UWM hosts ‘Trauma In Our Community’ conference June 20

MILWAUKEE _ Trauma is the leading cause of death among Americans ages 1 to 46, according to the National Trauma Institute. A June 20, 2018, conference at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is intended to inspire and educate teachers, school and youth counselors, psychologists, social workers, medical providers, parents and foster parents, and anyone else interested in addressing trauma care throughout the health care system.

Trauma in Our Community” runs from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20, in the UWM Union ballroom, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., and features keynote presentations and breakout sessions from leading providers and scholars of trauma-informed care.

Associate Professor of Social Welfare and conference speaker Dimitri Topitzes describes trauma as an event or circumstance, which may occur once or multiple times, that is experienced as physically or psychologically harmful and results in lasting negative consequences.

“Understanding common examples of trauma and key features of its effects is critical,” Topitzes said, “but the field of trauma-informed care is now most interested in sharing solutions to the problem. The conference will therefore explore interdisciplinary programs that show great promise in preventing or resolving trauma’s long-lasting, wide-ranging and severe effects.”

“Developing trauma-informed systems provides children, families, the workforce and communities with opportunities to address the impact of trauma to improve functioning and their future trajectory,” adds opening keynote speaker James Henry.

“Embracing that it is not ‘what is wrong with people,’ but most often ‘what has happened to people,’ which creates a pathway for recovery.”

The daylong schedule includes a variety of programming, such as:

  • “The Ongoing Impact of Trauma,” delivered by Henry, co-founder and project director of the Children’s Trauma Assessment Center at Western Michigan University
  • “Translating Trauma-Informed Care Into Practice,” delivered by UWM professors and co-founders of the Institute for Child and Family Well-Being, Dimitri Topitzes and Joshua Mersky
  • Breakout sessions on trauma-sensitive schools, the neurobiology of trauma, supporting youth and families to address trauma and prevent violence, and local innovations in trauma-informed care
  • “Take Action: It’s Up to All of Us” 10-person panel discussion.

Early bird registration runs through May 30 and is $179 for the day, which includes breakfast and lunch. Registration from May 31 to June 19 is $199. Conference contact information, speaker bios, a full schedule and registration information can be found online.“Trauma in Our Community” is sponsored by the School of Continuing Education at UWM.

About the School of Continuing Education at UWM

The School of Continuing Education is the largest provider of professional development in Southeastern Wisconsin. As one of 14 schools and colleges that comprise UW-Milwaukee, our year-round operations are the gateway to lifelong learning.

About UWM
Recognized as one of the nation’s 115 top research universities, UW-Milwaukee provides a world-class education to 25,000 students from 91 countries on a budget of $653 million. Its 14 schools and colleges include Wisconsin’s only schools of architecture, freshwater sciences and public health, and it is a leading educator of nurses and teachers. UW-Milwaukee partners with leading companies to conduct joint research, offer student internships and serve as an economic engine for southeastern Wisconsin. The Princeton Review named UW-Milwaukee a 2018 “Best Midwestern” university based on overall academic excellence and student reviews, and the Sierra Club has recognized it as Wisconsin’s leading sustainable university.