Solano Course Catalog

-Training Offerings Foster Care Training Course Catalog


In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the guidance of health experts to follow social distancing protocols, all classes are currently being offered via distance learning. We will continue to monitor the recommendations of local and state authorities and healthcare experts and remain committed to ensuring the safety and health of training participants and instructors. Please note that in order to register for these free trainings you must be staff, caregiver or volunteer working directly with foster, adoptive or probation involved children, youth and their families in one of our partner counties.

Courses are sorted by Category:

To register for a course, click on the title of the course you are interested in, then click on the Register button and either submit the registration form or register on the sponsoring agency’s website or event link (i.e. Eventbrite).

Arts & Activities

Trainings offered cover the importance of art and activities for youth as well as how to design engaging and therapeutic activities.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Metamorfosis: Connecting to the Sacred Elements as a Tool to Support Foster Youth in Healing

This training will introduce clinical providers to the Four Sacred Elements and how to utilize these as tools for self and clients to help with self-regulation and avoiding burnout. The participants will learn the benefits of increasing their own self-awareness while empowering families on their healing journey. This training will be be an experiential exercise in creating a collage with the Four Elements as a tool of self-discovery and a means for healing. (individually/collectively)

4/26/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Mindfulness and Narrative Practices for Exploring Self Identity and Empathy with System Involved Youth

Learning to tell our stories, show and share emotions is important for the healing process. Often, young people are not given space to show adults their feelings about events that happen in their early life, leading to disconnection, distrust and trauma. Mindfulness practices can support system-involved youth to build awareness of emotions and how to express and process them in healthy ways. In this training, we will explore different ways to integrate narrative practice in the exploration of identity, and empathy building for system-involved youth.

4/12/2024 9:30 am – 2:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Somatic Practice Movements for Fight, Flight, Freeze, Involuntary/Voluntary Fawn with System Involved Youth & Caregivers

Somatic movements are important for system-involved youth because they offer a trauma-informed approach that helps youth reconnect with their bodies and promote healing. Somatic movements aid in emotional regulation and stress management, empowering youth to identify, express, and regulate their emotions effectively. By developing body awareness, system-involved youth gain a sense of empowerment and make informed decisions regarding their well-being. Engaging in somatic movements also builds resilience, enhances coping skills, and provides a non-verbal mode of self-expression and communication for youth who may struggle with verbal expression. In this training Participants will be guided through a sequence of learning discussions to explore and understand somatic movements. Learning activities will include: […]

4/1/2024 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

The Tree of Life: Engaging Youth in Care Around Multiple Stories

The Tree of Life (TOL) was created as a way to safely engage young people around the trauma they have experienced. The exercise is designed to invite youth to share multiple facets of themselves allowing youth care workers to hear/witness many stories about what the youth give value to. Further explorations into how these young people have responded to difficult times in their lives helps to situate them in a territory of identity that is connected to personal agency and not merely victimhood. From this position, the risk of re-traumatizing youth when they talk about traumatic experiences is reduced.

4/4/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Utilizing Mindfulness & Expressive Arts Practices to Address Compassion Fatigue in Efforts to Support System Involved Youth

Sustaining effective services and/or support for system involved youth requires the cultivation of robust strategies and practices that can best be in service to youth involved in the systems. In this training, we will introduce and use the 7 types of rest model and existing barriers to wellness to explore how to plan and create balance and nourishment in order to sustain the work that they do which supports improved outcomes for system involved youth. This model can support wellness and be used to create plans for system involved youth. We will explore mindfulness and expressive arts practices that centers proactive reflection and supports health and vitality for system involved […]

4/24/2024 10:00 am – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Behavioral Strategies

These trainings address the importance of using behavioral modification techniques such as positive reinforcement to help a child change their behaviors to those that are more conducive to healthy relationships with adults and peers.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

An Overview of How Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Can Support Improved Outcomes for System-Involved Youth

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidenced based treatment modality that combines mindfulness and acceptance strategies along with commitment and behavioral strategies. Join us to learn more about how acceptance and commitment strategies can support system-involved youth and young adults towards improved outcomes. We will provide an overview of the model and strategies to apply it with system-involved youth and young adults.

4/10/2024 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

An Overview of Substance Use with System-Involved Youth with a Focus on Alcohol, Marijuana and Opioids

Substance use is a growing issue with system-involved youth. They may use substances as a means to cope with trauma and adversity, because of peer pressure, experimentation, etc. In addition, the growing opioid epidemic has lead to many youth and young adults losing their lives. Therefore, it is crucial for providers to recognize warning signs and learn how to support system-involved youth using substances.

4/30/2024 9:15 am – 4:45 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Best Practice for Implementing Assessments for Foster Care Youth

This training is designed to provide participants with the best practice guidelines for implementing assessments for foster care youth. The training will cover the importance of assessments in the foster care system, the types of assessments that are commonly used, and the steps involved in implementing an effective assessment process. Participants will also learn about the challenges that may arise during the assessment process and strategies for overcoming them. By the end of the training, participants will have a better understanding of how to implement assessments that are fair, effective, and sensitive to the unique needs of foster care youth. This training is ideal for social workers, foster care agencies, […]

3/21/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A First Place for Youth

Clinical Supervision Series: Best Practices in Professional Development of Supervisees-3 CAMFT CE Credits

Clinical Supervisors are responsible not only for oversight of services to youth and families, but also with supporting the professional development of supervisees in their clinical, administrative, and professional skills. This course will review assessment tools to better understand supervisees growth areas, strategies that supervisors can use to facilitate growth in supervisees, and tips for particularly challenges that may come up in the supervisory relationship.

4/4/2024 9:30 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 CAMFT CE Credits Seneca Family of Agencies

Co-Constructing Vision Plans with System Involved Youth (SIY): Providing Present Motivation & Future Direction

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth (SIY) with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD) is to effectively engage and motivate them to build a positive future vision for their lives and support them in the design of an achievable vision plan that will guide and sustainably motivate them towards achieving healthy and successful outcomes. In this training, we will learn how to facilitate the development of self-guided motivation and future direction utilizing processes involved in co-constructing vision plans in partnership with system involved youth that will strengthen their ability to heal from traumatic events so that they can lead a meaningful life. Practicing and sharing […]

4/10/2024 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Cultural Proficiency Development to Increase Quality of Care for Systems-Involved Youth

From shared experience and didactic expression of narrative participants will work to understand their identities. Following the Ken Hardy curriculum as a framework, participants will unpack how their unique expressions can have increased positive exchanges with youth and families.

4/30/2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 2: Communication Strategies for Youth Service Professionals

This training focuses on how child welfare staff must work together with other staff, the youth and family, outside professionals, extended family, and friends, as well others in order to provide coordinated support for youth in out-of-home care and their extended network.

4/17/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 3: Understanding the Behaviors of Youth in Care

This training presents the agency’s model for understanding the experience of children presenting severely dangerous or disruptive behaviors. This training focuses on the importance of recognizing the underlying needs that drive crisis behavior and recognizing how developmental level plays into crisis response. This training also explores the how relational disruption impacts foster youth/youth in care. Didactic presentation, group discussion and small group exercises are utilized.

3/22/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 3: Understanding the Behaviors of Youth in Care

This training presents the agency’s model for understanding the experience of children presenting severely dangerous or disruptive behaviors. This training focuses on the importance of recognizing the underlying needs that drive crisis behavior and recognizing how developmental level plays into crisis response. This training also explores the how relational disruption impacts foster youth/youth in care. Didactic presentation, group discussion and small group exercises are utilized.

4/25/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 5: Strategies for Supporting Youth in Care to Utilize Regulation and Communication Skills

Participants will discuss several different categories of behavior support strategies to use with youth including individual and group support strategies as well as crisis communication techniques. Participants will learn how to prepare youth to support themselves and work toward their goals when they are no longer in care. Didactic presentation, group discussion, art and visualization exercises are utilized.

4/18/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

From the Bottom Up: Play Strategies for System Involved Youth Through a Neurosequential Lens

In this workshop participants will be exposed to the application of the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics to play. Participants will have the opportunity to experience strategies designed to target disorganization and dysregulation in different regions of the brain. System Involved children and youth exposed to ongoing developmental trauma and stress are particularly at risk for significant issues in these domains. The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics was developed by Bruce Perry and colleagues at the Child Trauma Academy in order to provide a neurobiologically informed, evidenced based approach to conceptualization and planning for traumatized children. Although originally conceptualized to help this population, it works well with children across the diagnostic spectrum. […]

3/20/2024 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.5 East Bay Agency for Children

How Emotional Regulation and Mindfulness Skills Can Improve Outcomes for System Involved Youth

Many system-involved youth and transitional age youth struggle to make sense of their emotions and regulate them in an adaptive manner. Without this knowledge, it can hinder goals and aspirations youth have. This training will equip you with the knowledge and skills to effectively support system involved kids and teens in increasing their emotional regulation skills. Additionally, many system-involved youth struggle to regulate their emotions and can dwell on self-defeating thoughts. Mindfulness is a helpful skill to help those that support system involved youth be present and engaged with them as well as a great skill to teach youth to practice so they don’t get lost in their thoughts and […]

3/19/2024 10:00 am – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Insight into Understanding Behaviors

Created by an RCS Licensed Clinician, this training helps us understand how to look underneath challenging behaviors to the reasons for the behaviors. Including an overview of the 3 stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome, a look at attachment theory, and understanding trauma can help us see these behaviors in a new light, and design more effective interventions for them. Register Here

3/27/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing for Professionals Working with System-Involved Youth and Families

In this course, participants will gain a generalized concept of MI. Participants will be introduced to the spirit of MI, Righting Reflex, and OARS (open-ended, affirmations, reflections, and summary). Participants will have the opportunity to work in small groups, engage in various activities, and receive tangible examples to use during their work with system-involved clients. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

4/18/2024 1:15 pm – 4:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 A Better Way, Inc.

