As an early childhood educator, I encountered a four year old boy, whom I will call Marcus. Marcus had witnessed repeated domestic violence between his parents, followed by a painful separation. For months, he would recount the incident to me in vivid detail every single day. His repeated narration was a clear signal that he was trying to make sense of a distressing experience. At the time, although I cared deeply for him, I lacked the specialised knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to his trauma and support his healing.
These experiences revealed a critical gap. Many children experience traumatic events, yet parents, caregivers, and teachers often lack the awareness and tools to identify early warning signs and connect children with appropriate support services.
Thrive Care Network was established to bridge this gap. Our mission is to equip parents, teachers, and caregivers with the knowledge and practical skills to recognise signs of childhood trauma early, respond appropriately, and refer children to professional support where needed. By strengthening the capacity of the adults surrounding young children, we aim to create safe, nurturing environments where every child has the opportunity not only to recover from adversity but to thrive.
We believe that childhood trauma should never go unnoticed, untreated, or misunderstood. Every child deserves the support they need to heal, grow, and reach their full potential.
Thrive Care Network is a fellowship- based model designed to build a community of trauma-informed parents, teachers, and caregivers who can identify, respond to, and prevent the long-term effects of early childhood trauma.
The programme begins with an open call that recruits parents, teachers, and other child caregivers from communities where children are most vulnerable to adverse experiences. Applicants are selected through a competitive process to join a fellowship cohort.
Fellows then participate in an intensive three-day training programme where they develop practical knowledge and skills in understanding childhood trauma and adverse childhood experiences, identifying early signs of trauma in young children, applying trauma-informed approaches in homes and learning environments, using age appropriate emotional support strategies and referring children and families to professional support services when needed.
Following the residential training, fellows enter a three-month virtual mentorship programme led by mental health professionals and child development specialists. During this phase, participants receive coaching, case-based learning opportunities, and practical guidance as they apply trauma-informed approaches within their communities, schools, and families. To translate learning into action, fellows receive support to implement community projects focused on documenting and amplifying stories of early childhood trauma.
The Thrive Care Network is preparing for its inaugural cohort in April 2027
Mentorship in developing and refining my pilot prototype to prove that this approach works before scaling it.
