Tulsa, Okla. – [Sept. 3, 2026] – The Tulsa Health Department is hosting a free educational presentation focusing on how early traumatic experiences impact child development and behavior. The presentation In Safe Hands: How Everyday Relationships Heal a Traumatized Developing Brain is set to take place on Saturday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tulsa Health Department North Regional Health & Wellness Center, 5635 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
This session will examine the impact of trauma on child development and explore how traumatic experiences can affect a child’s emotional, social, behavioral and cognitive development. It will provide examples of how trauma may present through children’s behaviors with an emphasis on trauma-informed approaches that promote emotional well-being, foster a sense of safety and build resilience in children.
“It is very important to create safe and responsive environments that can help children develop coping skills.” said Tish Dehart, MS, LCSW, IMH-E®, child guidance program manager. “We wanted to offer practical recommendations for supporting children’s emotional needs. Anyone working with children such as early childhood providers, teachers and caregivers can benefit from this presentation.”
Participants will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the presentation and will have the opportunity to connect with different resources. Childcare is not provided during this event.
Spots are limited and registration is required to attend. To learn more about Tulsa Health Department’s Child Guidance program which provides specialized assistance to Tulsa County families that include assessments on young children with challenging behaviors, developmental screenings, speech-language pathology and hearing services, visit tulsa-health.org.