Neurodevelopmental and Learning Disabilities: Consequences of Trauma

This training reviews related literature and research on trauma as well as highlights the impact of trauma on learning. The implications for supporting foster youth in learning will also be discussed. Further, we will explore how learning disabilities are defined as well as review how different learning disabilities impact foster youth in real-life.

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Preparing Challenging Youth for Placement Within the Foster Care System

Providers at the Alameda County Assessment Center work with youth to prepare them as they transition into a new placement within the foster care system. Often youth that have been in foster care will refuse to go to their placements. This training invites providers with the opportunity to open up dialogue about the challenges they encounter and reasons youth refuse placement. Providers will explore and discuss strategies for encouraging challenging youth to transition to their next placement.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention

Trainee’s will gain skills on how to appropriately intervene when a youth or a youth’s family member is having suicidal ideation or attempts, using the QPR skills of: Question a person about suicide, Persuade someone to get help, and Refer someone to the appropriate resource. Trainees will be able to recognize the warning signs and clues and use suicidal communication to instill hope and resiliency in youth and families. Trainees will gain skills to act vigorously to prevent possible tragedy for youth or their families.  Register Here

3/21/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): Suicide Prevention

Trainee’s will gain skills on how to appropriately intervene when a youth or a youth’s family member is having suicidal ideation or attempts, using the QPR skills of: Question a person about suicide, Persuade someone to get help, and Refer someone to the appropriate resource. Trainees will be able to recognize the warning signs and clues and use suicidal communication to instill hope and resiliency in youth and families. Trainees will gain skills to act vigorously to prevent possible tragedy for youth or their families.  Register Here

3/27/2024 11:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Resisting the Righting Reflex When Supporting System-Involved Youth and Families

This course will focus on the utilization of Motivational Interviewing (MI) skills when working with system-involved youth and their caregivers. This course will provide practical skills and strategies to resist the righting reflex when met with resistance. Participants will increase their understanding of the righting reflex. The content explores MI four guiding principles, represented by the acronym R.U.L.E. Participants will gain a general understanding of how resistance may show up when working with system involved youth and their caregivers. The course will provide training participants with strategies on appropriate responses to resistance as well as statements and ways to respond to resistances rather than using the righting reflex. The material […]

4/8/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Responding to Microaggressions in Conversations with System Involved Youth and Families

This competency training supports those who support system involved youth in deepening their understanding of how to address LGBTQ-specific microaggressions (misgendering, etc.) leveled at system-involved youth and colleagues who work with system-involved youth. Through self-reflection, group discussion, and roleplay, participants will learn to think intersectionally about how to address LGBTQ microaggressions based on role. Participants will learn how to intervene when harassing, discriminatory, or simply harmful language is used against LGBTQ people based on individual power & privilege, and will review four possible responses to microaggressions, paying attention to dynamics at play within the child welfare, juvenile justice, and other social systems.

3/21/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.5 East Bay Agency for Children

Somatics as a Liberatory Tool for Those who Serve Youth who are System-Involved or High Risk of System Involvement

This training will support participants in developing tools and strategies to engage in somatic based practices in their lives and their work with youth who are system involved or at high risk of system involvement. How can somatic practices move us toward liberation by centering our bodies rather than our minds? Through this exploration, participants will identify all that is available to us when we move towards embodying our anti-racist and liberatory values. Participants will collectively practice these strategies in session in order to use them in their work with system involved youth and families.

3/26/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Strategies to Support System-Involved Youth on the Autism Spectrum

Children and teens are being diagnosed more frequently with Autism and related disorders. It’s important for social service providers and those who serve and/or support system-involved youth to understand Autism and related diagnoses to most effectively serve and/or support youth on the autism spectrum. This training will provide an overview of Autism and other related diagnoses as well as strategies to work with youth on the spectrum from a strengths-based and neurodivergent affirming perspective.

4/15/2024 9:00 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Suicide Prevention: How to Assess Suicidal Ideation and Safety Planning in Work with Youth

During this training, participants will review their roles in assessing and intervening to prevent suicide as defined by professional organizational ethics and legal statutes. Participants will deepen their knowledge and understanding about the drivers to suicidal ideation and what they can do when they are working with a client with suicide risk.

4/2/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

The Spells that Bind: Bringing Awareness to Stories That Can Hold System Involved Youth & Families Hostage

People make sense of life through stories; certain core narratives define who we are and reflect our values, fears, and ultimately, liberate or imprison us. In this training, we will personally apply a process which, once understood, can help you support system involved youth and families toward awareness of whether or not the core stories of their lives reflect their values, who they want to be, and their dreams. Using reflective writing, dyadic/group sharing, and awareness/somatic/land-based exercises, together we will practice a process that can be utilized to support improved outcomes for system involved youth including seeking to hospice and reviving the stories that will bring greater freedom. These strategies […]

4/9/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 1.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Unconditional Care Model: Attachment and Relational Strategies with Children and Youth-3.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits

This training is an introduction to key concepts in the development of relatedness and attachment in young children. The history of the concept of attachment and early work in the field will be reviewed. The negative effects of maternal deprivation and disrupted early connections to caretakers will be described. Participants will be introduced to the concept of attachment styles and there will be a particular focus on the disorganized/disoriented attachments that are regularly seen in the children served by the child welfare and mental health systems. The complementary states of mind observed in caretakers will be examined and then a case example will be used to illustrate the presence of […]

4/19/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits Seneca Family of Agencies

Understanding the School to Prison Pipeline for Child Welfare Professionals

Black and brown students are disproportionately pushed out of the public school system and funneled into the criminal justice system. System-involved youth are at particular risk. It is essential for social service providers to learn about this topic to advocate and support youth and families impacted by this issue. Through lecture, small group work, and group discussion, this course will take a deeper look at the school to prison pipeline to help providers understand the risks their clients in child welfare face.

4/10/2024 10:00 am – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5 A Better Way, Inc.

Child Development

Trainings include topics such as an overview of the stages of child development to the importance of understanding a child’s actual age versus their developmental age, and why that distinction is important in caring for children.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Attachment: Theory How to Promote Understanding, Increase Stability and Build Lasting Relationships with Youth in Care

This training focuses on strategies that parents and providers can use with children and youth who have disrupted attachment during childhood due to trauma, neglect and abuse. Participants are provided with information about several types of attachment-promoting activities that can be used to develop healthy relational templates, resilience and counterbalance the effects of abuse on the children’s pattern of attachment. Each of the practices delineated provides an opportunity to interrupt the mutigenerational transmission process of developmental trauma through physiological and emotional changes to the child or youth resulting in improved coping strategies and availability for learning. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register […]

4/12/2024 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Oakland 7.5 Lincoln Families

BBS- Child Abuse Assessment & Reporting (Day 1)- 3.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits

Many mental health professionals, regardless of their work environments, will most often encounter a case or situation concerning of child abuse or neglect. In the state of California, legally mental health professionals are mandated to report suspected child abuse and neglect. There is a wide range of issues pertaining to child abuse/neglect intervention. These include identification, assessment, reporting, and treatment. Therefore, it is critical that mental health professionals be informed about the principles and strategies helpful in these areas in order to ethically and accurately meet their legal duty, This course will cover historical perspective, an overview, all categories of child abuse, therapist’s responses (including reporting, assessment, and therapy), and […]

4/17/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.5 CAMFT & RN CE Seneca Family of Agencies

Bonding Activities for System-Involved Youth with Autism and Their Families and Caregivers

There are many internal and external expectations of showing up correctly around the family. For autistic system-involved youth, there is an added pressure of managing their confusing feelings and issues around belonging, schooling and celebrating life. This session will teach participants how to engage in daily routines, seasonal activities, creating and sharing special interests and hobbies, and learn and teach culturally significant activities, including holidays in a way that brings all the members of the family unit closer together. These structures allow an understanding for our autistic youth to know how they fit into the family system and the opportunities for sharing our lives.

4/18/2024 9:15 am – 1:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 A Better Way, Inc.

Introduction to Implicit Bias in Work with Youth – 2 GH & STRTP CEUs

This course will review the definition and science regarding Implicit Bias. The training will provide participants with a firm understanding of Implicit Bias, it’s definition, impact, and ways of addressing it in order to keep it from having a negative impact on youth in care.

4/1/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 GH & STRTP CEUs Seneca Family of Agencies

Meeting the Ongoing Developmental Needs of Children (0-5) in Foster Care

We will follow a detailed case presentation to show how psychoanalytic play therapy can help children in foster care with histories of early loss, deprivation, abuse and other developmental strains and traumas. Play and other forms of reconstruction can offer ways to re-process the past emotional pain so as to gain new flexibility and integration. We will discuss developing plans to incorporate play therapy into work with system-involved youth clients to help them heal from trauma and develop healthy attachment.

