The best relationship education curriculum in the world can’t compete with a flooded nervous system. Participants often arrive carrying trauma, chronic stress, or the ordinary anxiety of a hard week. Their brains are often running in survival mode, which makes it biologically difficult to absorb new relational skills. And what happens when you, the facilitator, walk into the room carrying the same load? This webinar explores the intersection of neuroscience and relationship education, and why foundational mental well-being tools must come first. We’ll dig into the science behind the Dibble program, Mind Matters. Understanding your participants’ and your own capacity to self-regulate increases everyone’s capacity to connect. You’ll leave with a deeper understanding of the neurological “why” behind trauma-informed care, along with practical tools you can share with participants and use yourself. Key Takeaways: The Science of Receptivity. What actually happens in a flooded brain, and why stress blocks learning, teaching, and empathy…
Behavioral Health
People who support young people bring deep care, commitment, and skill to their work—but they are still human. Under stress, even the most thoughtful facilitators, educators, counselors, and helping professionals can become reactive, shut down, over-accommodate, or lose access to the very relationship skills they most want to model. In this practical and compassionate webinar, The Dibble Institute and Dovetail Learning will explore what happens when caring people get stuck. Participants will be introduced to Dovetail’s concept of Protective Patterns—common ways people react when they feel overwhelmed, vulnerable, or under pressure—and will consider how those patterns affect communication, conflict, and connection with colleagues, partners, and the young people they serve. Together, we’ll explore how curiosity can help interrupt unhelpful patterns and create more space for resilience, reflection, and repair. Participants will leave with practical tools they can use right away to strengthen relationships, navigate difficult moments, and support healthier interactions…
For years, Mind Matters has helped teens and adults do some of the hardest, most important work of their lives — building resilience, managing stress, and learning to treat themselves with compassion. We’ve seen what’s possible when people have the right tools and the right support. Now, we’re proud to introduce Mind Matters 2.0: A Map for Thriving — a fully updated curriculum grounded in the latest neuroscience and trauma-informed care, and we want you to see it up close. Join us for a live webinar with the author of Mind Matters, Carolyn Curtis, Ph.D., and Aaron Larson, Director of Programs, as they walk through the updated curriculum and show you what’s new, what’s deeper, and what’s possible for the people you serve. You’ll get a firsthand look at: New content in every lesson, reflecting current research on how the brain heals and grows A brand-new Lesson 6 — dedicated entirely to self-compassion and resilience New digital…
The Dating Recession: Insights form the 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey Young adults are living through a dating recession — and it’s happening during their prime years. The 2025 National Dating Landscape Survey reveals a striking paradox: most young adults want traditional relationships, marriage, and family — but many lack the dating skills and resilience to get there. Significant barriers are keeping them from even starting. It’s not a fear of commitment. It’s a skills gap. Despite widespread interest in relationship education, practical dating skills remain largely untaught — overlooked by mainstream culture and the relationship education field alike. The result: young adults who are motivated but unequipped. They need a road map. One that bridges the gap between wanting a lasting relationship and building one. What You’ll Learn: How often young adults are dating today — and why the numbers may surprise you The barriers standing between them and…
Relationship education (RE) has been effective for youth, especially in contexts of adversity (i.e., high rates of STDs, teen pregnancy). Resilience theory suggests that youth under more adversity benefit more from resource-based interventions. However, most evaluations of RE programs focus on majority youth or take a deficit approach. Our mixed method study evaluated the effectiveness of the Love Notes curriculum, comparing improvement in program outcomes for youth from various backgrounds of potential disadvantage (urban high schools, alternative education, and behavioral health contexts). We found that youth from behavioral health contexts had greater gains from participating in Love Notes than other groups on some outcomes, indicating resilience. Participants found relationship skills, recognizing risks, and sex education most useful. Our study emphasized the importance and effectiveness of youth relationship education, highlighting unique experiences based on context. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Learn about relationship education among youth and its main goals…
From Adversity to Resilience: A Framework for Hope This webinar explores the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the protective power of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) in shaping long-term health and well-being. Participants will learn about the original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, the Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) study, the 4 Building Blocks of the HOPE Framework, and how we can foster healing and resilience. This session provides both foundational knowledge and practical strategies for applying a trauma-informed, resilience-focused approach in professional and community settings. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Define Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). Understand the 4 Building Blocks of the HOPE Framework and how we can all help instill hope. Learn about different strategies to practice resilience and self-regulation for yourself and others. Presenter: Jessica Herzog-Hall; Director of the ACEs Indiana Coalition Who should attend: Anyone who works with, cares for,…
