Julia Price Beaty knows the power of story, particularly as it affects children who’ve experienced complex developmental trauma. In her work as a clinically licensed social worker, she’s seen how understanding someone’s history – as early as in utero and up through adulthood – can explain challenging behavior.

“When children experience developmental trauma, their brains get shaped and wired in such a way that when they experience some distressing emotion, they can be quick to over or underreact,” she said. “Awareness of self helps kids and families understand what’s going on and build skill sets that might be lacking.”

Beaty also knows the power of relationships. Trusting relationships with nurturing people can help heal children with developmental trauma. It’s work she takes seriously as a regional liaison at the Carolina Family Engagement Center, a federally funded grant project in the University of South Carolina’s College of Education.

Read more about Julia's incredible work for CFEC and helping children around the globe in the full story.

The work of CFEC is focused primarily on underserved families and their students (low income, English learners, those with disabilities, those in foster care, migrants, homeless, and marginalized communities), and is housed within the SC School Improvement Council (SC-SIC) at the University of South Carolina College of Education.