Foundations
Professional Learning Series
A Cultivating Safe & Supportive Learning Spaces Series
Build the knowledge, skills, and confidence your team needs to create trauma-responsive schools through flexible, customizable professional development.
FOUNDATIONS: A Flexible, Trauma-Informed Professional Learning Series
FOUNDATIONS is the first of our Cultivating Safe & Supportive Learning Spaces offerings, a 6-part, flexible, trauma-informed professional learning series designed to help organizations build safe, supportive environments. It equips teams with practical strategies, shared understanding, and foundational tools to create lasting, trauma-responsive change.
Cultivating trauma-informed, attachment-focused, resilience-building environments requires a strong foundation of shared understanding, practical strategies, and intentional professional learning:
- FOUNDATIONS is our Trauma-Informed Professional Learning Series that starts with the fundamentals, but also has the flexibility to customize this professional learning to fit your own time frame, focusing on the objectives your organization needs.
- This 6-part series will be launching for the 2026-2027 school year with Modules 1-3 ready in August 2026 and Modules 4-6 available in early 2027. Each module contains approximately 5-7 hours of professional learning work that includes a combination reading, ready-made presentations, videos, and culminating activities to move forward in implementing trauma-informed practices within your organization. The entire FOUNDATIONS series would equate to 35 hours of professional development.
- FOUNDATIONS modules are meant to be implemented by your designated staff (known as facilitators) and feature customization in the ways the professional learning is administered. Timelines and pacing can be lengthened or shortened. Readings and activities can be done within the sessions or assigned for independent learning or on-going professional learning discussions.
- FOUNDATIONS facilitators will receive a seat to ATN’s Trauma-Informed Level 1 Certification. This 5-hour online coursework and the never-expiring certification available upon completion and testing, will prepare your facilitator(s) with a deeper understanding of the fundamental concepts and topics that will be presented in FOUNDATIONS and will equip them to lead your team in a way that best fits your school’s needs.
What’s Included in FOUNDATIONS
Each module is designed to provide a comprehensive and practical learning experience, combining knowledge with real-world application.
5–7 Hours per Module
Each module includes structured professional learning designed to be completed at your own pace.
Ready-to-Use Materials
Includes presentations, readings, videos, and guided activities for easy implementation.
Facilitator Support
Facilitator notes and structured guidance help your staff lead effective team learning sessions.
Participant Resources
All materials are provided for participants to engage, reflect, and apply learning.
Evaluation Tools
Built-in tools help measure progress and track impact for both participants and facilitators.
Key Highlights :
- 6 structured learning modules
- 5–7 hours of professional learning materials per module
- 35+ hours total training
- Flexible pacing & delivery
- Delivered by your staff; designed to meet your school's objectives
Explore the FOUNDATIONS Modules
MODULE 1. From Informed to Responsive: Understanding Levels of Trauma Awareness in Schools
MODULE 2. Rooted and Regulated: Caring for Ourselves as We Care for Students
MODULE 3. Neuroscience for Safe and Supportive Classrooms
MODULE 4. Teach Through Connection: Attachment-Informed Strategies
MODULE 5. Grounded Together: Creating Regulated, Connected Classrooms
MODULE 6. Building Resilience Together: The Science of Hope for Students, Educators and Communities
Flexible Packages to Fit Your Organization
Small
For staff up to 20-
Full Program: $675
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Half Program: $500
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Single Module: $200
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1 Facilitator Certification
Medium
For 20–99 participants-
Full Program: $3500
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Half Program: $2300
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Single Module: $850
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2 Facilitator Certifications
Large
For 100+ participants-
Full Program: $8000
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Half Program: $4800
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Single Module: $1800
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4 Facilitator Certifications
Consulting & Customization Support
We can help you design and customize your FOUNDATIONS professional learning journey to meet your organization’s unique goals and needs. Experienced Trauma-Sensitive Schools consultants are available to support your implementation and guide your team.
Coaching and consultation services are available in flexible 4-hour blocks, allowing your organization to receive ongoing support.
What Makes FOUNDATIONS Different
FOUNDATIONS is built on proven principles, practical application, and years of experience supporting trauma-informed practices in real-world environments.
Rooted in SAMHSA's Trauma-Informed Principles
FOUNDATIONS' content is based on the 6 principles of trauma-informed care: Safety; Trustworthiness and Transparency; Peer Support; Collaboration and Mutuality; Empowerment and Choice; and Cultural, Historical, and Gender Issues.
Focused on Relationships, Regulation & Wellness
Our whole-child focus includes the need to understand and care for ALL the nervous systems, including the adults’, so that everyone feels safe, able to learn and thrive!
Customizable & On-Demand
Designed to adapt to your organization’s needs, FOUNDATIONS allows flexibility in pacing, delivery, and implementation.
Backed by 30 years of Experience
With over 30 years of supporting and educating the adults working with children impacted by trauma and attachment disorders, ATN’s understanding of the foundations of trauma-sensitive schools is unmatched. You can trust that you’re getting evidence-informed, accurate, growth-minded and comprehensive content.