4/10/2024 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding Short term Residential Treatment Programs for Foster Youth

Alameda County is transitioning from proving a group home setting for youth entering the foster care system, and instead providing short term residential treatment programs for foster youth. STAT is a mental health screening and assessment program, located at the Alameda County Assessment Center. When a child is taken into protective custody by Alameda County Child Protective Services or the police, s/he is brought to the Assessment Center, a child-friendly receiving center where the child can comfortably wait until placement with a relative, foster home or group home is found. In this training participants will think critically about the impacts these structural system changes will have on the development and […]

3/27/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Using a Trauma Informed Perspective of Child & Adolescent Development to Understand & Address Behavioral and Emotional Issues in System-Involved Youth

Healthy children living in safe and secure environments tend to follow what is considered a normal developmental trajectory, but traumatized children frequently do not develop along the ‘normal’ trajectory and may never reach certain milestones. Knowing what is developmentally expected and what is out of the normal range can help providers in child welfare intervene with children and teens who are system involved. In this course we will explore normal development and age milestones in several areas (cognitive, social and emotional, speech and language, fine and gross motor, behavioral) as well as the impact of trauma on different areas of development of children and youth who are system involved. We […]

4/12/2024 9:15 am – 1:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 A Better Way, Inc.

Utilizing Game Playing to Support Youth in Care

This training provides an overview of utilizing games to promote youth’s healthy development and age appropriate functioning which is particularly important for children impacted by systems and trauma. Through didactic teaching and small group experiential learning, participants will practice strategies to build youth’s ego strength, ability to manage emotions and communicate effectively. Participants will cover the universality of game playing as well as awareness of cultural differences which includes gender, race, religion, etc. Additionally, attendees will discuss and practice use of different types of games to build different types of competencies. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register with with an email to: […]

4/19/2024 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Lincoln Families

Cultural Awareness

Includes trainings that cover cultural awareness, including unconscious bias, cultural humility, cultural competence and working with certain populations.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Addressing Racial Bias in School Systems: Strategies for Creating Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environments

This training provides an overview of racial bias within school systems and ways to address it. Participants will gain an understanding of what racial bias is, how it manifests in schools, and its impact on students. They will also learn strategies for addressing racial bias in school systems and advancing racial equity. The training will emphasize the importance of cultural competence training for educators. Overall, professionals working with system-involved youth will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to address racial bias within their school systems and create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, […]

3/22/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.5 East Bay Agency for Children

Anti-Racism as a Process and Practice for Foster Youth-Care Professionals (Part 3 of 4)

“Anti-racism is a journey not a destination” – Ibram X. Kendi For some practitioners, talking about race is a regular part of daily life and family discussions growing up. As a matter of survival, it’s never been an option not to. For others, it can be challenging to talk about it, or to know how to, and thus is often avoided or considered taboo, particularly in professional spaces. Wherever you are on this journey, this workshop will allow space for learning, personal sharing, processing and making practical applications directly to your personal and professional lives.

3/20/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Building Healthy Relationships with System Involved Youth

It is essential for social service providers and others who serve and support system involved youth to build strong relationships. In this training we will explore how the power of restorative relation-ships can be transformative in youth’s lives. We will discuss several approaches including being culturally informed and resiliency focused. Lastly, we will discuss the impact of trauma on system-involved youth and how to build relationships with youth using a trauma informed perspective.

4/16/2024 10:00 am – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Creating Affirming Spaces for Queer and Trans Youth

Creating Affirming Spaces for Trans and Queer Youth is comprehensive training about better meeting the needs of youth in the queer and trans community. As queer and trans youth are over-represented in systems of care, all service providers should be mindful of their unique experiences in these systems. The training will provide an introduction to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) terminology, the systemic oppression that members of these identities experience currently and historically, and an opportunity to discuss and practice ways that service providers can support queer and trans youth more effectively.

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Dismantling Latinidad And Confronting Internalized Oppression For Providers in the Child-Welfare System

Latinidad has become an umbrella term for Latin American peoples, countries, and culture. It is a term for ethnicity that in its efforts to be inclusive, creates a monolithic framework that erases racial nuance and impact of systemic racism. It can be both deeply connecting and profoundly isolating based on your lived experience. How can we expect that identity term to do the work of community and knowing self? This workshop invites providers to explore and share stories of their own ethnic background/lineages. How do you connect to the stories of your people? We will give participants space and information to notice the limitations of these terms and invite them […]

3/27/2024 9:15 am – 1:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 A Better Way, Inc.

For BIPOC Training Participants: Healing Trauma & Microaggressions to Improve Outcomes for System Involved Youth

The effects of racial microaggressions and vicarious trauma have been shown in research to cause very harmful consequences to those experiencing them, especially for people of color who are coping with colonization, assimilation, and generational trauma. In this 2-hour training, the presentation will include: definitions; research on how polyvagal theory can help heal harm from racial microaggressions and vicarious trauma; an introduction to the neuroscience of nervous system and brain chemicals; and strategies BIPOC system involved youth and their caregivers (who are all too often negatively affected by vicarious trauma) can implement. Participants will be guided through a sequence of learning activities to explore and understand the negative impact that […]

4/8/2024 12:30 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Indigenous Perspective: How Collaborative Documentation Can Support System-Involved Youth

This training on Collaborative Documentation will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of its principles, types, and key elements. Through interactive group discussions, attendees will explore the cultural considerations inherent in collaborative documentation, including the importance of cultural sensitivity and ethical considerations. They will also delve into the benefits of collaborative documentation, such as strengthening community relationships and empowering system-involved youth. Practical tools and techniques for implementation will be shared, ensuring that attendees leave equipped with clear processes and procedures to support system-involved youth effectively. Learning activities will include: self-reflection, storytelling of real life examples and participant question time.

4/22/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Intercultural Communication in Teams of Youth Service Professionals

Intercultural communication involves the sharing of information across different cultures and social location and seeks to understand the differences in how people from diverse perspectives most effectively work together. We will work to increase understanding of the different factors at play when communicating with folks of different backgrounds to ensure increased collaboration and facilitate repair when miscommunications take place. Knowing who we are and what we bring to our teams helps inform how we can effectively nourish positive relationships at work and therefore help increase efficacy as youth-service providers. Reflective-based activities will increase participants’ understanding of self. Some activities may also be used in work with youth and families. Media […]

4/18/2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGTBQ) 201 for Those who Serve and Support System-Involved Youth

This highly interactive and informative cultural competency training supports organizations in deepening their understanding of gender and sexual identities with an emphasis on creating inclusive workplaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) colleagues, clients, funders, and other stakeholders. Through group discussion, multimedia, self-reflection, and roleplay, individuals will become familiar with the most up-to-date terms, frameworks for understanding sexuality & gender, and best practices specifically for system-involved LGBTQ youth.

4/18/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Navigating Difficult Conversations with System Involved Youth About Social Injustices

It is important to have discussions with foster care and juvenile justice involved youth about social injustices that impact their families and their communities. In this training we will explore racism, structural racism, historical oppression and over-policing and its impact on foster care and juvenile justice involved youth, as well as their families and communities. The trainer will also share multiple strategies to navigate these difficult conversations.

4/22/2024 10:00 am – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Preventing the School to Prison Pipeline for System Involved Youth

Black and brown students are disproportionately pushed out of the public school system and funneled into the criminal justice system. System-involved youth are at particular risk. It is essential for those who support system involved youth to learn about this topic to advocate and support youth and families im-pacted by this issue.

4/11/2024 11:00 am – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Recognizing and Navigating the Impact of Racial Trauma in the Foster Youth-Care Workplace

Many of the children and families who access Seneca Family of Agencies services are Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color who are disproportionately impacted by systemic and institutionalized oppression, racism, and discrimination. Seneca recognizes that the emotional impact of working with these youth have a significant impact on BIPOC team members as they navigate racial trauma, and systemic biases within the foster care system. Based on input from those team members, a supportive gathering to acknowledge and address these dynamics is a demonstration of the Seneca DEI commitment to value the diverse ethnic, cultural identify and experience of their employees and the communities they serve.

4/9/2024 9:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Reflections on Race in the Relationship with Youth

This training will explore race and culture and their impact on the dynamics of the assessment relationship. Race-related transference and countertransference will be discussed from theoretical, humanistic, and trauma-informed perspectives. Through reflection and analysis of a case example, this training will integrate race-related transferences as data points in order to create treatment recommendations that may address complex relational trauma. This training is designed to support training clinicians with facilitating therapeutic-collaborative assessment for youth in foster care.

3/21/2024 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Responding to LGBTQ Microaggressions in the Classroom- 2 CAMFT & RN CE Credits

This highly interactive and informative cultural competency training supports service providers in deepening their understanding of how to address LGBTQ-specific microaggressions leveled at youth in a school setting. Through self-reflection, group discussion, and video case study, participants will learn to think intersectionally about how to address LGBTQ microaggressions and become familiar with state & federal laws that protect LGBTQ youth in schools. Participants will learn how to intervene when harassing, discriminatory, or simply harmful language is used against LGBTQ students based on individual professional role, and will review four possible responses to microaggressions.

