Building Trauma-Informed Communities:
Training Series
Free Summer Training Series: Understanding and Responding to Complex Trauma
Coming to a close.
The response from our community has been incredibly encouraging, and all sessions in our summer training series are now full!
These free educational trainings were designed to deepen understanding of complex trauma and strengthen trauma-informed practice across clinical, educational, and community settings.
Participants explored the foundations of complex trauma, including its causes, symptoms, and impact on emotional, cognitive, social, and physical well-being. Trainings covered evidence-based approaches to trauma screening and assessment, creating safe and supportive environments, and understanding the effects of trauma across diverse populations and contexts.
Specialized sessions examined topics such as:
The domains and long-term impacts of complex trauma
Trauma-informed assessment and treatment planning
Community violence and its effects on youth and families
Supporting LGBTQ+ youth through trauma-informed care
The intersection of trauma and substance use
Recognizing and addressing implicit bias in helping professions
Trauma-informed approaches in schools and learning environments
Designed for clinicians, educators, students, advocates, and community professionals, these trainings offered practical tools, current research, and actionable strategies to better support individuals and communities affected by trauma.
Thank you to everyone who registered and helped make this summer series such an encouraging success. If you missed the opportunity to attend a session this summer, please check back soon. We’re working to continue bringing you free trainings, educational opportunities, and dialogues in the future!
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This training covers contributing factors that may negatively and positively impact the overall health and well-being of LGBTQ youth, including sociological-intersectionality-focused considerations to form a more nuanced understanding of the unique needs that LGBTQ+ youth
August 14 (FRI) 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Justine Rudy
Registration FULL
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This training's purpose is to provide an overview of treatment models which are effective in the treatment of complex trauma for youth and adults. In addition to introducing various treatment models, the module will touch upon considerations for selecting treatment that is the best fit for a client and/or their family.
August 4, 2026 (Tue) 11:00AM –12:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Dr. Erin Stafford
Registration FULL
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This training emphasizes the importance of addressing caregiver needs and skills when working with childhood trauma. Includes techniques for engagement with client caregivers, and outlines strategies for guiding clients on regulation, attunement, and effective responses to youth behaviour.
August 14, 2026 (Fri) 11:00AM – 12:00 PM
Facilitator: Yakiesha Scott
Registration FULL
August 18, 2026 (Tue) 11:00AM – 12:00 PM
Facilitator: Dr. Erin Stafford
Registration FULL
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This training illustrates considerations specific to residential caregiving. Discussion will include complex trauma shows up in our milieus, how it impacts our philosophy of care, and how we can build shared language among staff and youth. Participants will then apply their understanding into an active practice model – the Safe Relational Container, and explore trauma-informed strategies guided by an action sequence of Calm, Connect, and Respond.
August 13, 2026 (Thur) 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET
Facilitator: Lucy Miller-Suchet
Registration FULL
August 21, 2026 (Fri) 9:00 – 10:00 AM ET
Facilitator: Justine Rudy
Registration FULL
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This training, designed specifically for non-clinicians, reviews the prevalence of complex trauma among justice-involved youth, and applies a trauma lens to “maladaptive” coping strategies such as aggression, substance use, and self-harm. The module includes a focus on identifying and addressing trauma triggers, as well as ways in which direct care staff can create a more trauma-informed environment for youth, and build upon youths' strengths.
August, 26, 2026 (Wed) 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Justine Rudy
Registration FULL
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This training focuses on trauma-informed screening and assessment through a complex trauma lens, providing a comprehensive framework and tools to ultimately support treatment and service planning. This training is specific for licensed PhD’s or MD’s, or those who are legally licensed to do assessment.
June 12, 2026 (Fri) 1:00–2:00 PM
Facilitator: Dr. Melany Rivera Maldonado
Registration CLOSED
July 7, 2026 (Tue) 1:00–2:00 PM
Facilitator: Dr. Melany Rivera Maldonado
Registration FULL
August 14, 2026 (Fri) 12:00 - 1:00PM ETFacilitator: Justine Rudy, PhD Cand.
Registration FULL
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This module explores the challenges that face providers during critical moments with clients who have experienced complex trauma, and provides key principles and tactics for handling these crises and preserving clients’ safety.
August 14, 2026 (Fri) 9:00 – 10:00 AM ET
Facilitator: Justine Rudy
Registration FULL
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This training illustrates considerations specific to residential caregiving. Discussion will include complex trauma shows up in our milieus, how it impacts our philosophy of care, and how we can build shared language among staff and youth. Participants will then apply their understanding
August 11, 2026 (Tue) 1:00–2:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Dr. Erin Stafford
Registration FULL
August 25, 2026 (Tue) 1:00–2:00 PM ET
Facilitator: Dr. Erin Stafford
Registration FULL
