The Healing Place Podcast – Lara Kain: Creating and Supporting Resilient and Trauma-Informed Schools and Communities

I could have talked for another few hours with Lara Kain about her roles as an educator, consultant and national speaker, helping support schools in creating trauma-informed environments. As a trauma survivor and member of the ACEs Connection staff, Lara is making a huge impact in the lives of children by guiding the education system along the road of resiliency. Join us as we discuss:

  • her role as an educator, speaker, advocate of trauma-informed approaches
  • her personal journey as an at-risk youth and trauma survivor
  • defining resilience
  • self-care importance
  • her role as an adoptive mother
  • and more!

Welcome to The Healing Place Podcast! I am your host, Teri Wellbrock. You can listen in on Pandora, iTunesBlubrrySpotify, Deezer, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and more, or directly on my website at www.teriwellbrock.com/podcasts/. You can also watch our insightful interview on YouTube.

Bio:

“As the Southern California community facilitator for ACEs Connection and independent consultant, Lara brings her deep understanding of the importance of schools as community drivers for change. Lara is an experienced educator and consultant who speaks nationally on implementing trauma-informed practices in schools and building holistic, trauma-responsive systems. Lara brings over two decades of experience at the local, state and national level, including developing programs for integrating trauma-informed practices into community schools in Los Angeles. She worked for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction as the state homeless coordinator, and practiced her first love,  teaching ‘at-risk’ youth. Lara has a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MPA from The Evergreen State College. As an example of her understanding of the micro and the macro, Lara’s experience ranges from supporting individual teachers to designing a trauma-informed schools pilot implemented in 20 schools across the country. Lara has worked both as a teacher and administrator putting the science of building resilience into practice. For Lara, who is a trauma survivor and was herself an ‘at-risk’ youth, this work is deeply personal. She understands what schools can and should look like to benefit ALL children. As the mother of two adopted sons, she understands the effects of developmental trauma and what it takes to overcome it. Born in the Midwest, she lived for over a decade in the Pacific Northwest, and is now a transplant to Southern California, where she lives with her husband and two boys. The beach is her happy place.”

Learn more about Lara and her mission at:

https://www.larakain.org/

Peace to you all!

Teri

Hope for Healing Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/741bdf08d718/hope-for-healing-newsletter-may-2019

Book Launch Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unicornshadows/

The Healing Place Podcast – Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff: Educational Consultant

I very much appreciated the opportunity to chat with Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff, Educational Consultant, to discuss such topics as:

  • adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
  • classroom management and teacher self-care
  • her personal story of triumph over trauma and the impact of her trauma history on her mission today
  • her role as an educator, principal, superintendent, adoptive mother of five foster children, and now as an ACEs advocate and consultant in the education arena
  • resilience
  • and more!

Welcome to The Healing Place Podcast! I am your host, Teri Wellbrock. You can listen in on iTunesBlubrrySpotify, Deezer, Google Podcasts, Podbean, and more, or directly on my website at www.teriwellbrock.com/podcasts/. You can also watch our insightful interview on YouTube.

Bio:

“Dr. Kristina Brinkerhoff,  a consultant, keynote speaker, presenter and trainer, leverages over 20 years of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent and adoptive mom of five foster children, to help educators gain an understanding of the effects Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the importance of trauma informed practice in schools. Her work focuses on the direct impact ACEs have on a child’s ability to self-regulate and successfully function in the classroom and school setting, and what schools can do to help students build self-regulation skills and resilience strategies. Participants will gain an understanding of specific strategies designed to help school educators navigate how to address the impact of ACEs, recognize student needs, establish caring and responsive trauma informed classroom and school expectations, and respond to difficult behaviors with compassion and self-control.”

What Participants Are Saying!!

“Really great info, one of the best PD sessions I’ve ever attended!”

“The presentation and materials were excellent!”

“This was the best session I have ever attended!”

“Love your personal connections !”

“Thank you for getting the mind thinking!”

“Thank you, this was an awesome use of my time!”

“Great charisma as a presenter!”

“It was awesome, thanks for everything!”

“Excellent.  I wish I knew this at the beginning of my career and know now as I am at retirement.”

“Mrs. Brinkerhoff is confident, poised, and well-versed when it comes to delivering ACE strategy training to teaching/educational staff. She is able to build quick rapport with the staff which then allows her to work directly with them when faced with a challenging scenario.”   Valerie Uhlorn, Principal Amity Elementary

“Dr. Brinkerhoff presented to our K-5 administrative group about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE). I was so impressed with her presentation that I asked if she would be willing to come and speak with my staff before the school year had started. This was an area, that my staff was not super familiar with and I felt that bringing her in as an outside source would give a different perspective. She spent half the day with us and really spoke to the depths of childhood trauma and the disruption to the learning environment. The understanding that my staff had after her presentation allowed us to start our year off with compassion and patience for those kids in need. She has the experience and the gift to present with influence and impact for our educators. ”  Tony Bonucelli, Principal, Moscow Charter School

“Dr. Brinkerhoff connected her research to personal stories from her days teaching and being an Elementary Principal. Her on-the-ground experience, warm personality, and sense of humor allowed her to relate well to her audience of over 100 administrators.  In my eight years of attending the IASA annual conference, Dr. Brinkerhoff was by far the best keynote speaker we have had at the final IAESP session. In fact, once she was finished, a fellow administrator immediately booked her to present at a fall back-to-school training for their charter school staff. ”  Dr. Kendra McMillan, Ph.D, Lena Wittmoore Elementary

Learn more about Kristina and her mission at: https://www.facebook.com/drklbrinkerhoff

Peace to you all!
Teri

Hope for Healing Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/741bdf08d718/hope-for-healing-newsletter-may-2019

Book Launch Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unicornshadows/

The Healing Place Podcast Interview: Jessie Graham – Co-creating Change

Welcome to The Healing Place Podcast! I’m your host, Teri Wellbrock. You can listen in on iTunes, Blubrry or directly on my website at www.teriwellbrock.com/podcasts/. You can also watch our interview on YouTube.

I enjoyed this beautiful conversation with Jessie Graham on her work with clients, teachers, and students utilizing her co-creating change philosophies and techniques.

Jessie shared the following with me (and made my heart smile with her words!):

“Wow Teri,You are really good at what you do!  I felt so comfortable on the interview.  I am grateful for this opportunity and for meeting you!  My purpose is being supported through your podcast!” Find out more about the amazing work Jessie is doing at: 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/430042750768033/ACES in Education Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/healinghappensNOW/Healing Happens NOW Facebook 

Jessie Graham Coach  https://www.jessiegrahamcoach.com/

Peace to you all!
Teri

Hope for Healing Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/9813e51db66b/hope-for-healing-newsletter-december-2018

Book Launch Team: https://www.facebook.com/groups/unicornshadows/