4/17/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 CAMFT & RN CE Credits Seneca Family of Agencies

Screening Youth Needs with a Race-Conscious Lens: Acknowledging the Harmful History and Working Toward Honesty, Humility, and Healing

This training describes ways to incorporate equitable practices throughout the process of working with youth. These practices are a constant series of choices toward equity at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional level. To be equitable in practices requires professionals to reflect on their own biases and to acknowledge how inequitable practices seep into work with youth. Moving toward equitable practices is crucial because of the harmful history of child welfare and services have impacted youth and families of color have been harmed by assessment processes and outcomes. This training will offer an historicized perspective on the detrimental effects of harmful practices in order to frame the need for intentional efforts […]

3/29/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strengthening Conversations between Youth of Color who Engage with White Providers

This training presents several models that can help providers develop a more effective alliance and contribute to a fuller understanding of a youth’s presenting concerns when working across race. This training will highlight how conversations with a foster youth about their many identities and the importance (or lack thereof) of these identities are encouraged early in the engagement process as part of an ongoing conversation that incorporates these contextual frames throughout work with foster youth.

3/22/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The School to Prison Pipeline

Black and brown students are disproportionately pushed out of the public school system and funneled into the criminal justice system. System-involved youth are at particular risk. It is essential for those who support system involved youth to learn about this topic to advocate and support youth and families impacted by this issue. Register Here

3/19/2024 9:30 am – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 Lincoln Families

Transgender Day of Visibility: History & Best Practices to Honor the Lives of Transgender System-Involved Youth

Transgender Day of Visibility is an annual holiday celebrated every March 31st. Inaugurated in 2010, TDOV is an observance highlighting the contributions of transgender people, while acknowledging barriers to trans communities’ safety & health. This training, a comprehensive 4-hour session designed for child welfare workers and therapists. It delves into the historical context of Transgender Day of Visibility, providing a nuanced understanding of its significance. The training equips participants with practical tools and best practices to honor TDOV every year, and how to use this observance to support gender diverse system-involved youth and educate their colleagues on trans-competent resources, emphasizing cultural competence and sensitivity in their professional roles. Participants will […]

3/20/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Understanding the Biracial & Multiracial Experience for Social Service Agency Staff and Clinicians

Over the last 50 years the visibility of biracial and multiracial people has exploded in studies and popular culture making the multiracial experience much more visible, but not necessarily better understood. According to research, in just 10 years, there has been a 50% increase of people identifying as multiracial with 4.2 million multiracial children today – the fastest growing group of youth in the U.S. As the youth in our communities grow up with these evermore complex racial identities, it is important that we engage in conversation about what educators and providers need to know in order to support them. This workshop provides context and statistical findings to better understand […]

3/20/2024 9:15 am – 12:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding the Connections Between Anti-Fat Bias and Adultism in the Child Welfare System and Beyond

Anti-fat bias (also discussed as fatphobia or sizeism) is a system of oppression that creates imbalances of power and unequal access to care and resources based on body size. As a group, people in larger bodies do not receive adequate medical treatment, employment protections, clothing, and much more as compared to their thin counterparts. We can see similar unequal distributions of resources and access to things humans need to live happy, healthy lives across all social identities. What does this mean for children who live in larger bodies, who we might be interacting with in our work in the child welfare system or in our everyday lives and communities? For […]

4/15/2024 9:15 am – 1:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding the Impact of Structural Racism on System-Involved Youth and Families

This course builds off “Navigating Difficult Conversations with Youth about Social Injustices” and continues to explore structural racism and oppression. Participants will learn how structural racism exists within the child welfare system, the healthcare system and educational system. Participants will also learn about implicit biases. The course will end with strategies to address these issues within our organizations. Having attended “Navigating Difficult Conversations with Youth about Social Injustices” is helpful but not required.

4/25/2024 9:15 am – 4:45 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Family Issues

Topics include how to locate potential permanent family members (Family Finding) as well as how to engage and include family members in a child’s life.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Family Engagement Strategies when Working with Youth in Out of Home Placement- Part I

This course will strengthen participants’ understanding of the importance of family engagement when working with youth in out of home care; explore personal and professional barriers to family engagement and begin to build on engagement strategies.

3/21/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm Hayward N/A Side by Side (formerly Sunny Hills Services)

Family Systems in the Collaborative Model

This seminar looks at how the Collaborative Model can provide a framework for engaging families in understanding youth needs and strengths. This multi-part training series focuses on applying family-centered theories to creating plans for engagement, dialogue, and case planning that will help the family begin to understand the youth’s experiences and reasons for their challenging behaviors. Participants will learn effective strategies to use with families in order to demonstrate key elements of family relationships and dynamics. This seminar focuses on foundations of family systems theory that create a basis for understanding some of the challenging dynamics present between youth and caregivers. Participants will be involved in case-based discussion to explore […]

3/28/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The Disenfranchisement of Dads and the Impact on Youth in Care – 2 GH &STRTP CEU’s

This training will discuss the implications of fathers of children in the system being deprived parental rights and involvement through the child welfare, juvenile justice and education systems. Paternal figures have been historically disenfranchised by systems of care. This trend has lasting impacts on youth development and eventual outcomes. Fathers of youth of color tend to be particularly impacted. This training will address the barriers that lead to this issue and what organizations and communities can do to positively impact the youth that they work with.

3/26/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 GH &STRTP CEU’s Seneca Family of Agencies

Understanding Attachment Needs Within Family Relationships

Youth in the foster care system at times experience relationship losses with primary caregivers, while at the same time attempting to develop new relationships and family bonds with resource families or kin. This training helps providers look at ways to screen for challenges or disruptions within attachment relationships of foster youth and families. Providers will have opportunities to look at case examples to identify and examine the development of relationships, and explore strategies for fostering healthy relationships within families.

3/28/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Using Motivational Interviewing as a Supportive Tool to Enhance Family Engagement

This training provides attendees with a basic understanding of Motivational Interviewing. Attendees will learn how to assess client/family motivation around change of actions and how to use Motivational interviewing open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections and summaries (OARS) to further enhance or consolidate the client’s change focus. Attendees will leave with the ability to differentiate between: sustain talk, discord and change talk, resulting in increased skills efficacy. Please register with an email to: [email protected]

4/15/2024 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 Lincoln Families

For Caregivers

Caregiver trainings.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Applying the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play in School Settings to Improve Youth Service Outcomes

In this workshop, we will demonstrate through theory and practice how play therapy can help enliven, sharpen, and make more authentic the therapeutic encounter in a school setting. Using the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play Therapy, we will explore how to address a child’s developmental needs with the goal of bringing back to children the aspects of themselves that they have lost. Through experiential learning, participants will be introduced to the therapeutic process in a school setting and support strategies that enable children to develop a strong sense of self and tackle present-moment challenges.

4/1/2024 10:00 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Autism and Supporting Youth in Care

Participants of this training will learn what Autism is and how it can present in children. For some children with autism, this means that it is difficult for them to verbalize what they want and need and can sometimes look like behavior that is dangerous for them and others. Participants will learn different strategies on communicating and engaging with non-verbal children. Participants will also learn what antecedents to behaviors are and how to reduce or eliminate certain behaviors.

4/10/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Child Abuse Prevention and Identification

This training is designed to educate service providers and caregivers on how while physical injuries may or may not be immediately visible, abuse and neglect can have consequences for children, families, and society that last lifetimes, if not generations (long term effects). Individual outcomes vary widely and are affected by a combination of factors, including: (1) the child’s age and developmental level when the abuse or neglect occurred, (2) the type of maltreatment (physical, neglect, sexual abuse, etc.), (3) the frequency, duration, and severity of the maltreatment, (4) the relationship between the child and the perpetrator. Discussion will take place as to: caregivers experiencing secondary trauma by hearing the youth’s […]

4/10/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Child Abuse Prevention and Identification

This training is designed to educate service providers and caregivers on how while physical injuries may or may not be immediately visible, abuse and neglect can have consequences for children, families, and society that last lifetimes, if not generations (long term effects). Individual outcomes vary widely and are affected by a combination of factors, including: (1) the child’s age and developmental level when the abuse or neglect occurred, (2) the type of maltreatment (physical, neglect, sexual abuse, etc.), (3) the frequency, duration, and severity of the maltreatment, (4) the relationship between the child and the perpetrator. Discussion will take place as to: caregivers experiencing secondary trauma by hearing the youth’s […]

4/24/2024 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Child Abuse Prevention and Identification- Spanish

This training is designed to educate service providers and caregivers on how while physical injuries may or may not be immediately visible, abuse and neglect can have consequences for children, families, and society that last lifetimes, if not generations (long term effects). Individual outcomes vary widely and are affected by a combination of factors, including: (1) the child’s age and developmental level when the abuse or neglect occurred, (2) the type of maltreatment (physical, neglect, sexual abuse, etc.), (3) the frequency, duration, and severity of the maltreatment, (4) the relationship between the child and the perpetrator. Discussion will take place as to: caregivers experiencing secondary trauma by hearing the youth’s […]

4/26/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)

This training will provide attendees with information about Awareness and Prevention on the topic of Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) in the US and local communities. Attendees will be provided with valuable tools and resources that empowers them to make a difference in the effort to eradicate exploitation of children.  Register Here

3/25/2024 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Dual Dialogues and the Dangers of Professional Talk for Child Welfare Workers

As professionals we are often invited to slip into conversations about the people who consult us when they are not present. This training will focus on the real and possible effects of these second, or dual, dialogues. Participants will read and discuss a brief article written by Johnella Bird (“Professional Talk”) that outlines the dangers of this dual dialogue. We will examine the invitations to engage in professional talk, the effects of these practices, and strategies to avoid falling into a way of working with people that can objectify them. Cultural and political discourse that sustains dual dialogues will be exposed and discussed. The group will participate in an exercise […]

4/16/2024 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Embracing Silence: Empowering Youth in Care

Even though silence may be uncomfortable, it can be a valuable tool for facilitating growth when working with youth in care. Many times, we feel that we have to actively “do” and “say” when working with youth in care, versus just “be”. This interactive training will discuss how silence is a positive event, where in which it is an activity relevant to working with youth. This training will empower those that work with youth to embrace the tool of silence and to understand how it is more important than using the right words.

