Groundwork

Equipping caregivers to work directly with TCK families!
Empty space, drag to resize

Click the buttons below to jump down the page!

Groundwork is perfect for you if... 

  • You work directly with TCKs and their families on a regular basis
  • You're intimately familiar with the challenge of wearing multiple hats (ex. you're a family friend & the TCK Caregiver & also work at the child's school)
  • You desire to learn effective communication strategies and practical tools for working with TCKs and their families
  • You want to learn how to support TCKs effectively in seasons of stress and crisis

Trying to decide if Groundwork or Pathways is the right fit? Find more information below.

Upcoming Cohorts

Choose a cohort that's best for you, and maintain your training by renewing certification every 3 years.

Jan 2025 Cohort

Thursdays

Jan 30- Mar 27, 2025
10 am-Noon Eastern Time (NY)

Super Early Bird Sale Ends: Oct 20
Early Bird Sale Ends: Nov 20
Registration Closes: Dec 20

Sept 2025 Cohort

Wednesdays
Sept 24-Nov 19, 2025

7-9 am Eastern Time (NY)



Early Bird Sale Ends: July 24
Registration Closes: Aug 24

Recertification Every 3 Years

The first recertification course will be offered in 2027 for 2024 Groundwork graduates.

To maintain, this certification must be renewed every three years.

Pricing

STANDARD PRICE

$2000

12-month payment plans available at registration.

Group discounts available for 2 or more attendees from the same organization/company
Discounts
  • Super Early Bird Sale ($250 off - ends 2 months before registration closes)
  • Early Bird Sale ($150 off - ends 1 month before registration closes)
  • Teams of 2+ (10% off)
  • Pathways & Groundwork Bundle ($1500 off) 
Inquire at info@tcktraining.com
scholarships

Offered each semester



Apply in March for September 2025 cohort scholarships.

Click the buttons below to jump down the page!

How does groundwork actually work? 

Practical and Discussion Focused Education

This course is designed to provide caregivers with bite-size chunks of education that direct them toward meaningful practical application.

Each week, the unit will be completed independently and will include 5-8 hours of online education and in person practicum (practicing what you've learned that week with the TCKs and families in your community).

Each week, the cohort will gather for a 2-hour guided discussion on the education and their experiences in real-life application and a Q&A with one of the instructors. 

Included in the Groundwork Certification is the Youth Mental Health First Aid Certification and QPR Suicide Prevention Certification.

Deciding which Certification is Best for You?

Here's the difference between Groundwork & Pathways:

Meet the instructors

—

Lauren Wells 

TCK Training - Chief Executive Officer

Lauren is the Founder and CEO of TCK Training and author of Raising Up a Generation of Healthy Third Culture Kids, What Made That Feel So Hard: The Unstacking Method, and more. An Adult Third Culture Kid (ATCK) who spent her teenage years living in Tanzania, East Africa, Lauren has worked with over 1,000 parents and TCK caregivers and has trained staff from over 80 organizations. 

Elizabeth Smith

TCK Training - Chief Operations Officer

Author of The Practice of Processing, Elizabeth is a skilled communicator and trauma-informed educator who helps transform abstract concepts into practical steps, equipping, encouraging, and empowering people to reach their goals. Elizabeth is a mom of two worldschooling TCKs.

Tanya Crossman

TCK Training - Director of Research & International Schools

Tanya is a leading expert in the field of modern Third Culture Kids and issues facing cross-cultural families. She is the author of Misunderstood: The Impact of Growing Up Overseas in the 21st Century (2016), a book which opens a window on the experience of an international childhood in the internet age. Tanya serves TCK Training families - offering virtual debriefing, parent coaching, consulting, and training - particularly to those living in Eastern Hemisphere time zones. She conducts research on behalf of TCK Training in the area of TCKs and ACE scores.

Jessi Bullis

TCK Training - Director of Adult TCK Services & Marketing

Jessi is an Adult TCK who grew up in Singapore, England, Turkey, and Germany. She has a heart and passion for TCKs and the unique struggles they face. She received her undergraduate in psychology and a seminary degree in counseling for the purpose of caring for TCKs well.

Anna Danforth

TCK Training Presenter

Anna Danforth grew up in Cameroon as a TCK where she developed a passion to help global families thrive overseas. She holds a degree in secondary French education and an MAED in Instruction and Curriculum. She married her high school sweetheart from DR Congo and they raised their two kids in Lesotho and South Africa. Anna and her husband work in education, job skills training, job creation, and agriculture. Drawing on her experiences as a TCK, missionary, and teacher at the Africa Orientation Course, Anna wrote Raising a Family Overseas as a resource for global families. The place she calls home is a fruit tree and macadamia farm in KwaZulu Natal where she lives with her husband, dogs, cats, horse, and best friends.

2024 Events Calendar
Empty space, drag to resize
Empty space, drag to resize

Free Resources