Foster Care Training

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]

Providing family therapy to families that have experienced generations of trauma can be challenging as well as impactful for both the families and providers. Prior to family therapy taking place, families may have experienced much trauma in their lives, services that may have not been accessible or poorly delivered, and families may be surviving in a current crisis state. Most often, to be able to be effective with families that have experienced such trauma, loss, and other bio-psychosocial challenges, it is important to prioritize engagement to build trust and work towards providing healing experiences and connections for families. This training focuses on building a foundation in learning effective ways to […]

This workshop will focus on two of the five social-emotional learning competencies: Relationship skills and Responsible Decision-making skills. It will explore how developing strong communication skills builds healthy relationships and discuss the importance of communication skills in decision-making, conflict resolution, and working collaboratively. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that teach self-control, problem-solving, and compassion.

This workshop will focus on self-management, one of the five social and emotional competency domains. It will explore how developing self-management skills increases resiliency, personal motivation, and the ability to reach goals. Through interactive, hands-on, arts-based activities, participants will discover practical techniques that promote self-regulation, resilience, and compassion.

Shame is a demonized emotion it has been used to categorize certain people or ourselves as ‘bad’ Shame can also be a barrier to accountability the stories we tell ourselves and our bodily responses when experiencing shame can keep us away from returning to moving with integrity. How do we bring shame out of the shadows in order to heal it and work with it? How do we use it to support being in accountable relationships with others, break cycles of harm, and help us build a world that does not binarize people as ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and instead allows for seeing each other in fullness, which includes the messy […]

Many providers do not practice stress reduction techniques despite endorsing the importance of self-care ideas, techniques, and recommendations with caregivers, youth, and families. With research demonstrating that the amount of time spent working with traumatized clients strongly predicted secondary trauma in helping professionals and caregivers, the necessity of self-care as a critical component of managing vicarious trauma is clear. Learning self-care practices experientially provides professionals with an additional level of familiarity in working with caregivers to implement their own self-care practices.

The image of white supremacy is often that of white hoods, the KKK, Nazis and extreme right-wing nationalists. While that is one image and aspect of white supremacy, it is important that the conversation is clearly about how white supremacy is the foundation of the systems and structures upon which the United States was built and continues to be upheld in culture, systems and organizations as well as ourselves. This workshop will bring attention to how this dominant culture and the power dynamics that ensue in the child welfare system influence our work with system-involved children, youth and families. We will acknowledge the systemic impact of white privilege, white fragility […]

Training Summary: This two-part intermediate training series is designed for providers who work with or on behalf of Alameda County foster youth and families. Session one will focus on identifying how racial bias manifests in the foster care system and the impact it has on decision-making and outcomes for foster youth and families. Participants will engage in activities to examine personal and organizational biases, explore the historical and systemic roots of racial disparities in child welfare, and discuss real-world examples where bias influenced service delivery. The session will include a guided self-reflection exercise and introduce practical strategies to identify and address bias in professional practice. The material will be delivered […]

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and trauma can have a profound impact on the lives of system-involved youth and families, but resilience can be nurtured through intentional, trauma-informed practices. This training focuses on key themes for most effectively supporting system-involved youth, including trauma-informed care, resilience-building, and understanding the unique challenges these youth face. Through breakout sessions and group interactions, participants will learn effective strategies and techniques such as active listening, de-escalation strategies, and methods for fostering trust. The training emphasizes practical skills that can be directly applied in interactions with system-involved youth to create supportive, safe, and stable environments.

In this 2-hour training, we will continue our collective inquiry into psychodynamic approaches to serve and support traumatized people. We will briefly review previous analytic concepts and contextualize the concept of “”trauma”” in psychoanalysis. We will consider theories and theorists that are particularly applicable to and useful for the work of WestCoast’s programs. (Note: This will NOT – cannot be! – be a complete survey of all psychoanalytic theoretical and historical perspectives on trauma.) We will start with a didactic approach, move to application and inquiry using a vignette, and then close with a collective conversation.