3/21/2024 9:30 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Aldea Children & Family Services

Ensuring Youth Safety by Understanding Mandated Reporting

This training will cover who are Mandated Reporters and their responsibilities to report child abuse, types of child abuse and neglect, accidental vs purposeful abuse and what, when and where to report abuse. Protection for reporters and penalties for failure to report. This training is intended for those that work with children and youth within the child welfare system or are at-risk of entering. This includes child welfare workers, resource parents, youth sports coaches, youth mentors, teachers and volunteers/staff working with this population. Register Here

3/28/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Equilibrium Chapter 1: Understanding Personal Motivations and Responsibilities for Supporting Youth in Care

This training is going to review the materials from the Equilibrium curriculum as it relates to chapter one Why are you here. Through didactic, collaborative, and individual reflective learning, the group will explore the values that brought them to work in the child welfare system, how to maintain connection to those during difficult times with thoughtful personal resilience plans, and the professional responsibilities related to expressing those values such as cultural humility. These activities will support staff to provide thoughtful, responsible services for youth in their care.

4/2/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.

3/21/2024 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.

4/4/2024 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Exploring Foster Care and Adoption

This training is designed to introduce prospective Resource Families to the Child Welfare System and the role of a resource parent. Participants will receive an overview of the steps to becoming a resource parent with Alternative Family Services.

4/18/2024 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Fundamentals of Infant and Toddler Care

Presenter will review the basic care and precautions while caring for infants in the foster care system. The training covers best practices in sleep rules when caring for infants. Presenter will discuss new crib standards, crib recalls, safety hazards and how they affect a safe sleeping environment. Training addresses the proper way to feed and burp a new born infant and how to make certain the infant is consuming the proper amount formula, basic diaper rash symptoms and how to properly treat and prevent rashes. Presenter also discusses common health issues in infants and toddlers in Foster Care. Presenter will discuss teething, infant development stages and milestones, well baby checkups, […]

4/8/2024 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Having Solution Focused Conversations to Promote Positive Change

In this training you will learn about some basic elements of the Solution Focused Approach to social work practice, focusing specifically on how these might look in the context of working with youth in care adolescents and their caregivers to support collaboration and positive engagement, promote emotional wellbeing, and strengthen family relationships. This interactive workshop will be tailored around the specific themes and challenges you face in your day-to-day work and will also offer opportunities for you to share some of your own discoveries as to what has worked well in these situations and share best practices

4/23/2024 9:30 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

How to Navigate IEP’s and 504’s

Participants will learn the lingo and process for initiating, reviewing, and participating in the process of an IEP. Participants will learn timelines, requirements, and laws governing the administration of an IEP. Register Here

3/26/2024 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Mandated Reporting for Youth in Care

Child abuse is more than bruises or broken bones. While physical abuse often leaves visible scars, not all child abuse is as obvious, but can do just as much harm. It is important that individuals working with and around children be able to know what constitutes child abuse or child neglect and know how to identify potential signs. This training will review warning signs of Emotional, Physical, Sexual abuse and Neglect in youth. This training will also explore the obligations of Mandated Reported and discuss what protocols to take.

4/18/2024 9:30 am – 10:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Parenting with Love and Logic (PWLL) for System Involved Youth

This training will explain the basic principles of Parenting with Love and Logic (PWLL), including goals and objectives as well as core principles and techniques which can be applied within efforts to support System involved Youth (SIY) and families. The training will include a detailed explanation of the two important goals of PWLL including establishing boundaries with empathy and nurturing responsibility as well as self-discipline.

4/19/2024 9:00 am – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Providing Culturally Sensitive Services to Latinx Youths

This training in Spanish will increase the knowledge and skills of those who work with families where the parents were born and raised in Latin countries and have youth who are born in the United States. Participants will gain awareness of cultural considerations to consider and will learn skills to use to close the gap in communication while supporting youth in care. Participants will learn how generational trauma has contributed to depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders in children, youth in care/clients and their families. Participants will learn supports to work on these issues and will gain awareness of how to best support youth in care.

4/19/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am Fairfield 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Resource Family Pre Approval Training – Session 1&2

This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children’s individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children’s social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.

4/13/2024 10:00 am – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Resource Family Pre Approval Training – Session 3&4

This training is designed to prepare resource families to work with youth in the foster care system. Participants will receive a better understanding of the foster care system structure and explore how to provide a well-planned, safe, and secure environment designed to meet children’s individual and unique needs, and how to create an environment that promotes children’s social emotional, cognitive, and physical development. Participants will continue to review; Interim Licensing Standard, Child Growth and Development, Medication Guidelines, Discipline, Working with Biological Families and understanding the Effects of Trauma.

4/20/2024 10:00 am – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Resource Family Pre-Approval Training – Part 1

If you’ve decided to become a foster, kin, and/or adoptive parent (all under the title “Resource Parent”) and have some basic understanding of what that means, then this two part training is a next step for you. The Resource Family Pre-Approval Training will help participants understand many aspects of supporting a “youth in care”, or in the foster care system, and it will furnish you with vital information about the youths who come into the foster care system. This class boosts your knowledge and confidence to meet the challenge of taking youth into your home and to be sure you are ready to follow through on the commitment.

4/20/2024 9:00 am – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Resource Family Pre-Approval Training – Part 2

The Resource Family Pre-Approval Training helps you to understand the many aspects of supporting a youth “in care” in the foster care system, and it will furnish yoou with vital information about the youths who come into the foster care system. This class boosts your knowledge and confidence to meet the challenge of taking youth into your home and to be sure you are ready to follow through on the commitment.

4/27/2024 9:00 am – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Resource Parent Orientation to Aldea and the Child Welfare System

This training will explain the purpose of the Child Welfare system and the Resource Family Approval application process. We will define what a Resource Parent is and go over the responsibilities that come with the role, where the Resource Parent is in the larger team of supports for foster youth, as well as the five competency categories guiding a Resource Parent. The Aldea Staff will introduce Aldea’s history, its programs, and support services provided to Resource Families. She will explain the steps in the process to become an approved Resource Parent: the required documentation, pre-service trainings, submission of background checks, how to prepare your home for RFA approval, and review […]

4/9/2024 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 0 Aldea Children & Family Services

Strategies in Supporting Permanency Planning for System Involved Youth

These groups are designed to support Resource Parents with training and resources to make informed decisions regarding permanency planning. Post Adoption support services and resources will be shared throughout the sessions. Sharing is Caring: We look forward to your attendance and welcome your stories, concerns, questions, resources and solutions.

4/23/2024 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Supporting LGBTQ + Youth in Care

This training gives helping professionals an overview of some of the issues faced by LGBTQ Youth in the foster care system. Attendees will learn statistics, terms & vocabulary, and participate in several learning activities that help deepen understanding into this vulnerable population. Attendees will learn how to provide a safe and supportive environment for these youth, and practice being supportive through a series of role play scenarios. Register Here

3/29/2024 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Redwood Community Services, Inc

Understanding Sexual Reproductive Rights for System Involved Youth

This training is part of the SB 89 implementation and is to inform caregivers about the sexual health and reproductive rights of foster youth, caregiver duties and responsibilities, understanding contraceptive methods and resources for information and care. Foster youth have the right, with no permission needed, to have access to age-appropriate, medically accurate information about: contraception, disease prevention, pregnancy & childbirth, sexuality and relationships. Reference CDSS Publication # 490.

3/20/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Understanding Sexual Reproductive Rights for System Involved Youth

This training is part of the SB 89 implementation and is to inform caregivers about the sexual health and reproductive rights of foster youth, caregiver duties and responsibilities, understanding contraceptive methods and resources for information and care. Foster youth have the right, with no permission needed, to have access to age-appropriate, medically accurate information about: contraception, disease prevention, pregnancy & childbirth, sexuality and relationships. Reference CDSS Publication # 490.

3/20/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Understanding Sexual Reproductive Rights for System Involved Youth- SPANISH

This training is part of the SB 89 implementation and is to inform caregivers about the sexual health and reproductive rights of foster youth, caregiver duties and responsibilities, understanding contraceptive methods and resources for information and care. Foster youth have the right, with no permission needed, to have access to age-appropriate, medically accurate information about: contraception, disease prevention, pregnancy & childbirth, sexuality and relationships. Reference CDSS Publication # 490.

4/5/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Alternative Family Services (AFS)

Health & Safety

Includes trainings on best practices for insuring children are healthy, safe and receiving the medical care they need.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Anti-Racism as a Process and Practice for Foster Youth-Care Professionals (Part 4 of 4)

“Anti-racism is a journey not a destination” – Ibram X. Kendi For some practitioners, talking about race is a regular part of daily life and family discussions growing up. As a matter of survival, it’s never been an option not to. For others, it can be challenging to talk about it, or to know how to, and thus is often avoided or considered taboo, particularly in professional spaces. Wherever you are on this journey, this workshop will allow space for learning, personal sharing, processing and making practical applications directly to your personal and professional lives.

