Facilitating Trauma-Informed Practice in Health Education

Amy Estlund earned a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences from Marquette University and an MPH in Behavioral Science from Emory University. She worked in health education, youth development, and program management in the non-profit sector for eight years in Atlanta and rural Georgia. She then transitioned to Community-Based Participatory Research at Saint Louis University, followed by clinical research at Washington University in St Louis School of Medicine. She completed her PhD in Public Health from Saint Louis University. Her research interests focus on sexual and reproductive health, school health and culture, health policy, and dissemination and implementation.

A creative public health and education advocate with experience in the areas of teaching, leadership, curriculum mapping, sexual health education, and trauma informed practices. Tammy?s research agenda focuses on the professional preparation of knowledge and skills related to trauma informed practices with those planning on working in the education, human service, and health disciplines, or those that are already employed. She is the founder and Director for the Trauma Informed Educational Practices for Children and Adolescents Certificate Program designed to create change agents in the community and schools related to trauma. Tammy earned an undergraduate degree in Community Health Education from Illinois State University and a graduate degree in School and College Health Education from Indiana University. She has enjoyed a diverse work experience as a Health Educator in both Public Health and School Health having worked for a large health department, in a hospital setting, and as middle and high school health education teacher. These hands-on, real world experiences lead Tammy to higher education where she began preparing the next cadre of health and education professionals, while continuing to consult with community leaders on how to create positive change so children and families can thrive.

Dr. Benes is an Assistant Professor and Coordinator of School Health Education at Southern Connecticut State University. She was previously the Program Director for Physical and Health Education programs at Boston University as well as serving as an Associate Clinical Professor at Merrimack College. Dr. Benes has multiple published articles in peer reviewed journals as well as a recently published textbook. She also presents at local and national conferences regularly and is actively engaged in service to the physical and health education professions as well as to the community. Dr. Benes' research interests include skills-based health education, equity & justice in health education, physical activity in schools, and enhancing school-based physical and health education programming. Dr. Benes is also a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES), a certified Health & Well-Being coach, and is the President-Elect of SHAPE America.

Dr. Kevin Lorson is a Professor of Health and Physical Education at Wright State University. Kevin is the Principal Investigator for the Health and Opioid Prevention Education (HOPE) Curriculum and the Health, a K-12 health education curriculum for opioid prevention. He also leads the Health, Opioid Prevention, Education and Supports (HOPES) in Schools Project to develop whole child supports in school districts. He has received awards from the Ohio Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Ohio Society of Public Health Education; and the Ohio Department of Higher Education for his efforts to improve student health and well-being.