Trauma-Informed, Healing-Centered Movement

Trauma, systemic inequities, and chronic stress disproportionately impact youth involved in child welfare, education, and justice systems. Movement-based programming is increasingly recognized as a powerful, non-clinical intervention to support regulation, belonging, and resilience—yet many programs lack intentional trauma-informed structure. This presentation shares findings and applied lessons from a Community Engaged Learning (CEL) partnership between Seattle University and UPower, a Washington-based nonprofit serving over 1,500 underserved youth annually through inclusive, movement- and play-based programming in schools, shelters, and community settings.

Grounded in SAMHSA’s trauma-informed framework and the Liberatory Public Service (LPS) model, this session explores how healing-centered movement practices can advance children’s justice by shifting from compliance-based approaches toward empowerment, dignity, and collective care. Drawing on curriculum review, site observations,