Charlie Appelstein, whose motto is "There's no such thing as a bad kid," has worked in child welfare for over 25 years. As president of an educational training organization, Appelstein provides original, strength based training, consultation, and youth care literature to individuals and groups seeking to better understand and respond to troubled children and youth. He works primarily with residential and foster care programs; children's and adolescent psychiatric facilities; public, private, and special education schools; parent groups; and detention centers.

Charlie Appelstein's first two books, The Gus Chronicles: Reflections from an Abused Kid and No Such Thing As a Bad Kid: Understanding and Responding to the Challenging Behavior of Troubled Children and Youth, are used as training resources in hundreds of child welfare programs, schools, and colleges throughout the U.S. and Canada. The first chapter of The Gus Chronicles won the Albert Trieschman Literature Award Open Category in 1991. The Gus Chronicles II, was published in the summer of 2002. Appelstein's latest book, Facing the Sunshine, is a true account of a journey to well-being following a childhood lost in the shadows of sexual abuse.

Passionate, humorous, and informative, Appelstein is a frequent keynote presenter, and he offers workshops on a wide array of training topics.

Charlie lives in New Hampshire, with his wife, Cheryl, and their daughter, Julie. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, biking, pizza, and his beloved three-time Super Bowl champions, the New England Patriots.

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