In this last 2-hour training, we will work to consolidate our learning and apply psychodynamic ideas to your current work and the work place. We will also consider what and how psychodynamic ideas may be relevant or useful to the world outside of two-person, private therapies or case mgt. There is a growing movement utilizing psychodynamic ideas as a part of libratory practices. We will think together about how and when this may be true and when it may not be.

Attachment describes the emotional bond between individuals. This training will describe attachment styles, how they form and how they affect individuals. The training will also discuss the relational aspect to working with system-involved youth and how to use one’s relationship to provide corrective experiences for system-involved youth.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their clients and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens.

There is a growing awareness of youth and young adults being exploited in the commercial sex industry and many system-involved youth can find themselves caught up in it. This training will provide an overview of commercial sexual exploitation that includes prevalence, risk factors, pathways of entry, recruitment and ways to support trafficked youth. Register Here

While male sexual abuse is fairly common, the predominant dialogue is about sexual abuse of women and girls. This training will equip social service and care providers with needed knowledge about male sexual abuse. Participants will be provided information about the prevalence of childhood male sexual abuse, myths of sexual abuse, impact of male sexual abuse and strategies to support males who have experienced sexual abuse as minors. Register Here

Many system-involved youth are prescribed psychotropic medication so it’s crucial for social service providers to have a basic understanding of psychopharmacology. This training will provide an overview of the different classifications of psychotropic medication and how they affect youth. The training will also discuss common barriers to system-involved youth wanting to take psychotropic medication and how to address these barriers as well as strategies to provide psychoeducation to parents of system-involved youth about psychotropic medication.

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth and young adults. Some youth have used substances prior to entering the system, some have been exposed to them while running away from placement and some use substances after leaving the system. System-involved youth and young adults may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. It’s crucial for social service, care providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand how substances affect youth. This training will focus on alcohol, marijuana and opioids. Participants will learn strategies to talk with youth about substance use as well as strategies to support youth who […]

This course will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for system-involved youth using three social-emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. CASEL.(n.d.) Through didactic, collaborative, and interactive learning, participants will explore how social-emotional learning is essential to mental health and wellness and how using creative arts-based tools can teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. These activities will help staff provide thoughtful services to improve the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of system-involved youth in care. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

This training will help you support children’s and adolescents’ mental, physical, and emotional well-being through art and creative interventions. This training will focus on managing social anxiety and loneliness for children and adolescents using three social and emotional learning competency domains: self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills. Through interactive, arts-based activities and dynamic discussion, participants will learn techniques and problem-solving strategies that teach self-compassion and build healthy connections with others. Participants will recognize how our social interactions improve as we develop greater insight and connection with ourselves.

With a growing awareness of relational wounds system-involved youth and young adults experience, it’s important to consider one’s attachment. Understanding attachment helps social service providers better conceptualize their youth and young adults in care and develop plans of support accordingly. This training will provide an overview of attachment as well as ways to support system-involved youth and young adults through an attachment lens. Register Here

As online interventions becomes part of many providers service provision, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to telemental health. In this class participants will learn: 1) California Telehealth legal codes and Telehealth professional codes of ethics including: informed consent, privacy, working with people out of state, preparing for crisis, and handling technology failure; 2) research on Telemental Health and 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

This ten-hour course will cover topics in aging and long-term care for the LCSW, MFT and Psychologist pre-license education requirement in CA. This course is only for those who entered a degree program on or after 1/1/2004; for all others this is not a pre-licensure requirement. Some myths and stereotypes of aging will be explored, which may influence your ability to effectively assess and treat the elderly, and their children and grandchildren who may be struggling to assist them with a myriad of physical, psychological and social needs.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