3/27/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Applying Harm Reduction with At-Risk Youth and Young Adults

Foster youth are at high risk of unsafe/unhealthy behaviors, so it is necessary for those who support them to learn how to most effectively do so. Harm reduction is being identified as a best practice for reducing harm and increasing safety. This train-ing will provide an overview of harm reduction and how apply it with at-risk system-involved youth. The trainer will focus on applying harm reduction principles in align-ment with the Stages of Change model with system involved youth. The trainer will also touch on risk identification and safety planning.

4/9/2024 10:00 am – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Attachment: Theory How to Promote Understanding, Increase Stability and Build Lasting Relationships with Youth in Care

This training focuses on strategies that parents and providers can use with children and youth who have disrupted attachment during childhood due to trauma, neglect and abuse. Participants are provided with information about several types of attachment-promoting activities that can be used to develop healthy relational templates, resilience and counterbalance the effects of abuse on the children’s pattern of attachment. Each of the practices delineated provides an opportunity to interrupt the mutigenerational transmission process of developmental trauma through physiological and emotional changes to the child or youth resulting in improved coping strategies and availability for learning. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register […]

4/12/2024 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Oakland 7.5 Lincoln Families

BBS-The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, Families & the Community (Day 1)- 7.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits

Domestic violence is one of the top health concerns in our country today; many youth and adults involved in the mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems have been exposed to it. Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) which often involves Coercive Control can have a devastating impact on children, families, and our communities. Learn how to best recognize symptoms and behaviors related to Domestic Violence and how to best work with children, families, and adults affected by DV.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 5:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 7.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits Seneca Family of Agencies

BBS-The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, Families & the Community (Day 2)- 7.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits

Domestic violence is one of the top health concerns in our country today; many youth and adults involved in the mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems have been exposed to it. Domestic Violence (DV) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) which often involves Coercive Control can have a devastating impact on children, families, and our communities. Learn how to best recognize symptoms and behaviors related to Domestic Violence and how to best work with children, families, and adults affected by DV.

3/27/2024 9:00 am – 5:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 7.5 CAMFT & RN CE Credits Seneca Family of Agencies

Boundaries and Good Practice for Youth Service Providers

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.

3/21/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Consent Verses Coercion with System-Involved Youth

Trauma can impact one’s sense of self-worth, experience of love, and skew one’s boundaries. So, it’s essential to have ongoing dialogue with system-involved youth about consent and coer-cion. This training will explore examples of how youth are coerced into commercial sexual ex-ploitation and coerced into staying involved in it. We’ll look at ways to engage youth in dia-logue about consent and why they deserve to have their boundaries respected. We’ll also talk about how to help youth respect other people’s boundaries.

4/17/2024 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Cultural Humility in Work with Youth – 3 GH & STRTP CEUs

This training will focus on allowing participants to assess their views on the importance of cultural humility as a concept in work with youth and families. The training will provide a space for participants to discuss cultural practices, how to remain humble in the face of difficult work, and how to be aware of our own personal biases that may get in the way of exceptional care for youth.

4/26/2024 9:30 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 GH & STRTP CEUs Seneca Family of Agencies

EQ-4 Modules 5 & 6-Ensuring Safety in the Community for Staff, Youth and Families: Responding to Crisis Phone Calls & Texts and Crisis Communication & Evasion

In the first segment of this training, participants will discuss how to identify when crisis communication is needed and how to utilize a self-control plan to remain calm in crisis. This training will also review key principles of crisis communication such as using short sentences, focus on the desired behavior, use of voice tone, and the importance of body language.

3/26/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 5: Strategies for Supporting Youth in Care to Utilize Regulation and Communication Skills

Participants will discuss several different categories of behavior support strategies to use with youth including individual and group support strategies as well as crisis communication techniques. Participants will learn how to prepare youth to support themselves and work toward their goals when they are no longer in care. Didactic presentation, group discussion, art and visualization exercises are utilized.

3/27/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Lead In-Personal Practices & Mindsets Define Leadership (Part 3 of 5)

Lead-In is a professional learning community focused on leadership development and program improvement.? Participants read and discuss selected leadership materials and engage in critical self-reflection in the pursuit of continuous professional and personal growth.? Each monthly meeting provides guidance on the specific steps participants take towards achieving their goals, while also exploring selected clinical or leadership-related topics relevant to Seneca’s mission.

3/27/2024 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Practicing Self Care to Reduce the Impact of Secondary Trauma on Providers

Providers working at the Assessment Center are at the forefront of youth experiencing trauma and undergoing crisis. As a result of the nature of this work, providers and caregivers are particularly vulnerable to experiencing secondary and vicarious trauma. Providers attending this training will explore and discuss how they are impacted by the work. This training focuses on strategies for how to remain sustainable while working with foster youth and practice techniques for practicing self-care.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Reducing Secondary Trauma in Work with Youth by Understanding Countertransference

As we work in a field of providing therapeutic and supportive services to individuals and families who have and continue to experience individual, community, and historical trauma, we eventually become fatigued and experience traumatization from hearing the stories of others, witnessing the harm of our clients, and from feeling the weight of the sociopolitical factors that contribute to harm that reaches the communities that we are trying to heal. This traumatization is often referred to as secondary trauma and it may lead us to experience doubts about continuing in the work, we may engage in unhealthy coping skills, and we may feel that we must cope with our secondary trauma […]

3/25/2024 12:30 pm – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Strategies for Reducing Impact of Secondary Trauma on Providers

This training will provide strategies for direct service providers in reducing the impact of secondary trauma. These strategies include meditation, the role of nutrition, mindfulness, essential oils, body work and movement such as stretching and yoga. These strategies can be implemented by providers on an ongoing basis, and can also be shared with clients and caregivers as strategies to cope with trauma symptoms.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Suicide Prevention: Understanding the Issue and Screening for and Understanding Warning Signs in Work with Youth  

During this training, participants will review their roles in assessing and intervening to prevent suicide as defined by professional organizational ethics and legal statutes. Participants will deepen their knowledge and understanding about the drivers to suicidal ideation and what they can do when they are working with a client with suicide risk.

3/27/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Talking to Youth About Internet and Social Media Safety

More and more youth are using the internet and social media at younger ages, many times before experts recommend. So, it’s crucial for those that support system involved youth to understand the potential harms youth can be exposed to on the internet and on social media platforms. This training will provide participants with safety strategies and conversation starters to review with youth. Additionally this training will highlight how technology can place foster care and juvenile justice involved youth at high risk for commercial sexual exploitation.

3/25/2024 10:00 am – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Telehealth Law and Ethics

As online health care and support becomes part of many providers’ service delivery, it is important that they are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to tele health. 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 Telehealth and 3) best practices when providing online health services. Register Here

4/18/2024 1:30 pm – 4:45 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 Lincoln Families

The Stories We Tell at Work: Building Sustainability for Foster Youth Providers

This training is designed to assist professionals working with foster youth to connect to stories of themselves within the work that are fulfilling and sustaining. Because this work requires us to spend time in situations that tend to deplete us or contribute to ‘burnout’, it is vital that we are able to engage with versions of ourselves that demonstrate the ways that we stay connected to what we give value to. Participants will discuss some of the ideas that frame what stories are available to be told and to find ways to challenge these ideas in order to discover alternative stories. A particular story about a professional in the field […]

3/27/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Understanding HIV and AIDS Risks, Prevention, Symptoms, and Strategies for System Involved Youth and Families

A little over 20% of new HIV diagnoses in the US and dependent areas were among youth. In order to help prevent HIV infection in system involved youth, those that support them need to understand risk factors, prevention strategies and how to teach this information to system involved youth and their families. HIV+ system involved youth and their families need support to manage the medical and psychosocial issues they face. In this class we will focus on prevention, signs and symptoms, testing, stages of infection, legal issues, social and cultural issues, preparing youth for loss of a parent from HIV, mental health issues and resources. This course meets the pre-licensure […]

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 7 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Understanding Personality Disorders Amongst System Involved Transitional Age Youth (TAY)

System-involved young adults experience many challenges as a result the trauma and adversity they have experienced. Some transitional age youth (TAY) are labeled as having a personality disorder early on in their life. So, it’s crucial for social service providers and others who support system involved youth to have an accurate understanding of personality disorders in order to support them in the most effective manner. This training will provide an overview of personality disorders as well as strategies to support someone struggling with one.

4/19/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Utilizing Game Playing to Support Youth in Care

This training provides an overview of utilizing games to promote youth’s healthy development and age appropriate functioning which is particularly important for children impacted by systems and trauma. Through didactic teaching and small group experiential learning, participants will practice strategies to build youth’s ego strength, ability to manage emotions and communicate effectively. Participants will cover the universality of game playing as well as awareness of cultural differences which includes gender, race, religion, etc. Additionally, attendees will discuss and practice use of different types of games to build different types of competencies. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register with with an email to: […]

4/19/2024 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Lincoln Families

Xenogenders, Neurogenders & the Intersection of Neurodiversity and Identity: Building on Foundational Knowledge to Support Gender Diverse Foster Youth

Motivational Interviewing is client-centered disciplined method for enhancing intrinsic motivation to change by exploring and resolving ambivalence. The goal of this training will be to build skills around engagement with youth using the tenants and techniques of Motivational Interviewing. Participants will be introduced to the principles and skills of motivational interviewing and assess and integrate them into their practice. Service providers will be challenged to assess what roadblocks they may encounter when working with clients, discuss how to repair this work, and utilize MI to build a strong therapeutic alliance as well as insights in a client’s motivation to change. This training will help providers attune their ear and clinical […]

4/30/2024 10:00 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

On Demand

On Demand indicates online prerecorded classes that are available on demand any time.

