THE BRAIN STORY
The Brain Story: Lessons in Resilience During Times of Stress
Early experiences are literally built into our brains and bodies to affect a lifetime of learning and health, for good or for ill. This has profound implications for policies, programs, and services that support children, parents, adults and families throughout the lifespan.
DR. NICOLE SHERREN—BRAIN BUILDING
Dr. Nicole Sherren discusses how brains are built: what kind of experiences promote healthy brain architecture, what kind of experiences derail it, and how these experiences get “under our skins” to affect learning, health, and social outcomes across the life span.
Resources from Workshop:
DR. JEAN CLINTON—EXPERIENCE & THE BRAIN
Dr. Jean Clinton discusses the developmental implications of the Brain Story and the role of Adverse Childhood Effects (ACE’s) and their impact on the developing and developed brain particularly in childhood and adolescence but with implications across the lifespan.
Resources from Workshop:
- ACES Factsheet
- Experience & The Brain
- What Works: A Manual for Designing Programs that Build Resilience
ELDER KERRIE MOORE—TRAUMA & THE BRAIN
Kerrie Moore speaks about the brain and intergenerational trauma. This includes, the effects of toxic stress and how it can lead to trauma, how epigenetics plays a role in intergenerational trauma, why culture identity is important for resilience, and more.
To WATCH Trauma & The Brain, please send an email for the link.
Resources from Workshop:
PANEL DISCUSSION
Learn from those who have put the Brain Story into practice. Panellists include:
Mike Anderson, Principal of Brant Avenue Public School
Dr. Melanie Bluhm, Family Physician at the Guelph Community Health Centre
Carlene Donnelly, Executive Director CUPS Calgary.
Diana Lowe, QC Executive Counsel to the Chief Justice, Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta and Co-Lead of the Reforming the Family Justice System (RFJS) initiative.
Moderated by Dr. Nicole Sherren
The Brain Story Certification
Lifelong health is determined by more than just our genes: experiences at sensitive periods of development change the brain in ways that increase or decrease risk for later physical and mental illness, including addiction. That finding is the premise of the Brain Story, which puts scientific concepts into a narrative that is salient to both expert and non-expert audiences. The Brain Story synthesizes decades of research and reflects a body of knowledge that experts agree is useful for policy-makers and citizens to understand.
For the Brain Story Certification click here.