The Innovative Uses of Mind Matters to Promote Youth & Family Well-Being This webinar will describe implementation approaches, including adaptations, of Mind Matters across diverse populations and settings, including traditional school, alternative schools for at risk students/young adults, residential treatment for youth, community-based organizations, and college campuses. The presenters will then review data collected from a series of grants/research projects evaluating Mind Matters with a focus on the impact on knowledge of trauma, trauma related coping skills, PTSD symptoms, resilience, and social skills. This discussion will also include various evaluation strategies and guidance on how to gather essential data for continuous quality improvement and documentation of impact. Lastly, the presenters will share emerging opportunities for applications of Mind Matters to new populations and issues including parents and children affected by the opioid epidemic, racial trauma, and supports for refugee/immigrant youth and families. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Describe implementation strategies and adaptations of Mind Matters across diverse populations…
The Power of Relationship Education from a Policy Perspective Policymakers and policy analysts are increasingly turning to micro-level interventions to address large and widespread social issues. There is a growing recognition that what happens inside a home and family has broader social ramifications, which is turning policy conversations toward approaches that can strengthen couples and families. Relationship Education has proven to be effective for improving outcomes in a variety of settings related to families. Because many of the issues that public policy seeks to address are affected by family instability and parental conflict, Relationship Education can act as a preventative measure that diminishes risk factors that originate in the home. Also, addressing a problem after it has taken hold is often more expensive than stopping it from happening in the present. Join Dr. Jocelyn Wikle to learn how Relationship Education can be beneficial in diminishing serious and costly issues of…
The University of Louisville, Center for Family and Community Wellbeing study found that Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Increasing Resilience significantly reduced Post Traumatic Stress Symptoms and increased trauma coping skills. What makes Mind Matters so effective? In this webinar author Carolyn Curtis reviews the research behind Mind Matters’ effectiveness. She discusses the program’s theory of change as well as the individual lessons that bring results. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Understand what the University of Louisville study results say about the effectiveness of Mind Matters. Explain the theories used in Mind Matters. Describe the research behind the Mind Matters Pinwheel Curls. Presenter: Carolyn Curtis, Ph.D., Author of Mind Matters Who should attend: People who work with youth-in-care, community based organizations who work with youth in challenging circumstances, those who help people heal from trauma, organizations that focus on dating and interpersonal violence, adolescent group facilitators, secondary educators, state and federal…
In this webinar the new PACES Connection CEO, Ingrid Cockhren, will explore the connection between advise childhood experiences, trauma, attachment styles and various types of abuse in dating and romantic relationships. She will examine the systemic nature of trauma and adversity and how early adversity is a root cause of poor relationship outcomes in adolescence and early adulthood. This webinar will also outline systemic solutions for populations that have experienced historical trauma and adversity. Objectives: Webinar Participants will understand: 1. The impact of early adversity on the brains and bodies of children and adolescents. 2. The impact of early adversity on developing secure attachment. 3. The link between attachment in infancy and early childhood and adolescent/young adult relationships. 4. The systemic barriers that impact the attachment bond and dating relationships in populations that have experienced historical trauma. Presenters: Ingrid Cockhren, M.Ed., CEO of PACEs Connection Resources: April 2022 Slide Deck
In today’s uncertain times, many youth experience housing insecurity, unstable or unsafe relationships, and toxic stress. Social and emotional wellbeing can help these young people overcome adversity, heal from trauma, and build resilience, thereby increasing their hopes for the future. Learning and practicing mindfulness skills can be the pathway to increasing self-regulation, building healthy relationships, and increasing resilience. The question is how can youth move towards social and emotional wellbeing? During this webinar, we will explore some of the social-emotional needs of youth and how the Milestone Transitional Living Program in Utah utilizes mindfulness skills and the Mind Matters program in group sessions and in group homes. Join Mina Koplin, Lorri Lake, and Maygan Martinez as they share how they utilize the ACEs questionnaire, how they present Mind Matters content, and how they implement mindfulness skills in sessions with disconnected youth. Objectives: Participants will be able to: Identify the Social-Emotional needs…
Becky Antle, Ph.D., Professor of Social Work and esteemed University Scholar at the University of Louisville, won The Dibble Institute’s national competition to evaluate Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience in 2019. As a result, Dr. Antle and her colleagues have conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of Mind Matters on a host of outcomes related to trauma symptoms, emotional regulation, coping and resiliency, and interpersonal skills for at-risk youth in a community-based sample. Youth in the study reported high levels of childhood trauma and related trauma symptoms upon entry into the program. Following provision of this evidence-informed program by trained providers within community-based organizations, youth reported a reduction in trauma symptoms and improvement in resiliency despite a number of complicating risk factors and across multiple demographic groups. Join the researchers on this project as they discuss their most recent findings from the pilot of Mind Matters with high-needs youth in the…
