Racialized Trauma and Child Well-Being Course

Over the last decade, NWCF has become known for its educational outreach and convening work, filling a critical gap in affordable high-impact education and training in this realm. The cornerstone of this program is our Annual Forum which brings together those working with children and families ‒ educators, direct service providers, researchers, therapists, funders, parents and more ‒ and delivers cutting-edge research and high-value content. Through a collective learning model, participants build shared vocabulary, knowledge, and working relationships, facilitating improved support services for hundreds of thousands of children and families. In 2021, our Forum moved from an in-person event in Seattle to a virtual event that attracts an audience from all over the US and beyond.

Feedback from our first virtual Forum was overwhelmingly positive, with participants requesting the ability to share the content with coworkers, friends, community members and others. In response, we have developed this pilot project – an online learning curriculum based on the 2021 Forum: Racialized Trauma and Child Well-Being: Powerful Insights and Practical Strategies for Healing. [click here to view full video of the 2021 Forum]. The Forum included five exceptional leaders who shared the impacts of racialized trauma and healing strategies that focus on individuals, families, and the systems that surround us. See our 2021 Forum program to learn more about our speakers.

This online curriculum includes video clips from these speakers at the Forum, summaries of Forum content, as well as additional resources to enhance our understanding of the content. The Forum took place on February 4, 2021, a few weeks after the attack on the US Capitol, following months of nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd, and while the world was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the curriculum, our speakers refer to these specific events and the time period in which they are speaking. Yet the content of this Forum – the impact of racialized trauma and how we can heal – remains timely and relevant. We hope this online curriculum proves valuable for a wider audience, including individuals, organizations, and the broader community.