As we have developed an increased understanding of how trauma impacts youth and factors that lead to resilience, one theme has emerged: the critical role of caregivers and their importance in providing a safe, stable, nurturing relationship (SSNR) to build resilience and promote healthy mental development. This SSNR is ideally established at birth and strengthened through the affiliate response. However, when a caregiver is challenged by their own history of trauma, substance use disorder, mental health problems or stressors which overwhelm them, they often cannot provide that SSNR. When that is the case, child needs may be neglected and abuse can happen, and other stress responses (fight, flight, freeze) have to kick in. Overuse of these stress responses can lead to toxic stress and the cycle continues. When we understand the biology of parenting - that is the development of healthy attachment to allow for nurturing of children – we can better support caregivers and promote safety, joy, and understanding of the caregiver-child relationship. In turn, this enhances the ability of the caregiver to buffer adversity, promote relational health and end the cycle. This session will encourage participants to consider the neurophysiologic and hormonal underpinning of parenting, understand the affiliate response and what happens when that is disrupted, and learn skills to support SSNR especially in the context of disrupted caregiving.