Brain Science Training is a program focused on the science of brain development, resilience, and building shared understanding to support mental well-being in PEI.
Brain Science Training
About Brain Science Training
It equips participants with knowledge to enhance prevention-based programs and builds a shared language around key concepts like resiliency, toxic stress, protective factors, and more. It also fosters connection and collaboration through discussions and interactive activities, helping participants generate ideas to support mental well-being across the province.
September 2025 Cohort
TRAINING DATES
September 22, 23, 24 & 25
TIME
9:00 AM – 4:15 PM each day
LOCATION
Charlottetown
Rooted in the Science of Brain Development
This no-cost, four-day in-person training is rooted in the science of brain development and designed specifically for community organizations working across PEI who may or may not be considering applying for an action grant in our upcoming grant cycle.
The grant action areas are based on the science of brain development, introduced in Brain Science Training. The Brain Science Training offers practical insight to help organizations shape proposals that reflect these priorities.
Organizations will:
Gain tools to enhance programs and services using brain science
Practice using metaphors for communicating complex scientific concepts
Form an understanding on the relevance of the science for brain development to community-based work across PEI
Build a shared language to connect and collaborate across sectors to improve community well-being
Background of Brain Science Training
Understanding how our brains develop and how that development shapes our lifelong health and well-being is at the heart of our work. Over the past decade, groundbreaking research in neuroscience has transformed how we think about resilience, relationships, and mental health across the lifespan.
The Brain Story Online Certification (2014) marked a major step forward in making this science widely accessible. Developed by the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) in partnership with Oxford University, the self-directed course distilled decades of neuroscience research into an engaging and informative learning experience for professionals and community members alike.
Building on this foundation, the PEI Brain Story Pilot Program launched in December 2023. Over the course of five in-person, 5-day training cohorts delivered through February 2025, the Alliance for Mental Well-Being brought this vital knowledge into the local context.
Informed by participant feedback and updated research from the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, the program evolved to meet the unique needs of Prince Edward Island.
The result is a dynamic, collaborative training experience that stays true to the core science of brain development while reflecting the lived realities, relationships, and community strengths of PEI.
Program Outline by Day
The training is delivered over four full days, with each session building on the last to support practical application, connection, and collaboration.
Day 1:
- Building connections to each other and the content.
- Introduction to the science of brain development science and resilience (including the resilience scale tool).
- Exploring three evidence-based action areas for supporting healthy brain development and resilience.
Day 2:
- Building connections to each other, the content, and the broader context of brain development
- Introduction to brain development science, resilience, and the resilience scale metaphor
- Exploring three evidence-based action areas for supporting healthy brain development and resilience
- A more in-depth look at the science of brain development, challenges with communicating key concepts, and communication tools that can be used.
- Introduction to epigenetics (impact of experiences on gene expression).
- Hands-on brain-building activity to solidify key concepts related to how brains are built.
Day 3:
- Practice using brain science communication tools (introduced on Days 1 & 2).
- Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and their impacts on society.
- Exploring protective factors for ACEs (including Positive Childhood Experiences).
Day 4:
- Bringing it back to a PEI-specific lens.
- Action planning: Integrating brain science knowledge into project and organizational work.
- Exploring future learning communities and ongoing collaboration opportunities.
Financial Support
- No Cost for Non-Profit Organizations: Free to attend. Not-for-profit organizations are eligible for wage reimbursement for staff participation.
- Wage Reimbursement: Organizations are eligible for reimbursement for staff wages based on actual attendance.
- Mileage Reimbursement: Participants traveling over 25 km one-way may be eligible for mileage reimbursement at Provincial Treasury Board rates.
- Accommodation: Participants traveling over 100 km one-way may be eligible for overnight accommodations provided by the Alliance.
Participant Safety and Content Considerations
Training will cover sensitive topics such as emotional and physical abuse, neglect, domestic violence, parental mental illness, and substance use.
Participants are encouraged to prioritize their well-being, and employers are asked to circulate this information ahead of registration. Facilitators will remind participants of self-care opportunities throughout the sessions.
We strongly encourage you to consider team members in decision-making, project delivery, or organizational strategy roles when selecting who will receive Brain Science Training.
Questions?
If you have any questions on Brain Science Training and/or our grant programs, please feel free to reach out to info@afmwb.com.
How to Apply
We’re excited to invite your organization to apply for a unique professional development opportunity: the August cohort of Brain Science Training, offered by the Alliance for Mental Well-Being.
Submit an Application
To express your organization’s interest in Brain Science Training fill out an application below by Friday, August 1.
Indicate the Number of Participants
You will be asked to indicate how many staff you would like to send.
Lottery Process
A lottery will be used if interest exceeds available space. Click the button below to learn more about how we employ the lottery process.
Lottery Process
Step 1: Expression of Interest Deadline
Organizations will be asked to provide how many participants they would like to send to Brain Science Training on August 20/21 and 26/27. Deadline expression of interest is Friday, August 1.
Step 2: Initial Lottery Selection
On August 5, the Alliance will review all expressions of interest and facilitate a randomized lottery to which organizations will be registered to participate, to a maximum of 15 organizations.
This is based on 2 employees per organization, to optimize the “action planning” portion of the training program as a collaborative effort between the representatives of an organization.
Step 3: Offering Additional Spaces
In the scenario that we receive expressions of interest from less than 15 organizations, we will offer additional spaces to those organizations that are interested in sending more than 2 participants, again through randomized lottery.
This process will continue until we reach our maximum capacity of 30 participants.
Step 4: Waitlist
The full selection process will be completed by Friday, August 8.
We will use the same process to identify a clear and transparent waitlist, should interest exceed capacity – in the event that a participant must withdraw from participating, the next in line will be clearly identified in a wait list and Alliance staff will work down the list, as necessary.
Step 5: Notification and Confirmation
If selected, the Alliance will contact you with further details, next steps, and a request to confirm your participation in the August Cohort of Brain Science Training.
Submit an Application
August Cohort Applications Now Closed
Sign up for our mailing list to receive updates about the next cohort, as well as information about Alliance events and other opportunities. Don’t miss out on future programs!