      The annual conference put on by the Chadron State College Social Work senior class is today and is focused on all types of trauma.
Nationally known author Barbara Rubel is the keynote speaker.Â
      Titled “The Truth in Trauma and Trauma Informed Practices,” the conference is free and runs from 8-3:00 in the Student Center with free live streaming also available..
No registration is required and a free lunch will be provided for the first 150 attendees.
Serenity Sterkel is one of the 4 seniors who organized the conference. She says they picked trauma as the topic because there’s only limited information and resources available about dealing with trauma.
Sterkel says every individual of every age has either experienced trauma or knows somebody who has, so today’s ultimate goal is to help individuals learn to cope with trauma in a healthy way.
Rubel is the author of the book But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping Families After a Suicide as well as continuing education courses for healthcare professionals. Her story was featured in the Emmy award-winning documentary, Fatal Mistakes, Families Shattered by Suicide,
Other speakers include Brandon Martens, chief of the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department, and CSC faculty member Dr. Elizabeth Kraatz, a CSC faculty member who will sex education and trauma
Wrapping up the conference will be a panel discussion with Rubel, Kraatz, and Martens as well as Chadron Police Lt Gabe Walz and Dr Grant Sasse, chair of the CSC Counseling Psychology and Social Work, Department