MHBA-04 — Childhood Trauma & ACEs

Childhood Trauma & ACEs helps mental health behavioral aides understand the trauma that drives much of the behavior they see — and respond in ways that heal rather than harm. The course defines trauma as the response to an overwhelming experience (not the event itself), introduces adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the buffering power of safe relationships, and explains how trauma shifts a child into survival mode where reasoning and learning are impaired. Aides learn to recognize the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses and the triggers behind "too big" reactions; to make the trauma-informed shift from "what's wrong with this child?" to "what happened to this child?"; and to apply the six principles of trauma-informed care (safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration, empowerment, cultural responsiveness). Practical sequences cover regulating yourself, co-regulating a triggered child, avoiding re-traumatization, and never forcing disclosure. The module closes with secondary (vicarious) trauma — its signs and self-care — because this training topic under Minn. Stat. 245I.05, subd. 3(d) explicitly includes the impact of the work on the worker.

Learning Objectives

• Define trauma and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)
• Explain how trauma affects the developing brain and behavior
• Recognize trauma responses and triggers
• Apply the principles of trauma-informed care
• Respond to a triggered child and avoid re-traumatization
• Recognize secondary trauma and practice self-care