Understanding Childhood Trauma

GAL for Children Continuing Credit Hours: 2.0

Trauma doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to children and adults alike, across different ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. Yet at-risk children and families more often find themselves involved in court, whether in abuse and neglect cases, delinquency cases, Children in Need of Services or Children in Need of Supervision (CHINS), or challenging custody matters.

In the legal setting, one may perceive these affected individuals as defiant or disrespectful, while in fact their behavior could be better understood through the lens of traumatic stress. At the heart of trauma-informed care is sensitivity to the individual’s past and current experiences, as well as a deep understanding of how those events molded him or her into the person that he or she is today. Research demonstrates that the success of the child and family depends in part on the ability of our professional community to collaborate effectively to engage the family and to guide them to appropriate resources.

This course is designed to highlight the physical, medical, and mental health aspects of trauma, often caused by child abuse and neglect, to better inform and prepare attorneys who work with families and children as Guardians ad Litem or through the juvenile justice system.

Topics to be covered include:

• Defining trauma (acute, chronic, and complex)
• Key effects of trauma exposure
• Impact on brain and behavior
• Key resilience skills that need to be addressed in all case plans

Cancellation Policy: Cancellation/transfer requests will be honored until 5:00 p.m. the day preceding the seminar. You will, however, be charged $40 if you cancel or transfer your registration to a different seminar after the link to the materials has been e-mailed by Virginia CLE.

Full refunds or transfers are available up to two days after a webcast in the unlikely event that you experience technical difficulties.

Inclement Weather Policy and Updates.

COURSE SCHEDULE (September 25) (Eastern Time)

• Sign-in for live seminar attendees in Charlottesville begins at 9:30 a.m.
• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

COURSE SCHEDULE (October 2) (Eastern Time)

• Q&A will be handled via chat room for Webcast attendees.
• Q&A will be handled via e-mail for telephone seminar attendees.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Allison Sampson-Jackson, PhD, LCSW, LICSW, CSOTP, Integration Solutions, Inc. / Richmond

Dr. Allison Jackson is the CEO of Integration Solutions, Inc.  She aims to bring trauma-and-resilience-informed practices to professionals who serve at-promise youth, families, and adults in their communities. Her clinical practice and research focus on advancing effective trauma-informed treatment practices for persons who experience behavioral problems. She offered outpatient therapeutic services for military service men and women and their families and has provided crisis therapy services to youth and adults who were diagnosed with mental health problems.  Additionally, Dr. Jackson has provided leadership development services via behavioral health, education, child welfare, and criminal justice systems for more than 20 years.

Dr. Jackson grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University (Doctorate, Master’s, and Bachelor’s Degrees in Social Work). 

Jennifer M. Newman, Jennifer M. Newman, PC / Richmond

Jennifer M. Newman is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Richmond Law School. Upon graduation from law school, she entered private practice by opening her own firm.

Ms. Newman handles matters involving criminal appellate law, criminal law, and family law, and focuses on matters of child delinquency, child dependency, and child welfare. She frequently serves as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem for children and adults. Ms. Newman has served on various work groups and panels involving the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Department of Social Services and the Chesterfield Court Appointed Special Advocate program. She is a founding member of the GAL Roundtable in Chesterfield, a member of the Chesterfield Best Practices Core Group, a member of Greater Richmond TICN (Trauma Informed Care Network), and a member of the Chesterfield Systems of Care group. She has presented in panel discussions at a number of seminars and spoken as a Guardian ad Litem during PRIDE foster parent training, during CASA volunteer training, and to new workers with the Chesterfield/Colonial Heights Department of Social Services.

Ms. Newman is also an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Law School where she co-teaches appellate advocacy. She has the privilege of practicing with and mentoring her mother, Nancy C. Newman, Esquire, a fellow Guardian ad Litem.