This class addresses the need for trauma-informed guidance for childcare providers as family separation becomes more common in the lives of children in Chicago, in surrounding communities, and across the nation. Participants will deepen their understanding of the emotional, relational, and developmental impacts of separation, and learn to identify early signs of distress in children across developmental stages. The course will provide age-appropriate language, frameworks, and conversation guides for addressing separation, deportation fears, loss, and uncertainty in youth. The course will contribute to a “living toolkit” of local and national resources (legal, mental health, and community) that providers can reference as situations evolve more specifically. A strong emphasis will be placed on emotional and somatic regulation techniques – for both the child and the caregiver – to maintain presence, safety, and attunement. The goal is to transform childcare setting into stabilizing, trauma-aware spaces during periods of systemic disruption.