Child abuse produces severe stress in the brain.  The body's physiological response to stress impacts the brain at a highly vulnerable period in its development.  This overwhelming exposure to physiological stress results in enduring alterations in brain structure and function.  These altercations pave the way for problems like depression, anxiety, stress disorder, aggression, addiction, and impulsiveness.  Understanding the specific consequences of abuse on the growing brain can significantly inform and inspire new approaches for serving child abuse victims.  This workshop makes neuroscience understandable and accessible to foster and group care providers so that the importance and usefulness of these brain-based discoveries can be shared and utilized for youth in out-of-home care.

In this course, you will learn to:

• Understand how the body's physiological response to stress impacts the brain at a high vulnerable period in its development.
• Understand the specific consequences of abuse on the growing brain
• Implement practical strategies for serving child abuse victims

About the Instructor:

Frank Kros, MSW, JD, serves as executive vice president of The Children's Guild, a special education and group home provider in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.  He holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Nebraska and law degree from Notre Dame Law School.  He is co-author of Creating the Upside Down Organization: Transforming Staff to Save Troubled Children (2005) and the Upside Down Organization: Rethinking Group and Care (2008).

This is a 5 hour course with a 1 hour lunch (lunch is on your own). Sign in begins at 8:30 am

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Foster Parents and Group home Staff: This workshop provides 5 hours of formal on-going training in care and supervision.

Group Home Administrators: Approval pending by the California Department of Social Services for 5 hours of continuing education units for administrator recertification (Vendor GH 1000342-730-2; course number 342-0504-16054).

MFTs and LCSWs: This workshop meets the qualifications for 5 hours of continuing education credit for MFTs and LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (Provider 2522)

Registered Nurses: Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing (CEP 15108) for 5 hours.