Frequently Asked Questions
General FAQs
What grade levels and types of schools is FOUNDATIONS for?
What format will we receive materials in?
How long is the overall course?
How will our Facilitators be trained?
Is the Coaching/Consulting Mandatory?
The FOUNDATIONS Consultation package is optional, but we highly recommend it. ATN will connect you to one of our experienced trauma-sensitive education experts for 4 hours of coaching and consultation. This is a great way to customize the PD to your school’s specific needs and to set overall goals. Your facilitator and leadership will have access to this coach/consultant throughout the school year. The initial coaching package is $400 for 4 hours. Additional 4-hour consulting blocks can be purchased beyond the initial block for $600 per 4-hours of consultation. All consulting block hours must be used in the school year that they were purchased.
Can we review the materials prior to purchasing?
What is the basis for this coursework?
This package is rooted in SAMHSA’s 6 guiding principles of trauma-informed care. Developmental neuroscience is a major cornerstone of this program, along with specific focuses on attachment theory and the science of relationships, along with the understanding of the role of regulation and how self-regulation is developed. References are cited within the modules and additional research information can be provided.
How do we determine which size of FOUNDATIONS package to buy?
Size of FOUNDATIONS package is determined by number of people who will be trained. The number of surveys and completion certificates available to your organization will be limited to the max number for that size level. Each level has a different number of facilitator certifications as well.
- Small schools (1 facilitator) = 20 or less participants trained
- Medium schools/organizations (2 facilitators) = 21-99 participants trained
- Large school/districts (4 facilitators) = 100+ trained
Can we train additional facilitators?
Always! FOUNDATIONS schools can purchase additional Level 1 Trauma-Informed certification seats for $75 per seat. You can do this prior to starting FOUNDATIONS to train additional facilitators and/or you can purchase certifications upon completion of these modules to credential additional staff throughout your organization. This $75 rate is a 50% reduction of our usual certification rate. Learn more details about our Level 1 Certification here .
What if our facilitators are already Trauma-Informed certified?
If your staff was certified through another organization, we believe it is important that they still complete the Level 1 certification, to be clear on the language, definitions and concepts that ATN presents. This knowledge base will help them to best facilitate the FOUNDATIONS modules.
How is FOUNDATIONS different from ATN’s Level 1 Trauma-Informed Certification?
Both FOUNDATIONS and ATN’s Certification Program are rooted in evidence-based practice and organized around SAMHSA’s 4-R framework (Realize, Recognize, Respond and Resist Retraumatization) and 6 guiding principles of trauma-informed practice.
The Level 1 Certification is designed as an individualized online learning credential and the first level of future trauma-sensitive and trauma-responsive credentials.
FOUNDATIONS is designed as Professional Learning content specifically for educational organizations to use with all their staff to start and/or enhance their school’s journey to becoming trauma-responsive. FOUNDATIONS has several opportunities for individual learning, but also for group discussion and experiential learning.
There is definitely overlapping content in these two programs, but FOUNDATIONS has opportunities to go deeper in many of the fundamental concepts, with a total of 35 hours of training vs. the 5 hours of Level 1 certification.
Can we get additional coaching/consultation hours?
We’ve completed FOUNDATIONS! What’s next on our trauma-sensitive school journey?
There are so many ways to continue your organization’s learning. Here are some we recommend:
- Attend a conference or online event from ATN. We have our Creating Trauma-Sensitive Schools Conference in-person every summer, at various cities across the US. We also have our Learning Brain Exchange, virtually, usually in February each year. There are other national and regional conferences and webinars hosted by ATN or our partners throughout the year.
- Attend ATN’s FREE Solution Seeking Sessions monthly throughout the school year. This is a great opportunity for teachers, counselors and administrators to present a “case” that is challenging your staff to trauma-informed consultants and get insight and strategies. Many attend each month to learn from each other.
- Engage consultants from ATN’s PD Collaborative. Your whole organization can go deeper and/or focus on specific areas of trauma-responsive education (such as restorative practices or trauma-informed policies) by working with experts in these areas.
Propose to present a workshop or submit your own success stories to ATN for use in our programming. We love recognizing organizations who are passionate about trauma-responsive work. We want to celebrate your accomplishments.
Purchasing FAQs
How do I purchase/what’s the cost?
The price of FOUNDATIONS is based on the number of participants who will be trained. See the chart above.
You can buy the appropriate sized package here. FOUNDATIONS can be purchased as a full 6-module package, as ½-series package (Modules 1-3 or Modules 4-6) , or as individual modules.
During this inaugural year, Modules 1-3 will be available in August 2026, with Modules 4-6 available in early 2027.
What is the refund policy?
If your facilitator has not yet begun their Level 1 Trauma-Informed Certification course and you have not yet begun to administer the FOUNDATIONS PD and it is less than 90 days since your purchase, we will refund 100% of your purchase when requested in writing.
Do you take purchase orders?
Yes, ATN will gladly take purchase orders from schools and other organizations. Contact us at certification@attachtrauma.org for more information.
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