No planned courses at this time

Other

These trainings include topics that are not listed in any other categories.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Boundaries, Boundaries, Darn those Ethical Boundaries When Working with System Involved Youth

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 […]

4/24/2024 10:00 am – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Climate Crisis & Healing: How Facing Death Informs Life & Can Support Improved Outcomes for System Involved Youth

The climate crisis may reach devastating proportions, as early as 2041, leading to death and suffering of unprecedented magnitude. As human beings, our relationship with the living Earth in all its forms sustains life. We are impacted by the climate crisis more than we know and conversely, our healing is inextricable from our relationship to the land. How do we face the rapidly changing environment with steadiness and courage? In this training, we will discuss the climate crisis, its connection to healing, and how supporting system involved youth and their families to face difficult truths can enhance life. These strategies are useful to prevent vicarious trauma & compassion fatigue and […]

4/22/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Coaching Caregivers of System Involved Youth on Co-Constructing Values, Rules, Consequences with Positive Parenting Practices

One of the most significant challenges for supporting caregivers of system involved youth is to effectively engage them in leading by facilitation in order to develop the prefrontal cortexes of their children so they can be successful in academic and career related activities, to build networks of support, and to avoid using drugs and compulsive behavior to self-medicate. In this training, we will explore how to enhance our capacity to support system involved youth by exploring Caregiver Rapport Building, Caregiver Leadership by Facilitation, and Self Regulating Strategies that empower Caregivers to have effective sensitive topic conversations with their children. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare […]

3/29/2024 11:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Engaging LatinX/Latine Population in Service Delivery Culturally and Linguistically

This training will will focus on a brief overview of the LatinX/Latine community, including general challenges that the LatinX/Latine community experiences. Typical challenges experienced by this community include issues related to intergenerational and historical trauma, immigration, language barriers, and impact of acculturation on families through generations. The training will focus on supporting providers in gaining some knowledge and skills in being able to provide culturally responsive services to LatinX/Latine children, youth, and families as they navigate the typical challenges faced by this community.

4/8/2024 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Equilibrium Chapter 4: Understanding How to Respond to Crisis Behaviors when Working with Youth 

This training explores the purpose of actively working with youth in care to help them meet preferred behaviors. The training highlights four things to think about in any given situation before choosing how to support youth: your personal state, the desired outcome, the situation and environment, and which approach to use. Didactic presentation, group discussion, art and visualization exercises are utilized.

3/19/2024 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Family Systems in the Collaborative Model

This seminar looks at how the Collaborative Model can provide a framework for engaging families in understanding youth needs and strengths. This multi-part training series focuses on applying family-centered theories to creating plans for engagement, dialogue, and case planning that will help the family begin to understand the youth’s experiences and reasons for their challenging behaviors. Participants will learn effective strategies to use with families in order to demonstrate key elements of family relationships and dynamics. This seminar focuses on foundations of family systems theory that create a basis for understanding some of the challenging dynamics present between youth and caregivers. Participants will be involved in case-based discussion to explore […]

3/28/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Genogram; As a Tool for Understanding, Building Rapport and Support Strategies

This training will introduce the Genogram as a tool to assess, identify family dynamics, and build rapport. The Genogram could also be utilized to identify migration patterns and guide treatment. Participants will learn the pros and cons of the genogram as a tool in supporting kids and families.

4/8/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

How to Foster the Caregiver/Child Relationships of System Involved Families Through Strategies for Healing Attachment

Effectively engaging caregivers in becoming secure attachments for their children and guiding their children towards other peer/adult healthy attachments can help them to: be successful in relationships, academics, and career related activities; build networks of support; and avoid using drugs and compulsive behavior to self-medicate. In this training, we will explore how to enhance our capacity to support system involved youth (SIY) by exploring how caregivers can empower themselves and their children to identify and build relationships with people who can become secure attachments as a means to improve relationship outcomes that lead to their own community building. We will also explore situational leadership coaching points that can prepare us […]

4/1/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Law and Ethics (3-hour) for Those who Support System Involved Youth

There are numerous legal and ethical issues specific to working with system involved youth in community-based organizations and school settings including privacy, consent to treatment, mandatory reporting and dual relationships. Through case vignettes, discussions and lecture, participants will explore the intricacies of these issues.

3/28/2024 1:00 pm – 4:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Law and Ethics in Social Work and Mental Health Practice

Meeting ethical and legal standards is foundational in the provision of competent mental health and recovery service. Many dimensions of these standards are clear and have remained constant over the years. Yet others continue to evolve, and social workers and mental health professionals (MHPs) routinely confront complex and ambiguous ethical and legal situations. The purpose of this course is to give MHPs an opportunity to renew and sharpen their ability to engage in knowledgeable and effective ethical decision-making, and to understand and apply ethical and legal standards to challenges inherent in clinical work. The course also has the goal of assisting participants in better managing the risks of clinical practice. […]

4/26/2024 9:15 am – 4:45 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Legal and Ethical Issues when Supporting System Involved Youth

There are numerous legal and ethical issues specific to working with system involved youth in community-based organizations and school settings. They include consent to privacy; use of electronics to dual relationships; minor consent for mental health treatment; mandatory reporting laws; and foster youth’s rights to reproductive health services and information. Through case vignettes, discussions and lecture, participants will explore the intricacies of these issues.

4/4/2024 9:30 am – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Legal and Ethical Issues: Developing Tools for Telemental Health (3 hours) and Consent, Privacy and Mandatory Reporting (3 hours) for Child Welfare Professionals

In work with system involved youth and families there are numerous legal and ethical considerations to keep in mind. 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; 3) best practicing when providing online health and mental services; 4) general consent for treatment requirements; 5) privacy issue including in the use of technology; and 6) required mandatory reporting. This class meets the 3 hour, one time requirement for a telemental health course for all registrants and licensed mental health providers, […]

4/11/2024 9:15 am – 4:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Mental Health First Aid Certification Course For Child Welfare Providers

[This course is from 9AM-4PM] This is a live instructor-led remote course, with pre-requisites to complete before the course date. Instructors will email you in advance of the course date with additional details to complete pre-work online. Mental Health First Aid is a certification course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. The content is applicable for supporting any person, however special emphasis will be […]

4/11/2024 9:00 am – 6:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 8 A Better Way, Inc.

Mental Health First Aid Certification Course For Child Welfare Providers

[This course is from 9AM-4PM] This is a live instructor-led remote course, with pre-requisites to complete before the course date. Instructors will email you in advance of the course date with additional details to complete pre-work online. Mental Health First Aid is a certification course that teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis. The content is applicable for supporting any person, however special emphasis will be […]

4/25/2024 9:00 am – 6:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 8 A Better Way, Inc.

Survival Guide for Superheroes: Managing Paperwork and Productivity while Meeting the Needs of System Involved Youth and Families

Timely management of paperwork and meeting productivity requirements, while making positive connections and impact with clients – that’s being a true SUPERHERO. Learn strategies for sustainable ‘superheroing’ so you can provide super care and interventions to your system involved clients and their families. We will cover strategies to address challenges with paperwork and productivity, and will develop a sustainable superhero plan to address the barriers to successfully meeting your clients’ needs while staying calm and focused.

3/22/2024 9:15 am – 1:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A A Better Way, Inc.

Telehealth Suicide Assessment and Prevention with Adolescents for Child Welfare Professionals

This course will focus on suicide risk factors, protective factors, assessment of risk severity, and safety planning in the context of telehealth. Attendees will identify potential challenges when assessing suicidality by text, on the phone, and while using video platforms. The course will cover standardized and non-standardized suicide assessment tools and the means of titrating the use of these for telehealth. Attendees will then translate assessment information into a dynamic safety plan that includes warning signs, formal and informal supports/contacts, supportive environments, and coping strategies. Attendees will discuss how to address the limitations of confidentiality for the different telehealth modalities. The day will end with a discussion around initiating emergency […]

4/8/2024 9:15 am – 12:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 A Better Way, Inc.

Telehealth: Laws, Ethics & Best Practices in Work with System Involved Youth and Families

As social services case planning, mental health treatment, and general support has become more commonly provided via telehealth, it is important that those who support system involved youth are aware of the legal and ethical issues related to services and support provided via telehealth. 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 practices when providing online support for system involved youth.

3/28/2024 9:15 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)-Thinking Differently about TAY and “Independence”

Transition Age Youth (TAY) are youth typically between 16-26 years of age who are transitioning from being minors and individuating into young adulthood. For our youth in foster care and in juvenile justice continuums of care, this transition is significantly more difficult than it is for youth not in these systems. Sadly, youth coming out of our systems have poor outcomes into adulthood. Let’s try something different! This training will allow us to look at some additional ways to include the extended family and other “natural” support systems in the lives of our TAY as they make this very difficult transition. This is the single largest developmental transition that we […]

4/3/2024 10:00 am – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Understanding Bipolar Disorder in System-Involved Youth and Teens

Through Lecture, handouts and discussion, participants of this three hour training will explore important issues related to the Bipolar Disorder I & II diagnoses in youth. The group will examine symptoms, differential diagnoses and treatment options particularly in milieu settings. Participants will be able to share thoughts and treatment plans with peers for system-involved clients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and depression.

