Shannon Crossbear articulates her purpose as "to demonstrate and promote gentle healing." She expresses her commitment to healing through her work in the world. Her own community and family history propelled her to develop leadership to address disparities that have led to poor outcomes for friends and relatives. Shannon’s work has included facilitating and consulting with the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health, Georgetown University, The National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the Surgeon Generals Conference on Children’s Mental Health. She has worked with tribal and non tribal communities in providing technical assistance to Systems of Care and Circles of Care utilizing traditional interventions and the promotion of culturally congruent and trauma informed practices. Shannon has worked in communities throughout the contiguous United States and Alaska, as well as within Canada, to address systemic change for improved out comes for children and their families. Ms. Crossbear has facilitated and supported practices and services that include the provision of culturally-cemented early childhood; parenting programs; supports for transition age youth, young adults, and families with mental health and substance abuse issue. Ms Crossbear is skilled in trauma-informed community engagement. She has worked with supporting organized stakeholder voice and representation at local and national levels through various behavioral health initiatives.

M. Carolina Velasco-Hodgson Is a bilingual clinician with more than fifteen years of experience. She is from Chile where she was trained and practices as a clinical psychologist; after obtaining a Fulbright Scholarship, she completed her master’s in Social Work at Boston College and currently she is a Public Health PhD’s student. She was a social work intern for two years at Child Witness to Violence Project, a family specialist for the first year of Project Dulce; she is also an active member of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) Translation Review Committee since 2010, an Individual Affiliate to the network since 2014 and has adapted and translated material into spanish for families affected by traumatic experiences. Carolina currently works in Chile as adjunct assistant professor at the School of Social Work, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and she is an infant and child psychotherapist in private practice. Her interests include trauma prevention and intervention, immigration, cultural child development, and child parent bonding and attachment.