Our Professional Development Training empowers the dependency community—including case managers, judges, attorneys, biological parents, foster parents, teachers, and other community professionals—to play an active role in the healing of the families we serve. By adopting trauma-informed practices, we can create environments that support recovery, strengthen family bonds, and prevent the perpetuation of trauma across generations.

Trauma-informed care is essential in the child welfare system, as it equips professionals with the tools to recognize the deep impact trauma has on children, youth, and caregivers. By understanding and addressing trauma, we shift from merely managing crises to fostering long-term healing and resilience. When we, as a dependency community, approach families through this lens, we create opportunities for growth and change, breaking the cycle of trauma that can lead to ongoing involvement in the system.

This training teaches professionals that families are at the heart of recovery. Through trauma-informed approaches, we help families heal from past experiences, building their capacity to protect and nurture their children. Participants learn that by supporting families in this way, we reduce the need for crisis interventions, foster care placement, and repeated entries into the system. More importantly, trauma-informed practices help children develop the emotional and psychological strength needed to thrive, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

Our training also recognizes that trauma does not exist in isolation. The program addresses the intersections of trauma with culture, race, history, and language, helping professionals understand the multigenerational effects of these experiences. By adopting culturally responsive practices, the dependency community can provide care that acknowledges and respects the unique challenges families face, fostering authentic engagement and empowering parents to break the cycle of trauma within their own families.

Incorporating trauma-informed care into every level of the child welfare system is critical for preventing a generational cycle of dependency. By learning how to apply these principles in their everyday work, professionals across all roles can contribute to a more compassionate and effective system. This training ensures that each interaction with families is an opportunity to build trust, encourage healing, and promote lasting change.