CONFERENCE WILL ADDRESS NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS

 

 

NEWS FROM DON KNABE

Supervisor, Fourth District

County of Los Angeles

822 Hahn Hall of Administration

Contact:        David A. Somers                                              (213) 974-1095                                                           

    (213) 453-6446 (cell)

CONFERENCE WILL ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN IN TRAUMATIC SITUATIONS

LOS ANGELES, September 30, 2008 – The County of Los Angeles will examine how trauma and violence shapes the behaviors of young people of today as it will be conducting a one-day training for mental health professionals, probation officers, community workers, school administrators and teachers entitled “A Transformational Learning Opportunity…Understanding How Trauma and Violence Impact Children and Youth” taking place at Quiet Cannon in Montebello on Wed., Oct. 1 (8 a.m.-5 p.m.).

The training day is hosted by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Children’s Council of Los Angeles, Department of Mental Health, Interagency Operations Group, Los Angeles Unified School District and the Los Angeles County Probation Department. 

“For far too long, we have viewed kids involved in the juvenile justice system – over 27,000 in Los Angeles County alone - from primarily a prosecutorial standpoint, and that really impairs our ability to help them move past their delinquent behaviors and overcome the significant obstacles they face,” said Supervisor Knabe.

“Our goal for today’s conference is to impart upon staff who work with these young people everyday specific, concrete practices that take into account the trauma and violence these kids grew up with and are continually exposed to.  I hope that these new groundbreaking practices will be a positive and significant step towards improving their lives and ultimately eliminating violence and the pervasive influence of gangs in their communities.” 

“This training day has been inspired by Supervisor Knabe’s vision and support in focusing our collective efforts on healing youth who have experienced violence and trauma in their lives. Among the priority populations to be served by the Mental Health Services Act Prevention and Early Intervention funding are children and youth who are trauma-exposed, living in stressed families, and those at risk of experiencing juvenile justice involvement,” said Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Director Marvin J. Southard, D.S.W.

"Understanding trauma and how it affects children is critical in helping understand treatment options that are available. Those of us involved in juvenile justice see far too many children affected by trauma.  We often become the front line for treatment as a result of children acting out," said Los Angeles County Chief Probation Officer Robert B. Taylor.

The training day will feature three keynote speakers who are experts in the field of trauma and violence: Marlene Wong, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., Assistant Dean and Clinical Professor, Director of Field Education, School of Social Work at the University of Southern California (USC) will make a presentation on “The Impact of Community Violence on Children and Youth” (8:15-10:15 a.m.); Jennifer L. Skeem, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Psychology and Social Behavior at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) will talk about “Evidence-Based Practices in Community Corrections and Mental Health (1:30-2:30 p.m.); and Todd Sosna, Ph.D., California Institute of Mental Health (CiMH) will make a presentation entitled “Towards an Integrated Model of Behavior Change” (3:45-4:45 p.m.).

# # #