Childhood Trauma: Understanding, Supporting, and Preventing

This interactive course includes four units that cover the prevalence and impact of trauma, the manifestation of trauma in young children, providing trauma-informed supports, and preventing future trauma.

This self-paced online course was created to explore childhood trauma, disability, and trauma-informed practices in early childhood settings.

The interactive course includes four units that cover the prevalence and impact of trauma, the manifestation of trauma in young children, providing trauma-informed supports, and preventing future trauma.  It is designed to be a high-level overview of the topic and a starting point for professionals working with young children and their families.

Helpful Tips

• Interactive components and links to videos are included, so make sure you have a strong internet connection.
• Units and resources will open in a new window be sure to turn your pop-up blocker off.
• The content includes audio and video, ensure your computer can play audio and video files, and open PDF files.
• To ensure progress is saved, please pause and resume learning between units.
• In order to receive continuing education credit and/or a certificate of completion for general use, all users must take a cumulative post-test at the end of the entire course. This post-test can be found at the end of  Unit 4 labeled “Continuing Education.” You will have five attempts to pass the final post-test at 80% or better.
• It is expected that students will view all materials, engage with the activities, and complete reflections.

Deserai Miller, PhD, LCSW, content author

Robyn DiPietro-Wells, EdM, content developer

Jen Chilek and Molly Herndon, instructional designers

• This course will offer 4.5 CE credits through the Early Intervention Training Program (EITP) at the University of Illinois for providers in Illinois through Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 6/30/27.
• This course has been approved for 4.5 continuing education credits from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 6/30/28.
• This course is approved for 4.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Check with your state licensing agency for reciprocity and/or credit approval if licensed for other professions or in one of the following states: CO, FL, HI, IA, KS, KY, MI, NY, ND, OH, OK. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 6/30/28. 
• This course has been approved for 4.5 SCECH from the Michigan Education Association’s Center for Leadership and Learning. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 6/30/29.
• Participants will be eligible for credits and a certificate of completion for general use upon finishing the module in its entirety and passing a post-test.
• Please access the post-test and continuing education certificate at the end of  Unit 4 labeled “Continuing Education.” 

Photo from iStock