s basic ability to trust and how positively or negatively he views the world, himself and others. Attachment also influences a child’s ability to self-regulate. Children with attachment disorders have been impacted by significant trauma. Children impacted by significant trauma need stable relationships to help them heal.
Disorders-Treatments
The most important component in helping a traumatized child to heal is a strong, therapeutic parent (primary caregiver). You can learn more about becoming a Therapeutic Parenting.
The second most important component is trauma-sensitive, attachment-focused therapy. ATN actively encourages ALL families to work with therapists who specialize in attachment & trauma.
The field of childhood trauma is evolving. Children impacted by traumatic stress and those with attachment challenges may carry many diagnoses (or none at all). PTSD, ADHD, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Developmental Trauma, Conduct Disorder and more. Focusing on healing the trauma and building resilience through attachment/relationships is critical for all of these children.
Dr. Jenna Lichter is a life-long educator who has taught at the middle school, high school, and post-secondary level. She joins ATN with significant expertise in educational assessment and higher education leadership, nonprofit organizations and youth at risk. She has
Tom Kulesa joined the ATN Board of Directors in 2021 and currently serves as Treasurer and is a member of the finance resource committee and board development committee. He has over 10 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, strategic planning,
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 working with teachers and k-5 students. She is also the
Jennifer Wheelehon has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, relationship building, event planning and fundraising. She has spent much of her career connecting individuals and businesses with organizations to meet philanthropic, volunteer, marketing, and community engagement goals. Since
Dr. Charlene Winley is a speaker, author, CEO and founder of ReScripted Life Coaching. Through her own experiences of sexual and mental abuse, homelessness, divorce and grief, she is passionate about helping others learn to live their lives authentically. Charlene
TOUCHING TRAUMA AT ITS HEART EMPOWERING TRAUMA-INFORMED FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, AND COMMUNITIES You are not alone ATN knows that the social distancing going on now can be VERY unsettling for our children impacted by trauma. Their early adversities cause them heightened
Support • Education • Advocacy
The Attachment & Trauma Network, a 2016 Angel in Adoption® Recipient “Trauma-Informed “Trailblazer” has been the VOICE for traumatized children and their families since 1995. Through our mission of Support – Education – Advocacy, we seek to improve the lives of children impacted by early childhood trauma, abuse and neglect, and prenatal exposures in their families, schools and communities. We believe that trauma-informed, attachment-focused therapy and teaching parents therapeutic parenting strategies are significant factors in helping our children overcome their early traumas and build resiliency and healthy relationships. We believe that trauma-informed schools are the best educational environment for all children, but especially the significant population of children impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
