Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Grant expands ATN’s Parenting Program
ATN is the chosen non-profit to help celebrate “4 weeks of Sparking” with Epiphany
Listen in to hear how ATN has survived, evolved, and ultimately …
Now accepting workshop proposals through June 30, 2020.
ATN knows that the social distancing going on now can be VERY unsettling for our children impacted by trauma. We have compiled free resources for families, educators and communities to help support you through this new “normal”.
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!
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.
Therapeutic Parenting - Empowering Trauma-Informed Parents to be Therapeutic.
Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools- Empowering Trauma-Focused Educators and Schools
Annual Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools Conference.
Join ATN - Together we can end the silence around childhood trauma!
Coming soon an online directory of trauma-informed professionals.
Join ATN. Shop for resources, swag and tools to help us empower and support children families schools and communities.
by Dr. Ryan T. Woods for Respectful Ways
When learning went online
When the threat of COVID-19 arrived, schools responded quickly. Administrators hustled, principals made announcements, and teachers developed lesson plans. In a matter of days, students were learning from home.
The perils of self-care
One recent sunny afternoon, on approximately the hundredth day of the coronavirus, I decided to take a nap. My youngest, 18, said he was going for a walk. I nodded drowsily and drifted off to sleep.
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 anxiety when there are changes and when the adults in their world seem tense. Yet,
Blog Manager’s Note: I don’t know about you, but I know that I have lost count of how many days we’ve been under orders to “shelter in place.” Although absolutely necessary, this isn’t easy, especially as more and more states make the decision to close school doors for the rest of this academic year.
How it all got started
It wasn’t exactly what we planned for the spring of 2020. Already, life wasn’t very typical, given that we were living in a multi-generational home. Isolating with an eleven- and fifteen-year-old while their mother continued working took atypical to a whole new level.
Blog Manager’s Note: Today’s post is about this strange new world in which we all find ourselves learning how to home school. If you’re like me, the possibility had never even crossed your mind in the days and years leading up to COVID-19!
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).
