Healing-Centered Adult Education: Resources

Here we are, halfway through 2026. These last months have been incredibly difficult for adult educators and the families we serve. We know that stress and trauma don’t just affect individuals—they ripple through organizations, classrooms, and communities.

ATLAS has a number of offerings for the field:

Trauma-informed Practices Study Circle Guide

The Study Circle Guide for the Trauma-Informed Instruction Study Circle is now available on Canvas! Programs interested in using the guide can email ATLAS to request access, enabling them to conduct effective, research-based professional development for their teachers: Patsy Egan, ATLAS Director, [email protected].

Thank you for all you are doing in Minnesota adult education to assure that our programs are places where everyone can learn, heal, and thrive.

Access study circle guide >>

VIDEO (25 min) Traumatic Stress & the Brain: An Introduction

This fall 2025 ATLAS video features educator, social worker, and trauma expert Lucille Amis Rosario, who offers an accessible introduction to how trauma affects the brain and impacts learning. Designed for adult educators and program leaders, this brief presentation highlights key concepts from current neuroscience and trauma-informed education research, illustrating how stress and adversity influence attention, memory, and emotional regulation.

View video >>

Healing Centered Organizations: Stress and Trauma’s Impact on Adult Education Programs and Teams

Led by trauma-informed social worker and educator Lucille Amis Rosario, this session explores how trauma shows up in organizations through patterns like parallel process, re-enactment, and strained communication. Learn strategies to interrupt harmful cycles and apply the Sequence of Engagement framework to support healthier, healing-centered workplaces.

View recorded webinar >>

Holding Space: Healing-Centered Routines and Practices for Classroom Instruction

Veteran adult educator Andrea Echelberger shifts the focus to the classroom, demonstrating how healing-centered routines can decrease stress, promote belonging, and create compassionate learning spaces. This webinar offers concrete practices to strengthen both learner success and teacher wellbeing.

View recorded webinar >>

There is also an entire playlist on the MN Adult Education YouTube channel (http://tinyurl.com/mnabepd) that is dedicated to mental health and trauma-informed instruction! There you will find the above-mentioned videos and much more.

Access Mental Health & Trauma-Informed Instruction playlist >>