CASGSL is widely recognized locally and nationally for the depth and quality of our training and teaching opportunities that support child-trauma professionals across their careers. Collectively, we train and teach over 3,000 students and professionals a year with specific emphasis on undergraduate students (our CAST program), clinical practicum students (masters and PhD level), our Multidisciplinary Team members, educators, child trauma clinicians and other trauma professionals. Our dynamic team are also direct service providers in forensic and clinical capacities, giving them experience to integrate practical, real-life experience into our curriculums. Collectively, we equip child-trauma students and professionals with the knowledge and skills to respond to children, youth and families grounded in knowledge of evidence-based best practice. We hope you will partner with us in this important work and consider engaging with our programing below.
Advocacy Leadership Program: Within this program, high school students have the opportunity to learn more about the impact of adverse childhood events and how they can be future change agents through the field of Child Advocacy.
CASGSL Child Trauma-Speaker Series: Since 2002, CASGSL has sponsored monthly, free training in various child-trauma topics for caring adults in the St. Louis Community. Our speaker series (formerly called our Colloquium series) runs on the 3rd Thursday of the month, from 9:00 to 10:30am. Currently the series is being held virtually and certificates of attendance are provided to participants. All are welcome to attend (e.g., no professional credentials are required) and we tailor content in this series to needs requested by community members.
Undergraduate and Graduate Internship Clinical Practicum Opportunities: CASGSL is proud to sponsor internship and practicum opportunities for those at the undergraduate, masters, and doctoral levels of training. Our organization gives students opportunities to immerse themselves in a nationally recognized Child Advocacy Center providing robust services to diverse families across the St. Louis Region.
Missouri Academy of Child Trauma Studies: Founded in 2010, the Missouri Academy of Child Trauma Studies is the landing spot for child trauma professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in responding to child-trauma. Our nationally recognized staff are certified trainers in a variety of topics and modalities. We provide training in evidenced based therapeutic modalities like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Integrative Treatment of Complex Trauma, and CBITS/Bounce Back. Our team developed the Trauma-Informed Programing in Schools Curriculum and provides a menu of professional development options to educators. Recognizing that child trauma-professionals operate in complex systems, another domain of our work centers on organizational change for child-trauma organizations, provider wellness and prevention of Secondary Traumatic Stress, and Equity work. We customize our training packages to meet the needs of individual organizations.
Project ASSIST: Access, Skills & Support for Implementation Science in Trauma- Training. Project ASSIST reimagines how to improve the child-serving workforce and increase service capacity by helping trainers upskill their skillset with advanced training approaches, mentorship, and community building among trauma-informed trainers. By using innovative pedagogies such as Problem Based Learning-Simulations (PBL-S) and best practices in implementation science and mentorship, Project ASSIST offers tangible opportunities for trainers to enhance their own training skills to ultimately not only improve the quality of services offered to children and families but also increase access to these services for vulnerable communities. You can learn more and get involved here:
Project FORECAST: Foundations for OutReach through Experiential Child Advocacy Studies Training. Project FORECAST is a unique educational experience that’s designed to help current and future child-serving professionals make better decisions in situations involving childhood trauma. Our interactive trainings simulate real-world scenarios and can better prepare participants for the complex challenges of trauma-informed care.
