Neurodiversity as Trauma-Informed Practice: A Training Model for Child Welfare Staff

Neurodivergent families are overrepresented in child welfare systems because their communication, sensory, and regulation patterns are routinely misread as risk. This training integrates neurodiversity-affirming practices into trauma-informed work, giving child welfare professionals concrete tools to recognize neurodivergent traits without pathologizing them and to adjust engagement strategies accordingly.

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to:

• Identify common ways neurodivergent communication, sensory, and regulation differences are misinterpreted as risk indicators within child welfare assessment and case planning
• Apply neurodiversity-affirming, trauma-informed strategies when engaging with neurodivergent children, youth, and caregivers
• Adjust case documentation and communication practices to reduce misreadings that can unnecessarily escalate family involvement in the system

Who should attend: Social workers, case managers, supervisors, and other child welfare professionals who engage directly with neurodivergent children, youth, and families.

 

 

Please note: The webinars in this series are open to anyone with an interest in the topic. We encourage you to share these opportunities with colleagues and professional networks.

• CE/CME credit is not available for the live webinars; however, registered participants will receive a certificate of attendance following each session.
• If you are unable to attend the live webinar, recordings will be available as on-demand content through the 2027 Chadwick Conference and accessible to all registered conference participants.