Formerly I stated this series would be split into two parts. However, due to the enormous amount of information available, I have decided to offer four articles instead. In our previous article, we examined how neuroimaging is giving new insights into changes in the brain caused by trauma. Yes, trauma harms the human brain but how does that work? What could our bodies be doing that causes the types of damage outlined in this article?

Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience , a curriculum used by youth- and adult-serving programs, provides powerful tools to help people move past the effects of trauma and adverse experiences. Organizations currently using Mind Matters in groups have seen great outcomes. And, they let us know that they also wanted to use the materials in one-on-one settings. We listened! Mind Matters author Carolyn Curtis adapted the 12 lessons of Mind Matters into 21 (15- 20 minute)...

At the November 2019 Northern California Safe and Healthy Schools Conference at UC Berkeley, Niroga Program Managers Sam Weiss and Fatima Ahmed facilitated a session incorporating the theory and practice of Dynamic Mindfulness (DMind) to a standing room only crowd.

Authors: Deborah Seok, David Murphey, Fadumo M. Abdi Publication Date: December 10, 2019 The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is higher among children and youth with special health care needs than among their peers without special health care needs, according to Child Trends’ analysis of data from the 2016-17 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). The survey asks parents or guardians to report whether their child has experienced any of nine ACEs. The percentage of...

By Aaron Paden, The Daily Leader, December 10, 2019 Three years after a gruesome dog attack, Tommy Alderman is still telling his story — still using it as an opportunity to teach. “It’s in my DNA,” Alderman said. “I’m a trainer at heart. I knew immediately after reviewing everything that happened and the reasons why that I had made mistakes and I wanted people to know what those mistakes were so they could avoid them.” It’s a harrowing tale. Alderman works as project manager for Application...