A new Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) documentary addresses the lasting impact of trauma on children, adults and the lives of those around them – and looks to new approaches to assist survivors.

Not Enough Apologies: Trauma Stories premieres 8 p.m. Monday, May 13 on Wisconsin Public Television. The full film and a collection of curated resources are also available now, for free online access at

https://pbswisconsin.org/trauma/

Through personal stories of Wisconsin residents, viewers explore how adverse childhood experiences can result in changes in the brain, leading to cascading behavioral and mental health problems. The film takes viewers inside juvenile courtrooms to understand the process of serving children in need of protection and support services.

As some survivors of trauma share, their life paths often include repeated foster care, treatment center and juvenile prison placements. The documentary also looks at how service providers across the state are working to be responsive to trauma in efforts to change the trajectory for affected children.

“A behavioral health expert featured in the documentary told us she believes the voice of lived experience is most important toward promoting understanding and awareness of trauma and its impacts on people,” said the documentary’s producer Frederica Freyberg. “With that in mind, we interwove personal stories of trauma throughout Not Enough Apologies. We are sincerely appreciative to the many survivors who shared their experiences so that others might learn from them.”

Special thanks to our content and community partners Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health, Waupaca Area Community Foundation Fund and the Bright Idea Fund of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region.

Not Enough Apologies: Trauma Stories is funded in part by Friends of Wisconsin Public Television and the Focus Fund for Journalism.

Wisconsin Public Television is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Madison.

WPT is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.