Dr. Nicole Sherren
Dr. Nicole Sherren is the Principal Consultant at R2P Solutions, a company that helps professionals in the non-profit and public sectors turn “what we know” from research and evaluation into “what we do” in public policy and professional practice. Using an organizational change management approach, Nicole works with clients to integrate best practice research into their strategic plans, theories of change, policies and procedures, evaluation plans, programs and practices. Her expertise includes operationalizing the science of early brain development, adverse childhood experiences and resilience into policy and professional practice; community development and system change initiatives; knowledge mobilization and its evaluation; public speaking and professional development; and substance use and mental health.
Nicole has a PhD in Neuroscience and is the former Scientific Director of the Palix Foundation, where she worked directly with professionals in government, health care, education, justice and the non-profit sector to embed modern brain science into various policies, initiatives and resources. She brings her unique, broad, interdisciplinary background, her experience working with frontline staff all the way up to executive leadership, and a deep understanding of the differing perspectives and challenges facing human-serving sectors to her clients.
Growing Up in Chaos: The Effect of Early Experiences on Brain Development
Lifelong wellness is determined by more than just our genes: modern brain science shows that the experiences we have early in life are literally built into our brains and bodies to affect life course trajectories, for good or for ill. Applying this science is a complex challenge that requires new thinking and concrete action. We know that significant adversity in childhood, like growing up with abuse, neglect, or even a parent with an addiction, affects our ability to learn and form supportive social relationships. It also increases the risk of substance use, mental health problems and several chronic diseases, sometimes only decades into the future. Yet this science also suggests how we can prevent, intervene and treat these predictable problems of tomorrow.
In this session, you will learn how brains are built: what kind of experiences promote healthy brain development, what kind of experiences derail it, and how these experiences get "under our skins" to affect learning, social and health outcomes. This science has profound implications for all of the policies, programs and services that support children and families.
Through attending this session, participants will learn:
How brain circuits are formed and mature, and how social interactions are critical to this process
How toxic stress derails healthy brain development
The impact of adverse childhood experiences on later learning, social, and health outcomes
How this science can be used to build the foundations of resilience in children, adults, and families