10 Steps to Create Trauma-Informed Resilient Early Childhood Care is a trauma certification program for early childhood specialists. Presented by Dr. Caelan Soma, it provides detailed information and actionable steps to help create a supportive environment for preschool students and the professionals who work with them. This program not only explains the “why” but also offers guidance on the “how” to improve the overall care provided. By completing this certification, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how stress and trauma affect children, and you’ll also acquire practical tools and resources to offer effective support.

This course will be most beneficial for those working with pre-K children such as preschool educators and other interdisciplinary professionals, childcare specialists, childcare center directors, teacher's assistants, or administrative assistants.

10 Steps to a Trauma-Informed, Resilience-Focused Early Childhood Care is offered in partnership with Starr Commonwealth, a global leader in trauma-informed care. Starr's mission is to lead with courage to create positive experiences so that all children, families, and communities flourish.

Objectives

After participants have completed this course, they will be able to:

1. Identify at least five questions to ask to promote a trauma-informed and resilience-focused mindset, when working with youth.
2. Name the four main protective factors of resilient youth.
3. Describe how trauma impacts the deep and outer brain functions.
4. Describe the concept of private logic and provide at least two examples of how private logic impacts behavior.
5. Discuss the polyvagal theory as it relates to trauma and resilience.
6. Name at least one reason epigenetics is important to trauma practitioners.
7. Discuss how safety is maintained when implementing the SITCAP® model.
8. Identify at least three examples of sensory-based interventions for youth that can be used in response to crisis and/or for psychological first aid.

Training Format

This training will consist of 10 parts, delivered in an online, self-paced format.

1. Focus on Resilience
2. Understand Trauma as an Experience
3. Foster Connections
4. Prioritize Social-Emotional Skill Development
5. Establish Safety
6. Promote Play
7. Believe the Link Between Private Logic and Behavior
8. Collaborate with Families and Communities
9. Support and Invest in Staff
10. Collect and Utilize Outcome Data

Course Length and Access

This course takes approximately 12 hours to complete. We encourage you to take your time with it, completing it at whatever pace works best for you and your self-care needs. We strongly encourage participants to watch all of the recommended videos, read all of the provided and recommended resources, and complete all of the provided activities – as this will help to ensure a trauma-informed, resilience-focused foundation is set for your future growth and the betterment of the students you serve. You will have access to this course for 1-year (365 days).

Continuing Education Credits

This course counts for 12.0 Social Work Continuing Education Credits, 12.0 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs for Educators), and/or 12.0 CEUs. Once you have viewed all of the course content, you must pass a post-test with a score of 80% or higher to receive a continuing education certificate. Upon successful completion of the course and post-test, your continuing education certificate will be made available to download/print within Blackboard (our online course system).

This course discusses and shows images and video that contain sensitive material. As you are watching please take care of yourself. If any of the content is activating please take a break from viewing the material and if you need additional support please reach out to a friend or family member.

Please note that you will receive access to the course about 2 hours after completing your registration. Your login instructions and credentials will be emailed to you shortly after registering for the course. This is done manually by one of our team members, but if you need quicker access, please visit: www.gvsu.edu/learn/login

Upon registering for the course, the learner has 365 days to complete all course materials and access their certificate. If the course is incomplete after 365 days, the learner’s access to the course will be removed. Our courses provide current material, and we strive to update our course offerings regularly. Due to this, the learner is encouraged to complete their course within one calendar year.

CANCELLATIONS:

• Participants may cancel their registration at any time by calling our office at 616-331-7180 or emailing learn@gvsu.edu. Participants seeking a refund must cancel their registration within 30 days of purchase and must not have already accessed the course content. You may either receive a full refund back on your card, or we can place a credit on your account for a future program.