The Brain Story Certification offers free training for people to learn about the brain in an in – depth manner addressing many topics about how adverse childhood experiences impact brain development and can increase the risk for mental health and addictions and other concerns. Topics include but are not limited to: How the brain develops interactions such as social and gene-environment, the shaping of brain architecture, toxic stress, self-regulation, addiction, and more.
The course was developed with the help of Oxford University in partnership with the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative. The program contains decades of research that has been carefully crafted to be delivered and offer service to professionals and the public. It is believed that completing the Brain Story will help create a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health; reduce stigma surrounding mental health and addictions; and increase the knowledge around mental health and addictions being chronic health conditions as opposed to a choice someone makes.
The course is available in English and French and is broken down into 20 modules which consist of mini video lectures, and excerpts to read containing other relevant content. At the end of every module, there is a short quiz that will help participants remember and assess what they have learned. To pass the course all questions must be answered correctly. Participants can re-do the quiz if needed, as well as re-do sections of the material. The course is designed so that individuals can go at their own pace and pick up exactly where they left off each time that they need to go back. Each module will require approximately an hour to complete.
The content was developed with professions such as health care, policy – making, academia, justice, education, social work and child – care in mind. It is intended to be interesting and easy to understand for anyone who would like to learn about the brain, its development, and the long-term consequences on a person’s health.