Clients who have Substance Use Disorders are in every part of our system. This 2-day 15-hour in-depth pre-licensure class on the assessment and treatment of substance-related disorders was developed for ASWs, AMFTs, and APCCs. It is also appropriate for anyone else in the behavioral health field who wants simply to learn more about this important issue. Topics covered include: substances and their effects, current trends, screening and assessment, signs of intoxication, an overview of substance-related disorders as defined in the DSM-5, treatment/counseling strategies such as relapse prevention theory, harm reduction, contingency management, and motivational interviewing all of which are evidence-based approaches with proven success rates.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians. DV/IPV work truly starts where the client is; the work touches on multiple theories from the work of Dr. Bruce Perry to Harm Reduction to Attachment theory to CBT and EMDR. This training provides statistical information and current and past research to illustrate just how many people in the U.S are impacted daily by DV. This training utilizes slides, videos, vignettes, discussion of anonymized cases, and small and large group discussions to bring this issue to life. The […]

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

This series explores best practices for new clinicians working with youth and families in community based, school-based, or residential programs in a cohesive, cohort-based training program. The Unconditional Care Model has been used at Seneca Family of Agencies for over 30 years and outlined in “Unconditional Care: Relationship-Based, Behavioral Intervention with Vulnerable Children and Families” and “Unconditional Care in Context: Engaging with Ecological Adversity” by John Sprinson with Ken Berrick.

Parents and caregivers of system-involved youth play a crucial role in their healing journey. So, it’s essential for them to regulate themselves to assist youth in their care with regulating themselves. This aids parents and caregivers of system-involved youth in their ability to navigate crises, co-regulate and increase their overall well-being. Participants will learn how to teach parents and caregivers about emotional regulation skills as well as skills to practice with parents. This training will be provided in English and Spanish to equip providers working with bilingual or Spanish speaking parents with these skills.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

The purpose of this training is to create a renewed and heightened awareness of boundary issues in work with foster youth. Having boundaries is not just a matter of being professional. Appropriate boundaries are a key ingredient in providing the children in our care with the highest quality of care, which often times requires us to build trusting and healing relationships with them. Frequently the relationships we build with clients can have ambiguous boundaries, making it important to develop an awareness of possible danger signs for boundary issues that might result in poor practice or which might be red flags for potential exploitation of clients.

Do you ever struggle with how close or distant your relationships with system-involved youth should be in order to maintain your ability to be helpful? We provide support to youth in our continuums of care and to their families in their own homes, in schools, in their communities, and remotely; this can be confusing for us and for those we support as to what our roles are and what kinds of relationships are being developed. The true helping relationship requires clear relationship boundaries so that we don’t unintentionally exploit system-involved youth and/or their families or experience our own compassion fatigue. This training clarifies what we mean by boundaries, ways in […]

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

When caring for and supporting foster youth you can often face challenges of crises, placement instability, or system pressures. These can lead to quick decisions or unintended consequences for youth and families, especially when the needs and strengths of youth are not maintained as a guiding force. This training focuses on the importance of self-reflection, humility and self-care as a means of building capacity to deliver care for foster youth who experience trauma.

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting […]

This training is for service providers who work with chronically and severely mentally ill youth in out-of-home care. The training reviews common challenges that are faced by youth with chronic or severe mental illness with regard to placements, relationships, stability, and wellbeing. Providers will also understand the benefits of team-based approaches in service delivery for youth and NMD with high needs.

The subject of money, socioeconomic status and class are all topics that we tend to avoid and find as taboo subjects in our society. And, because of this cloud of secrecy that keeps many of us in a place of shame or embarrassment, it is very easy to have a lot of misperceptions about one’s own class status, how we measure up in relation to others, and what the common story is out there as to who is considered wealthy, who is considered middle class, and who is below the poverty line. This workshop will begin in a self-reflective process, where participants will unpack and better understand how they were […]

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth with Somatic Disorders is to effectively engage them to overcome their challenges to foster positive outcomes. In this training, we will explore coaching self-regulation techniques and how they can enhance our capacity to effectively support system involved youth with Somatic Disorders. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster young people’s transformational behaviors that are sustainable and lead to healthy community engagement and improved outcomes, as well as strengthen their resilience and ability to heal from traumatic events. Practicing and sharing the methods outlined by this workshop will allow us to improve […]

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements. There are also pronounced disparities impacting young people of color, families from low-income communities, and transgender or gender fluid youth. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for […]