Trauma Sensitive Practices in Early Childhood
CHDI is working to support young children exposed to trauma by developing research-based training to guide early childhood professionals in implementing trauma-informed and healing practices.
Training for Early Childhood Professionals
A partnership between CHDI and the Minnesota Department of Education
Trauma Sensitive Practices in Early Childhood is a partnership between CHDI and the Minnesota Department of Education to develop a training series for the state's early childhood intervention practitioners.
Trauma exposure among children
One in four children will witness or experience a trauma exposure by the age of four. Given the high prevalence of trauma exposure among young children, early childhood settings are ideal places to implement trauma-informed and healing practices.
About the Training Series
- Foster an understanding of how children and their caregivers are impacted by trauma
- Build practitioners’ competencies in identifying signs and symptoms of traumatic stress
- Provide strategies to work with children and families in supportive ways to mitigate the effects of trauma
The course series consists of a 9-hour foundational course on trauma and early childhood and three 3-hour advanced courses: one for in-home visitors, one for classroom-based practitioners, and one for early childhood leadership.
All trainings are designed to be completed synchronously or asynchronously, meaning the courses can be led by a facilitator through in-person or virtual sessions, or learners can take the courses independently online and at their own pace.
- Foster an understanding of how children and their caregivers are impacted by trauma
- Build practitioners’ competencies in identifying signs and symptoms of traumatic stress
- Provide strategies to work with children and families in supportive ways to mitigate the effects of trauma
The course series consists of a 9-hour foundational course on trauma and early childhood and three 3-hour advanced courses: one for in-home visitors, one for classroom-based practitioners, and one for early childhood leadership.
All trainings are designed to be completed synchronously or asynchronously, meaning the courses can be led by a facilitator through in-person or virtual sessions, or learners can take the courses independently online and at their own pace.
"The content is excellent and the examples/scenarios provided are applicable. This helped me to reconsider my approaches to things in my practices, even at home."
Trauma ScreenTIME Early Childhood Course
CHDI also offers a free online trauma screening course for early childhood providers that is available nationwide.