NASW-MD Chapter's 7th Annual Ocean City Conference 2026
Pre-Conference Reception: May 5, 2026, 5:00-6:00 pm Business Card Swap Reception: Gathering of conference goers to swap business cards and get connected for like-minded chatting
Conference Dates: May 6-8th, 2026
Location: 2800 Baltimore Ave, Ocean City, MD 21842
Hotel Block Information - Call Phone: (410) 289-1100
Breakfast and lunch included: Wednesday and Thursday
Breakfast only: Friday
Workshop title: The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adults: Building Resiliency to Thrive
Date: Wednesday May 6th 2026
Time: 8:45-12:00 pm
Presenter: Toscha J Wilkins
Description: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) leave lasting imprints that shape how adults think, feel, and respond to the world around them. Decades of research make one thing clear: early adversity does not stay in childhood. It reappears in adulthood through emotional regulation challenges, relationship patterns, stress responses, health concerns, and behavioral coping strategies that clients often struggle to understand or articulate. For social workers, the ability to recognize how ACEs “show up” later in life is essential—not just for effective treatment planning, but for fostering the connection, purpose, and empowerment that guide clients toward long-term healing. This engaging and interactive presentation will explore the complex relationship between early adversity and adult functioning, translating the science of ACEs and chronic stress into clear, practical insights that practitioners can immediately apply. Participants will examine how childhood trauma influences the adult brain and body, impacts emotional and relational development, and contributes to patterns that often bring clients into services. Through guided reflection, real-world examples, and scenario-based application exercises, attendees will learn to identify the physical, emotional, and behavioral indicators of ACE-related stress in both clients and themselves. The session will offer evidence-based, strengths-focused strategies to help clients build resilience, develop healthier coping skills, and move from reactive, survival states into more empowered, regulated ways of living. Participants will walk away with actionable tools they can bring directly into their practice, as well as strategies that deepen engagement, strengthen assessment, and enhance trauma-responsive interventions across diverse settings. This session is ideal for social workers seeking to expand their trauma knowledge, elevate their clinical effectiveness, and better support clients on their journey toward thriving.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: