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Trainings/Conferences
On-line Resouces
An independent forum with news, programs, research, events, legislation, theory, and opinion on education, health, welfare, and justice for California's 10 million children
Focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5
Research and message development on child and family mental health Promoting the health and development of infants and toddlers Building awareness and understanding of sensory processing disorders through education and collaboration Helping parents, teachers and health professionals to proactively manage the challenging behaviors of the 21st century child |
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Meeting Information
Next Meeting: Tuesday, February 12, 2013, 8:30 to 10:30 A.M. Blood Source - Community Meeting Room (upstairs) 555 Rio Lindo Avenue Presentation: Using Storyboards Lynn Haskell, Butte Baby Steps
Please Note: Parking in Blood Source lot is for clients only. Please park in lot directly across Rio Lindo or use street side parking. Thank you. |
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 Hallucinations, Schizophrenia and Child Abuse
July 2012 CTA Newsletter
Over the last fifteen years it has become clear that schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder and that developmental adversity (including trauma) increases the risk of schizophrenia (as it does for most neuropsychiatric disorders). A pioneer in making the connection between schizophrenia in adults and developmental trauma is Dr. John Read. Dr. Perry was lucky enough to meet Dr. Read many years ago and was generously included in Dr. Read's seminal article articulating his ideas regarding potential relationships and mechanisms underlying these observed connections. Dr. Read's scholarship, and leadership, in the face of predictable "push back" from proponents of more traditional etiologies of schizophrenia has led to an important line of research that has led to an enriched appreciation of the complexity of these neuropsychiatric syndromes. With the elucidation of epigenetic and neurodevelopmental mechanisms that provide plausible mechanisms to explain many of the other neurophysiological findings in schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders, the field is now embracing the concepts originally put forward by Dr. Read and his colleagues. While this remains an area of complexity, more studies are examining the relationships between childhood trauma and psychotic symptoms.
Clinicians working with maltreated children frequently see the expression of "psychotic" symptoms such as auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH), "hysterical" materializations during traumatic grief (often mislabeled hallucinations) and "mini-psychotic" dissociative meltdowns. A "trauma-informed" clinician knows these are related to trauma and will address the core trauma-related issues in any number of evidence-based interventions; unfortunately many clinicians will move to introduce anti-psychotic medications (typically second generation) which have minimal efficacy with these symptoms and high risk for the development of cardiometabolic adverse effects (e.g., diabetes). Hopefully as the work of Dr. Read and others expands our knowledge-base about psychotic symptoms and trauma, safer and more effective interventions will be the rule rather than the exception. |
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2013 NMT Case-Based Training Series
Valley Oak Children's Services is exploring the possibility of offering Dr. Perry's NMT training in the Fall of 2013. Once again it would be available at no cost to active Strong Starts Partners. Cost for others would be $35.00 for the series. With feedback from SS partners and other participants of the previous NMT training we are looking at offering the recordings of the live sessions via the Internet. The recorded sessions are available the very same day that each live session is conducted. We would be able to view recordings based on the schedule we decide on. We can stop, pause, and/or replay each session. We would also enlist a facilitator that could lead a discussion after each session. This method is ideal for those of us with hectic schedules. At this point we are trying to gauge interest in this training opportunity, so if you or someone you know might be interested send me a quick e-mail and I will start a list of potential participants. In May or June depending on the response I will send out registration information.
The NMT Case-Based Training Series is a clinical case conference series led by Dr. Bruce Perry and attended by participants via the Internet. The ChildTrauma Academy offers our NMT Case-Based Training Series two times annually: WINTER and FALL. Each series consists of ten 90-minute sessions for a total of 15 training hours. The focus of each session is the presentation and discussion of a client during which the NMT model and web-based NMT Clinical Practice tools are used. Each session includes a brief didactic presentation on a specific topic. Participants receive a case abstract, metric report, and case summary for each session as part of the training package.
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 The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain
Extensive biological and developmental research over the past 30 years has generated substantial evidence that young children who experience severe deprivation or significant neglect-defined broadly as the ongoing disruption or significant absence of caregiver responsiveness-bear the burdens of a range of adverse consequences. Indeed, deprivation or neglect can cause more harm to a young child's development than overt physical abuse, including subsequent cognitive delays, impairments in executive functioning, and disruptions of the body's stress response. This Working Paper from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child explains why significant deprivation is so harmful in the earliest years of life and why effective interventions are likely to pay significant dividends in better long-term outcomes in learning, health, and parenting of the next generation.
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2012). The Science of Neglect: The Persistent Absence of Responsive Care Disrupts the Developing Brain: Working Paper 12.
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 Wine Tasting Fundraiser
Mark you calendars for Valley Oak's winetasting fundraiser on Thursday, February 28th, from 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
We will have wine and appetizers courtesy of Chico Grocery Outlet, at The Crystal Room, 968 East Avenue in Chico. The cost is only $5.00 per person, and all proceeds benefit Valley Oak Children's Services.
We thank our generous sponsors for this event:
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 The Earned Income Tax Credit
EITC, the Earned Income Tax Credit is a tax credit to help you keep more of what you earned. It is a refundable federal income tax credit for low to moderate income working individuals and families. When EITC exceeds the amount of taxes owed, it results in a tax refund to those who claim and qualify for the credit.
To qualify, you must meet certain requirements and file a tax return, even if you do not owe any tax or are not required to file. The IRS has an EITC Assistant to help you determine if you qualify.
The VITA Program generally offers free tax help to people who make $51,000 or less and need assistance in preparing their own tax returns. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals in local communities. They can inform taxpayers about special tax credits for which they may qualify such as Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Credit for the Elderly or the Disabled. VITA sites are generally located at community and neighborhood centers, libraries, schools, shopping malls, and other convenient locations. You can use this locator tool to find a VITA program in your area.
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 Livescan Services
Valley Oak Children's Services is now offering Livescan Services.
Livescan Services are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Please call (800) 315-4507 to schedule an appointment, or visit MorphoTrust USA to schedule an appointment on-line.
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Workshops, Conferences and Other Resources
A free webinar, IEP Prep Training for Parents is offered Thursday, February 7th, from 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon. The IEP document itself may seem big and lengthy, but once you start to understand it and learn about the applicable laws, you'll feel more comfortable and empowered while advocating for your child. Register here.
First 5 Butte County is bringing Laura van Dernoot Lipsky to Chico on February 25, 2013. Her course is titled Transforming Trauma - How to do this work and sustain ourselves along the way. The training is free, but please register by February 15th. More information here.
The 2013 Child Care and Education Professionals conference happens March 9th, 2013. The theme of this year's conferenceis Play: Connection Mind, Body and Soul. More information here.
 Northern Valley Catholic Social Service invites you to A Night In Casablanca, Saturday, March 9th, from 6:00 - 10:00 P.M. at the Sierra Nevada Big Room in Chico. It's an evening of fun to benefit CASA of Butte and Glenn counties. More details and ticket information here.
Strategies is offering two Father Engagement webinars. Engaging Fathers for Successful Re-entry from Incarceration takes place March 7th, and Engaging Fathers of Children with Special Needs is scheduled for April 4th. Details and registration information here.
The 2013 Children's/Youth Inaugural Address features the unscripted voices of young people, ages 5 to 25, talking about what issues are most important to them for the President and Congress to address in the next four years to ensure that every kid in the U.S. can grow up healthy, safe and ready to succeed.
Pathways to Positive Futures offers this tip sheet on Strengthening Family Support for Young People with Mental Health Needs in the Transition to Adulthood.
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Gloria Balch, Deputy Director