Toxic stress resulting from early adversity or neurodevelopmental vulnerability is considered a public crisis as it has lifelong impacts on health, behavior, and even socioeconomic inequity (Bucci et al. 2016; Gilbert et al. 2015). Long-term consequences of toxic stress include structural brain changes and epigenetic shifts, resulting in disrupted stress physiology, poor social-emotional outcomes, and increased risk for autoimmune diseases, mental health disorders, substance use, and suicide (Anda et al. 2006; Bahreinian et al. 2013; Gradus 2017; McEwen 1998; Teicher et al. 2002).
In this series of 7 sessions, Dr. Hapchyn and April will provide an overview of the Three Steps to Resilience model from the NeuroRelational Framework (NRF). The main objective of this series is to provide teachers, educational assistants, and administrators with the basic knowledge and skills of recognizing stress response states, addressing these states through co-regulation, and how to do so in an interdisciplinary model. (https://nrfcare.org/)
Participants will benefit from downloading the free NRF starter kit from the website here: https://nrfcare.org/starter-kit/
The NeuroRelational Framework (NRF) (Lillas et al. 2009) seeks to provide trauma-informed assessment and intervention with three clinical steps based on neuroscience and relational research. The clinical steps aim to:
- reduce or eliminate toxic stress patterns and promote adaptive stress responses,
- support healthy caregiver-child engagement and social-emotional development, and
- utilize individualized, neurodevelopmentally informed approaches to supporting children and caregivers based on their strengths and vulnerabilities across brain systems.
By integrating science about the brain and the wisdom of relationships, the NRF aims to improve care for the whole child. The NRF provides a big-picture and collaborative approach to understanding the brain and body and how that shows up in your classroom. The framework bridges fragmented systems of care and overlapping diagnoses through a common language and shared approach toward whole-person care.
The NRF was created by Connie Lilas, RN, MFT, Ph.D., and is joined by Dr. Janiece Turnbull (pediatric neuropsychologist) in the NeuroRelational Framework Institute and their co-authored textbook on the subject.
Target Audience
Teachers
Also Recommended For
School-based Administrators, Instructional/Learning Coaches, District Leaders/Consultants, Educational/Instructional Assistants