In this webinar, Dr. Heidi Rueda will discuss the implementation and pilot evaluation of Mind Matters: Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience among middle- and high-school youth attending an after-school program in one of the most impoverished areas of San Antonio, Texas. She will be joined by two former and one current graduate students. Youth participated in the curriculum just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a unique opportunity to assess their perceptions in person immediately following its implementation, and by phone three months later when they were not able attend school or the after-school program. Objectives: Webinar participants will be able to: Describe the population, program contexts, and evaluation study that was conducted. Explore youth’s perspectives of the program, including what they learned during the program and skills they continued to utilize during the COVID-19 pandemic. Explore practitioners’ perspectives of the program, including potential adaptations for Hispanic middle- and high-school…
In these challenging times, many youth are dealing with isolation, anxiety, and depression and relationship challenges. Everyone is looking for a way to connect. Many wonder, how do we do this safely and in a healthy way? We know that when we are unaware of what is happening with our bodies and brains, then we are more likely to make risky decisions. Providing information that youth will hear and use starts with providing mindfulness skills that help them to calm their brains, be in touch with what is going on in their bodies, and build resilience. These mindfulness skills are relevant, empowering, and easy to make a part of everyday life. When implemented, people find they are more likely to grow in social and emotional regulation, make more informed decisions, and see brighter futures. Join Dixie Zittlow as we discuss how healthy decision-making is achievable by bringing awareness to what…
Highlights from the Marriage Strengthening Research and Dissemination Center Relationship education programs geared towards adolescents and young adults attempt to shape goals and behaviors in current and future relationships. To maximize the effectiveness of these programs, youth-focused relationship education programs need to be implemented in a way that considers the age and developmental stage of participants and draws on the strengths that youth bring to programming. Further, as marriage and family formation shifts toward older ages, more research is needed on how youth are thinking about and engaging in relationships. This webinar will highlight work conducted by the Marriage Strengthening Research and Dissemination Center that explores youth relationship attitudes, expectations, and experiences and how relationship education programs can tailor programming for youth, based on a positive youth development framework. A specific application of integrating positive youth development with youth relationship education programming will be discussed with a presentation from Desiree…
WEBINAR: Co-Regulation Strategies: Practical Tools for Program Staff to Foster Youth Self-Regulation
What is co-regulation? Why does it matter? How can I integrate co-regulation into my program or practice? Join interventionist and nurse-educator Aly Frei to explore co-regulation, its importance for youth development, and its potential to improve program outcomes. Co-regulation is a term that helps describe the important interactions between adults and young people that foster youth self-regulation. Self-Regulation is a central ingredient in lifelong success, predicting healthy relationships, economic self-sufficiency, and physical and emotional well-being. Because of rapid change in youths’ brains and bodies, adolescence is an important time for adults to promote self-regulation development. Through co-regulation, adults form relationships where youth feel cared for and known; co-create safe and nurturing environments; and give youth opportunities to practice self-regulation skills and reflect on how to apply them in their lives. Integrating co-regulation strategies into youth service delivery is a promising approach for improving program implementation and youth outcomes. Objectives: Webinar…
NOTE THE NEW TIME! 5 PM EASTERN AND 2 PM PACIFIC. Back by popular demand!* Come join Dixie and Carolyn in the Self-Soothing lesson from Mind Matters. Self-Soothing is a skill that is developed over time, through practice The goal of self-soothing is to dial-down the reactive response of the body’s central nervous system. A traumatized person needs a means of reducing the automatic reactivity of their nervous system. Self-soothing will help. You will learn and practice four self-soothing skills that you can use personally as well as share with colleagues and clients. *Over 3,000 people have viewed this class online. You will love it live! Participant Objectives: Connect the key concept of self-soothing/self-regulation to positive life outcomes Recognize the difference between taking the time to decide rather than immediately reacting to persons, places, and things Learn four different self-soothing skills that can be used inside and outside of the…
Self-regulation is increasingly being recognized as foundational for well being across the lifespan, including in fostering healthy relationships. This talk will describe principles of self-regulation development using an applied framework based in current research and cross-disciplinary theory with a focus on adolescents and young adults The role of emotion regulation in communication and decision-making within the context of youths’ romantic relationships will be discussed. Strategies for promoting emotion regulation, perspective taking, goal-commitment, and problem solving in youth to foster health relationships will be reviewed, including approaches educators can use in teaching and coaching these skills. Objectives: Identify at least 3 key principles of self-regulation development for adolescents and young adults. Describe one-way emotion regulation affects youths’ romantic relationships. Identify at least 2 strategies for promoting self-regulation in youth. Presenter: Desiree W. Murray, PhD, Senior Research Scientist, Frank Porter Graham child Development Institute; Research Associate Professor, School of Education, University of North…