ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
Environmental stress and trauma refer to the societal and psychological distress experienced by individuals due to significant stressors in their surrounding environment. This can include natural disasters, climate change, pollution, extreme weather events, social and political instability, chronic exposure to community violence, overcrowding, or poor living conditions, among others. Environmental stress can have significant negative impacts on physical and emotional health and well-being, which can become overwhelming and disrupt a person's sense of safety and stability in their everyday functioning. Furthermore, the ripple effects of environmental stress can extend beyond the individual to impact several systems, including family, school and community, deepening inequities and injustices. The 10th Biennial Trauma Conference, sponsored by the Center for Child and Family Traumatic Stress at Kennedy Krieger Institute, is an opportunity to raise awareness about the impact of environmental stress. The conference is designed for those that deliver services to children and families who have experienced trauma. Attendees will have opportunities to learn and practice appropriate, culturally relevant, trauma-informed intervention and prevention approaches to combat hopelessness and foster healing. Specifically, the conference aims to incorporate the latest research and current trends in the field of trauma and provide practical tools, resources and strategies to mitigate the effects of environmental stress and trauma and to cultivate individual, family and community resilience.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Attendees will be able to:
- Discuss the complexities of environmental stress and trauma at an individual and societal level
- Describe effective trauma informed, evidence supported and practice-based interventions that can be used across context
- Identify strategies that promote prevention, coping and healing for those impacted by environmental stress and trauma
- Recognize the benefits of collaborative approaches in the delivery of trauma informed services between families, communities, and providers
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
Mental Health Professionals, Child Serving Professionals and Paraprofessionals, Criminal Justice Professionals, Community Service Organization Professionals, Legislators, Faith-Based Providers, Medical and/or Forensic Professionals, Community Service Providers, Military Providers, Members of Community Organizations, Organizational Leaders, Academic Faculty/Staff.
Keynote and Featured Presentations
Keynote
Lise Van Susteren, MD
Dr. Lise Van Susteren is a general and forensic psychiatrist and Clinical Associate Professor at George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, DC; and an expert on the physical and psychological damages of climate disruption. Described as the “Mother of the movement on climate and mental health”, in 2009 she co-convened the first conference warning of "The Psychological Effects of Global Warming”.
Van Susteren has been a consultant to the Executive Branch of the US government profiling world leaders. She is the co-founder of "Climate Psychiatry Alliance," of “Climate Psychology Alliance – North America “, professional groups dedicated to raising awareness and to the education of mental health professionals and the public about the impacts of climate disruption on our mental health and the need for systemic change to address the threat to public health; and of “Ecopsychepedia”, a free, online resource on climate, psychology and public health.
In addition to community organizing on climate issues, Van Susteren is the expert witness on the psychological damages to young people from inaction on climate in Juliana v. US Government, Held v Montana and Navahine v Hawaii Department of Transportation. In 2006 Dr. Van Susteren sought the Democratic nomination to the US Senate from Maryland. A frequent contributor on television, radio and in the print, her book, “Emotional Inflammation” – Discover Your Triggers and Reclaim Your Equilibrium During Anxious Times” was published in 2020.
Featured Presenters
Olayinka Lawal and WombWork Productions
Olayinka Lawal is a performer, facilitator and teaching artist for Wombwork Productions Inc., a social justice theater company. WombWork is a 501-C3 organization focused on performance art combined with the International Virtues Project. Olayinka graduated from a dual degree program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Fashion Institution of Technology. Olayinka also has a Masters of Education from Coppin State University in Rehabilitation Counseling.
When
Where
Sheraton Baltimore North Hotel
Websites
Countdown to the Event
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