SUFFOLK
Trauma, particularly trauma experienced at an early age, is emerging as a significant factor in the problematic behavior and development in children and adolescents.

C. Alan Hogge, director of Franklin’s Department of Social Services, said that what trauma is depends on the child, based on his or her personal experiences. Trauma can be obvious, like experiencing death, or even less obvious, he said.

“It may be being bullied in schools, or it may be something like watching the news a lot right now,” Hogge said. “With the terrorist attacks going on in Paris, and everyone guessing if it is going to hit us locally can traumatize a child.”

In light of the fact that a child cannot always be shielded from bad experiences, Hogge said it’s best for parents or guardians to be armed with knowledge. Trauma, when left undiagnosed and untreated, can adversely affect a young person’s life and health, so the Best Practices Court Team in Suffolk is sponsoring a two-day conference on the subject. The conference is titled “Why Does That Kid Act That Way, An Exploration of Brain Development, Trauma and Its Consequences, and Shaping Effective Services.”

The two-part training is scheduled for Jan. 29-30 and will be at the Hilton Garden Inn on Constance Road in Suffolk.

The first part is designed for parents and caretakers. On Thursday, Jan. 29, Dr. Sheronda Farrow of the Western Tidewater Community Services Board will speak to parents about the effects of trauma on children. Her presentation is free and open to the public.

“Because of the situation we are in, and the continued problems going on in the world, having a good understanding of how trauma effects children can help us be better parents,” Hogge said. “While the program is looking at kids who are struggling with behavioral issues, it is really geared toward any parent.”

Dr. Farrow’s presentation is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Those wishing to attend should call 514-7357 and leave a message to include the name, phone number and number of persons wishing to attend.

The second part of the training is more so designed for professionals. On Jan. 30, the Best Practices Court Team will host a daylong event featuring speakers well versed in the subject of trauma. Scott Cone, PhD, Director of Clinical Operations for Harbor Point Behavioral Health Center; Andrea Long, MA, EdM, LPC, Vice President of the UP Center; and Ellen Williams, LCSW, Clinical Director of Behavioral Health Services at the Center for Child and Family Services, will address an audience comprised of professionals who routinely appear before the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court in the Fifth Judicial District.

Those persons include CASA volunteers, guardians ad litem, probation officers, Family Service Specialists with Social Services, school personnel, among others. The event requires a registration fee of $25. Persons interested in the event can contact 514-4310 for additional information.

The Best Practices Court Team was formed several years ago by the Hon. Robert S. Brewbaker Jr., one of two judges in the Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court.

The team was formed in response to a state Supreme Court initiative aimed at improving the outcomes for children in foster care or those who appear in court having been subject to allegations of abuse and neglect. The team has focused on prevention, on ways to improve the court process, and on educating those appearing in court on the complexities often associated with troubled children.