Webinar: The Neurobiology of Trauma, Attachment and Substance Use

PHO is hosting a series of webinars led by the Public Health Nursing Practice, Research & Education Program (PHN-PREP) to provide information to public health nurses involved with home visiting. When a person is exposed to chronic stress, trauma, violence and/or neglect, brain development is impacted in a significant way. This, in turn, influences daily functioning and the ability to develop in a typical manner. Science demonstrates that adversity has a direct correlation to both emotional and physical health that can be passed on to future generations. Understanding how the early attachment relationship between a child and their caregiver is foundational for self-regulation provides insights into its connection to substance use. This webinar looks to answer how this can relate to an individual’s role as a home visitor and how to help support families to begin the healing process and recover.

Intended audience: Public health nurses, family home visitors, and supervisors working in the Healthy Babies Healthy Children or Nurse-Family Partnership program

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

1. Understand how the biochemical and physiological mechanisms of trauma interrupt the developmental process, facilitating a much deeper understanding of the principles of trauma-informed interactions.
2. Understand how attachment is foundational for self-regulation, learning about its direct link to substance use.
3. Understand how our stress response system impacts people’s ability to function, relating not only to clients but to nurses and home visitors.
4. Recognize caregiver trauma/compassion fatigue and how to apply the principles of trauma-informed care to not only the client and their children but to oneself.

About the presenter: Jan Ference

Jan Ference’s, BEd, MS, IPMHF, career began in the education system, working in inner-city schools and in specialized programs for complex children. She completed a Masters in Counsellling from the University of Portland, and has since worked in a variety of clinical settings. Jan completed a post-graduate Infant-Parent Mental Health Fellowship through the University of California. Jan has been leading a specialized, early intervention, trauma team since April 2016; this team has inspiring outcomes working intensely with women in the perinatal period who have opioid use challenges. They have been able to facilitate community system change based on the rich learnings gained from the perinatal work.

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies or views of Public Health Ontario, nor does the mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by Public Health Ontario.

Stay up-to-date

Stay up-to-date on upcoming events and calls for abstracts by visiting our calendar. If you have submissions, or questions or comments about the items above, send them to capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca.

Accessibility

Public Health Ontario is committed to complying with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you require accommodations to participate in this event, please contact 647-260-7100 or capacitybuilding@oahpp.ca .