Sept. 10 forum to address trauma and its impact on youth

Friday, September 5, 2014

Children who have experienced physical or emotional trauma are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, suffer from depression, attempt suicide and experience domestic violence as adults, according to the Adverse Childhood Experience Study.

In an effort to help youth workers better meet the needs of children who have experienced trauma, the Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) is hosting a forum, to take place at Area 30 Career Center in Greencastle, that will explore how to recognize signs of trauma and how it affects children's behavior, development and relationships.

The forum will feature Malea Crosby, a therapist and the head of Gibault Children's Services trauma team. Crosby will share how organizations can incorporate trauma-informed practices in program and services to better serve children and families.

Participants will gain knowledge about how to define trauma and identify normal reactions to it, identify core principles of trauma-informed care, engage families and communities in trauma-informed care and recognize how all levels of an organization can be trauma-informed.

The forum will run from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the community room at Area 30, 1 N. Calbert Way, Suite A, Greencastle. Attendees should enter through Door 2 on the west end of the building.

As part of IYI's Youth Worker Café program, the forum is free and lunch will be served, but reservations are required by Sept. 9. RSVP at www.iyi.org/ywc.

Reservations may also be made by contacting IYI Statewide Outreach Manager Debbie Jones via phone at (317) 396-2723 or via email at djones@iyi.org.

Youth Worker Cafés are designed to bring together local youth workers to build relationships and inspire collaborations that will benefit children. This Youth Worker Café is made possible by the collaborative efforts of the Putnam County Youth Development Commission, United Way of Putnam County, Children's Bureau, Putnam County Family Support Services, Mental Health America and IYI.

For more information, contact IYI West Central Indiana Outreach Manager Katie McGaughey at kmcgaughey@iyi.org.

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