Research has shown that childhood trauma is the ‘pathway’ to prison and poverty. This course examines the role trauma plays in steering a youth into the justice system. By taking a deeper look at the impact of trauma on brain development it will provide greater insight into why youth behave the way they do. The class also offers authorities, case workers and others different ways to leverage this information to improve the trajectory of troubled youth. This includes trauma informed practices and helping youths build resilience - aiding in the collective efforts to put them on a path to life-long well-being.