2023 Trauma-Informed Care Conference

September 29, 2023

Michelle Vazquez

“Imagination is central to recovery. Without an inner imagination of an alternative future, there is no place to go.”

Bessel van der Kolk, MD
2023 Keynote Speaker

Thank you to all who attended CII’s 2023 Trauma-Informed Care Conference, in partnership with the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families! Your participation helps create awareness about the impact of trauma in the lives of children, families, and communities. We hope you’ll take the knowledge and insights from yesterday to inform and guide your practice and advocacy work.

Special thanks to this year’s speakers, including California Surgeon General, Diana Ramos, MD, UCLA Professor of Psychiatry, Eraka Bath, MD, and keynote speaker, renowned researcher, and New York Times best-selling author, Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Conversations touched on valuable topics including investment in youth mental health, the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and imagining a path forward for Californians most impacted by toxic stress.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships on a child’s health,” said California Surgeon General Diana Ramos, MD. “California is making significant investments to providing more support for communities and families so that all children have an opportunity to lead healthy, thriving lives.”

“Childhood trauma is probably the largest single public health issue facing us as a nation.,” said keynote Bessel van der Kolk, MD, “Learning self-regulation through attuned interactions, play & awareness of self and others are at the core of any effective intervention in any system that deals with children & adolescents.”

Thank you to our conference moderators and panelists, including LAist Senior Reporter, Mariana Dale, the Lived Experience Panel, including moderator Jesús Parra, LMFT, and panelists Kahlila Williams, Clarissa Morales Hernandez, and Terry Hayward, in addition to all conference breakout session moderators: Ana Amador, LCSW, Evelyn Barycki, Jaicy Bautista Gonzalez, M.A., Jessica Cardenas, M.A., Charmaine Dorsey, MSW, LCSW, Dr. Jonathan Goldfinger, Rachel Gilgoff, MD, Monique Holguin LCSW PhD, Kelly Hwang, MA, LMFT, Stefani Marte, Kristin Miller, LCSW, Thresa Offord, MS, Ms. Chantel Palmer, Riley Solorzano, MAT, Demontea “Tae” Thompson, Nina Thompson, Marisela Villalobos-Jimenez, M.A., Tanya Marin-Lopez, Jamie Ruize, and Amy Shekarchi. You all contributed to making this conference a renewing and enlightening experience!