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Course Overview
The intersection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) and Neurodevelopmental Conditions is complex. Some neurodevelopmental conditions such as Down Syndrome have a strong genetic component. Others have long been strongly associated with ACE’s including conduct problems, and depression. More current research indicates there is an association between ACE’s and intellectual disability, anxiety, and ADHD as well. Family stressors significantly impact children with NDC’s as they are less able to modulate their individual stress responses. Families, in turn, may experience increased stress due to the demands of parenting a child with NDC’s. ACE’s can delay the diagnosis of children’s conditions interfering with the start of needed services.
We will look at the current research on these topics and identify the implications for working with children and families facing these complicated concerns. Families and systems get stuck in a vicious cycle of reaction and frustration. By mapping out the possible connections we can work with a family or system to identify opportunities for positive intervention.
This intermediate-level, live virtual course is appropriate for all human services professionals supporting those with Neurodevelopmental conditions and adverse childhood experiences.
As a result of participating in this training, participants will be able to:
Discuss the intersection of genetic and environmental risk factors in the development
of Neurodevelopmental conditions.
Describe the complex interactions between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Neurodevelopmental conditions.
Identify practice implications for working with children and families impacted by both
ACE’s and Neurodevelopmental conditions.
Laura Gaines, MSW, LISW-S
Laura has twenty years of experience as a child and adolescent mental health clinician and Crisis Text Line volunteer. Laura worked with children, their parents and their school districts to diagnose, treat and manage anxiety disorders in children at home and in the community. Her goal was to empower even the youngest child to find ways to "shrink the worry monster" so that they could focus on having fun, building relationships, and learning. Trainer and researcher regarding resilience as an individual and community skill. Laura provides clinical consultation regarding child and adolescent mental health. Her trainings focus on child development, mental health, developmental disabilities, ethics, trauma-informed care, resilience, and each person’s individual solutions to life’s challenges.
