How does childhood adversity shape adult lives? And how can we tell better stories about it? In their book, "What Happened to You?" (Flatiron Books, 2021), Oprah Winfrey and psychiatrist Bruce Perry, M.D. explore the science and stories behind childhood trauma. Winfrey and Dr. Perry joined Dart Center executive director Bruce Shapiro on September 22, 2021, for a conversation about the book, as well as trauma, resilience, neuroscience and the news agenda.

You play a role for everyone you know. Your actions have an impact, especially on children. 

The Be Real Youth Help-seeking PSA was developed in partnership with Georgia Department of Public Health’s Injury Prevention Program and DFCS Prevention and Community Support. Discussion guides are being developed and will be shared shortly!

This video explains ACEs, the body's response to stress and the effect on brain development and function. It helps people understand the difference between types of stress and the impact of prolonged exposure to stress. 

Childhood experiences, both positive and negative, have a tremendous impact on future violence victimization and perpetration, and lifelong health and opportunity. As such, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are an important public health issue. Learn how everyone can help prevent ACEs by using strategies to create safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments for all children. 

One way to understand the development of resilience is to picture a balance scale or seesaw. Protective experiences and adaptive skills on one side counterbalance significant adversity on the other. Watch this video to visualize the science of resilience, and see how genes and experience interact to produce positive outcomes for children.

This InBrief video is part two of a three-part sequence about resilience. These videos provide an overview of Supportive Relationships and Active Skill-Building Strengthen the Foundations of Resilience, a working paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/re .

Center for the Developing Child at Harvard University

Children are not born with resilience, which is produced through the interaction of biological systems and protective factors in the social environment. The active ingredients in building resilience are supportive relationships with parents, coaches, teachers, caregivers, and other adults in the community. Watch this video to learn how responsive exchanges with adults help children build the skills they need to manage stress and cope with adversity. 

Young children use their attachment figure as a secure base for exploring understanding the world around them. The relationship between child and caregiver lays the groundwork for interpersonal connections throughout the lifespan. When attachment is derailed, children may display confusing behaviors and struggle to trust even loving, safe caregivers. Although this is a sobering reality, there is hope for these children. 

From the time we are born, our brains have 100 billion neurons and begin to form synaptic connections that make up who we are and how we function. Tragically, severe or prolonged abuse or neglect manifests in toxic stress which derails brain development and can even affect the immune system. This cycle is all too common for children from hard places of abuse, neglect, and/or trauma. 

What is TBRI®? We are pleased to present a new video resource that answers that very question. It is our hope that the TBRI Animate will inspire parents and professionals across the world to bring deep healing to vulnerable children. 

An alarming number of children today bring many life stressors into the classroom as they face toxicity and adversity outside of school. This talk will explore the staggering prevalence of childhood trauma, and how it can affect the developing brain and body, lifelong health and wellness, and school success. While adversity occurs universally for individuals of all backgrounds, children from marginalized groups may be particularly vulnerable. Access to healing and support is not universal or equitable. What we have learned about childhood trauma in recent years can inform us about the essential missing ingredients in too many American schools today. The very same things needed for students dealing with adversity are in the best interest of all children. Relationship-rich school environments that focus on well-being and safety, stability, compassion, joy, and resilience optimize healthy executive functioning and learning, unlock resilience and flourishing, and empower all children to experience success.