Participants will be energized throughout this day-long innovative and interactive workshop, beginning with an introduction to Critical Trauma Theory, an emerging micro theoretical approach to Critical Race, Positive Youth Development and Trauma Theories, and how to successfully integrate this into current practices. Participants will then explore culturally sustaining arts-based, dialectical, and community based participatory therapeutic approaches with emerging evidence to be successful with youth. Participants will leave with a strategic plan for implementing culturally sustaining behavioral health techniques in their daily practices. 

Anna Nelson, LCSW, is a Professor at NMSU School of Social Work and National presenter, with 26 years' experience in serving youth, their families and communities. Ms. Nelson's research focus is participatory action research to end racial disparities impacting education and behavioral health outcomes for young people. For her work in promoting social justice and equity, Ms. Nelson is the recipient of the New Mexico Education Equity Alliance (NMEEA) 2013 Annual Fueling Increasingly Relevant Education (F.I.R.E) Award and the YWCA-NM Women on the Move to Eliminate Racism Award in 2015.