Leading Prevention Training

Collage of Children's Trust training events

Our training and professional development opportunities give child-serving professionals the tools they need. We offer a diverse set of learning opportunities from statewide conferences to specialized sessions on a focused curriculum.

Become a Trainer in ACEs and Building Resilience

Unlock the Power of Resilience in Your Community: Become a Trainer in Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Building Resilience

Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills to understand adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and foster resilience by becoming a certified trainer. This training-of-trainers (ToT) program empowers you to lead others in understanding the impact of childhood experiences while building on community strengths with proven prevention strategies. This training builds upon ACEs knowledge and gives participants actionable next steps.

By becoming a trainer, you will:

Build understanding. Help individuals, families, and organizations address the root causes of trauma and unlock the potential for resilience and recovery.
Empower others. Equip professionals, educators, and community leaders with tools and strategies to better support those affected by ACEs.
Foster healthier communities. Identify and embrace small yet significant changes that can create healthy environments and thriving families.

‌Interested in Becoming a Trainer in ACEs and Building Resilience?

Duration: 2 days

Learn More

A collage of a presenter during an adverse childhood experiences training and a group photo of those who have been trained as adverse childhood experience trainers.

Understanding ACEs and Building Resilience

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that occur in a child’s life. Science shows the strong relationship between the adversity we experience as children and negative health and well-being as adults. By better understanding ACEs, what they are and how they can manifest themselves years later, communities can work to prevent future abuse and improve outcomes for South Carolina’s children and families.

‌After training, participants will be able to:

Define ACEs and have a basic understanding of their impact on childhood development.
Identify protective factors and positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and have a basic understanding of their impact on resilience.
Identify resources to further learn about ACEs, protective factors, and PCEs and explore how to apply them personally and professionally.

‌Interested in Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences and Building Resilience?

Duration: 2 hours

More about ACEs

collage if attendees during and adverse childhood experiences training.

Promoting Protective Factors

What are protective factors?

Protective factors are conditions in families and communities that, when present, increase the health and well-being of children and families. They serve as buffers, helping parents who might otherwise be at risk of abusing their children find resources, support and coping strategies so that they can parent more effectively, even under stress.

After training, participants will be able to:

List five protective factors that help keep families strong and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Identify multiple strategies and concrete everyday actions that help build those protective factors across the socio- ecological model.
Understand what it means to work with individuals in a strength-based way.

‌Interested in Promoting Protective Factors?

Duration: 3 hours

More about protective factors

Protective factor training attendees at Children's Trust.

Building Hope for Children Conference

Children's Trust of South Carolina, Building Hope for Children Conference. Be a champion for children.

This conference, scheduled to be held again in 2026, offers a high-quality learning, networking, and resource sharing opportunity for anyone interested in the prevention of child abuse and neglect and the promotion of child and family well-being. Attendees include professionals of all levels in the fields of child welfare, education, healthcare, mental health, childcare and more as well as community stakeholders such as parents and caregivers, guardians ad litem, elected officials, and others.

More about the conference