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If a pair of powerful Pennsylvania state senators get their way, a burgeoning approach to managing student behavior could become a mandate. State Sens. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, and Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, announced a proposal last week to create a “trauma-informed system of education.” The central plank of their proposal is a requirement that all teachers, school board members, and school employees “with direct contact with students” receive trauma-informed training. The details don’t...

Oct 11, 2018 9:00-12:00 Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is the founder and director of The Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of “Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others.” Van Dernoot Lipsky has worked in the trauma field for more than 30 years and is known internationally. She was a decade into her career when she suffered a near-psychotic break and suddenly realized the dire impact of working to help others overcome trauma without taking time to...

FOCUS Pittsburgh knew it was onto something when it piloted its model for strengthening communities — starting with the knowledge that social service help will not stick unless trauma is confronted. In 2015, FOCUS chose the 2900 block of Webster Avenue in the Hill District to start a block-by-block approach of bringing people together toward healing. The group is only into its second area — the 900 block of Bryn Mawr — but people around the country are validating that it is onto something. A...

When: June 27, 2018 Where: DeSales University Center 2755 Station Avenue Center Valley, PA 18034 Cost: $25.00 All payment must be made with registration. Day of registration will not be accepted. Registration is now available online or through a printable form . For Full Conference Agenda please click here. Speakers include: Suzanne M. Beck Executive Director; Crime Victims Council of the LV Donna Gavin , Lieutenant Detective Boston Police Department Athena Buell Bercerra and Priscilla...

Beth Tomlinson challenges a room full of 100 people to imagine her hand is a brain. Her wrist, the brain stem, which controls functions such as breathing and heart rate. Her thumb, the limbic system, which controls emotions and the fight-or-flight response. Her fingers, the cerebral cortex, where thinking and reasoning takes place. A typical learning brain is like a fist, all pieces working together. But for students who experience trauma — anything from divorced parents to sexual abuse to a...

Lehigh Valley performance premiere “The Body Keeps the Score: Dancing with Trauma and Recovery” promotes social awareness and healing Choreography by Sarah Carlson Original Music by Vernon Mobley March 23 & 24 Allentown, Pa. (March 2, 2018) — The IceHouse Tonight presents “The Body Keeps the Score: Dancing with Trauma and Recovery”, a choreographer/composer collaboration at the Bethlehem Ice House on Friday, March 23 at 8pm, and Saturday, March 24 at 3pm and 8pm. Sarah Carlson, the...

On March 27th, Dr. Rick Hanson's new book, Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness will be released. Written with Forrest Hanson, it promises to "show you how to develop twelve vital inner strengths hardwired into your own nervous system. Then no matter what life throws at you, you’ll be able to feel less stressed, pursue opportunities with confidence, and stay calm and centered in the face of adversity. This practical guide is full of concrete suggestions,...

Rick Hanson, Ph.D., Psychologist and NY Times Bestselling Author of Resilient and Hardwiring Happiness is hosting a free 5-day online series: The Resilience Summit. Join Dr. Hanson and other leading experts on March 19-23 as they discuss becoming stronger and more resilient in worrisome and turbulent times.

Boot-strapping types who believe that surmounting a difficult childhood is mainly a matter of will may be perplexed by an anecdote near the beginning of Nadine Burke Harris’s new book, “The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity.” In it, the pediatrician describes a 7-year-old boy named Diego, who showed up at her Bay Area clinic looking like an undersized 4-year old. He had been referred by a school nurse for suspected ADHD . But Burke Harris also noted that her...

United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Lehigh Valley Trauma Awareness Collaborative trained approximately 100 service providers during the first session in a three-part series held at Northampton Community College on Monday, February 12. Facilitated by Dr. Hasshan Batts, a community leader with both personal and professional expertise in trauma, this training reached school staff members as well as youth- and family-service providers. Here are some of the topics covered in “Trauma 101:...