3/21/2024 9:15 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding Body Size Myths & Fatphobia for Providers Working with Youth- 4 CAMFT/RN CEUs

This training supports professionals in building awareness around their biases related to body size, becoming familiar with research on weight and health among youth and the connection between Body Mass Index (BMI) and its use in health care, as well as its relationship to white supremacy and systemic discrimination. We will explore how body size-base microaggressions can impact rapport and access to appropriate resources for youth, explore the Health at Any Size model, discuss best practices, and apply our learning through roleplay.

3/19/2024 10:00 am – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 CAMFT/RN CEUs Seneca Family of Agencies

Understanding Clinical Supervision’s Impact in Social Work and Mental Health Practice

“*This six-hour training is required every two years for those supervising MFTis, LPCCis and Psych interns.* Clinical Supervision is an important tool used to enrich the relationship between providers and clients in child welfare. This six-hour training shows providers supporting youth in foster care how clinical supervision is performed, and how that performance directly effects clients in care. It discusses how clinical supervision courses are required every two years for those supervising MFTis, LPCCis and Psych interns. Topics covered will include effects of paperwork in supervision, exploration of supervisory styles and choices, as well as challenges and obstacles encountered in supervision. Time will be allowed for questions, cases and discussion.”

4/4/2024 9:15 am – 4:45 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding How Energy Medicine, Energy Psychology, and Verbal First Aid Can De-Escalate Crisis Situations in Child Welfare Services

During and after stressful and/or traumatic crisis situations, our nervous system goes into a fight or flight/sympathetic dominant state. This is especially true in work with system-involved youth and families. Using simple techniques from verbal first aid, energy medicine and energy psychology, participants will learn to regulate stress responses in themselves and their clients in child welfare. Material will be taught through lecture, demonstrations, and dyadic practice.

4/19/2024 9:15 am – 4:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Understanding the Benefits of Narrative Therapy for System Involved Youth

This training will explain the basic principles of Narrative Therapy, including goals and objectives, as well as core principles and techniques which can be applied within efforts to support system involved youth (SIY) and families. The training will include a detailed explanation of the two important goals of Narrative Therapy including externalization of problems and deconstruction of dominant narratives.

4/5/2024 9:00 am – 3:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.25 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Understanding the Impact of Secondary Trauma on Providers

Youth who have recently been removed from their homes are often brought to the Assessment Center as they await their next placement. For this reason, providers at the Assessment Center are often exposed to high levels of trauma as they support youth that have recently experienced or have a history of experiencing different forms of abuse, neglect, or suffering. This training offers the opportunity to discuss and learn about the impact of secondary trauma and compassion fatigue on providers and caregivers. Providers attending this training will understand the importance of practicing self-care techniques to reduce the impact of secondary trauma.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Using Reflective Supervision within Efforts Which Support System Involved Youth & Families

Reflective supervision has been gaining momentum amongst leaders in social services and mental health sectors. This training will provide an overview of the three pillars of reflective supervision. We will also discuss strategies to implement reflective supervision with staff who are involved in efforts which support system-involved youth and families. This training is ideal for individuals in leadership roles and those who are interested in taking on supervisory roles in the future.

4/16/2024 9:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Youth Suicide Risk Assessment and Prevention for Child Welfare Professionals

This course will focus on suicide risk factors, protective factors, assessment of risk severity, and safety planning. Attendees will familiarize themselves with general suicide risk and protective factors, also exploring factors that are specific to youth. Attendees will use this information to create a meaningful, dynamic safety plan that includes warning signs, formal and informal supports/contacts, supportive environments, and coping strategies. The training will include a brief discussion of suicide assessment tools available to agencies serving youth. Attendees will review the limits of confidentiality, framing these limits at the beginning of the treatment relationship. The training group will review how to most effectively initiate emergency services. The training will include […]

3/25/2024 9:15 am – 4:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 A Better Way, Inc.

Trauma Impact

These trainings address the impact that trauma has had on the lives of children in our care and how we can help them begin to heal from the trauma they’ve experienced.

Title Description Calendar Time Location CEUs Sponsoring Agency Register Now!

Ambiguous Loss: Supporting System Involved Youth Grieving Non-Death Losses

System Involved Youth (SIY) continually face the challenge of processing non death losses that lack clarity, definition, and finality. These Ambiguous Losses also lack official or social verification, and often complicate grief for SIY and their caregivers. This training will educate participants about ambiguous loss and provide education on how to effectively support system-involved youth and their families living with the pain and uncertainty of non-death loss. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, self-reflection, learning activities, coping strategies, break out room sharing, guided participant discussion, and Questions & Answers.

4/5/2024 10:00 am – 1:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 2.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Attachment: Theory How to Promote Understanding, Increase Stability and Build Lasting Relationships with Youth in Care

This training focuses on strategies that parents and providers can use with children and youth who have disrupted attachment during childhood due to trauma, neglect and abuse. Participants are provided with information about several types of attachment-promoting activities that can be used to develop healthy relational templates, resilience and counterbalance the effects of abuse on the children’s pattern of attachment. Each of the practices delineated provides an opportunity to interrupt the mutigenerational transmission process of developmental trauma through physiological and emotional changes to the child or youth resulting in improved coping strategies and availability for learning. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register […]

4/12/2024 9:00 am – 4:30 pm Oakland 7.5 Lincoln Families

Collaborative Assessment: Community Mental Health Providers who Support Foster Youth

This training describes the need for contextualized assessment in working with foster youth and community systems. The origin of psychological assessment at WestCoast Children’s Clinic required a unique framework for assessment that was different from a traditional model that originated in a standardization sample that did not reflect youth and families in the community. The assessment model in this training is characterized by: a historical and contextualized approach, transparency of the process, collaboration between provider and client, and therapeutic intervention. The history of psychological assessment in the last 35 years will be presented as crucial to working systemically.

3/26/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Considerations of Socioeconomic Status: Engaging Foster Youth

Issues of class and socioeconomic status are often at the core of some families’ experience of oppression and mistreatment. Their interaction with these social constructs often leave families struggling to name their experience. This training will focus on historical factors that may influence families’ access to resources and the ways it also may impact engagement with providers or child welfare workers. Participants will examine how issues of social class manifest in their direct work with the youth & families they serve.

3/19/2024 9:30 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Deepening the Understanding of Complex and Vicarious Trauma

Youth at the Assessment Center of Alameda County may be arriving with exposure to various types and instances of traumatic experiences, also known as complex trauma. For providers who support them through their transition of placement, there is a higher likelihood for experiencing vicarious trauma from hearing about the details of the youth’s exposure to trauma. To add to this, the process of transitioning placement can add to the felt experience of trauma for some youth, and increase their acuity of pre-existing behavioral or emotional needs. For some, this may lead to 5150 hospitalizations and further traumatic transition/removal. This training provides context for the challenges faced by service providers within […]

3/21/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Embracing Conflict as a Pathway to Care for Social Service Work

Conflict is often avoided, feared and seen as negative. In a world of ‘cancel culture’ and hypercriticality on social media, the ‘good/bad’ binary persists and perpetuates the idea that there is only one right way to exist. How can we shift the concept of conflict and understand it as a means for deeper connection and more trusting relationships with one another and ourselves? In this interactive workshop, participants will explore their own experiences with conflict in the way they were socialized from childhood to adolescence and into adulthood. We will look at models for giving and receiving feedback and engage in small group discussion about the way conflict pushes our […]

3/22/2024 9:15 am – 1:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 A Better Way, Inc.

Engaging Youth and Families in Child Welfare Who Have Experienced Individual, Intergenerational, and Historical Trauma

In the helping profession, we work with individuals, families, and communities with diverse backgrounds, therefore, we understand the value of maintaining a multicultural framework. In addition to the complexities of working with youth and families from a multicultural perspective, we are also supporting families as they manage generations of trauma. Therefore, being able to remain self-reflective and consistently hold a framework of cultural humility and trauma informed care can be overwhelming. This training is designed to support providers with building on their current skills so that they can effectively engage and support diverse groups of people while maintaining a trauma informed lens. In order to build on those skills, it […]

4/29/2024 10:00 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3 A Better Way, Inc.

Generational Trauma

Working with foster youth can be challenging given the generational patterns of trauma, poverty, incarceration, etc. So, it’s essential for providers to understand generational trauma and how to work with foster youth from a generational perspective. Without this perspective, we can have unrealistic expectations for youth and their families and encounter barriers to engagement. Providers will learn strategies to support youth with generational patterns of trauma within their families.

3/20/2024 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A East Bay Agency for Children

How Trauma Affects Child Development – 4 GH & STRTP CEUs

This 4 hour course is designed to provide staff serving in Group Homes and STRTP’s behavior management strategies for staff working with traumatized youth and families. The aim of the course is to assist adults with an understanding of who the youth are, where they come from and why they do what they do from a developmental perspective in order to come up with effective tools and techniques when participating in trauma-informed work.

3/20/2024 9:30 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 GH & STRTP CEUs Seneca Family of Agencies

How Trauma Affects Separation and Attachment Milestones – 4 GH & STRTP CEUs

This 4 hour course is designed to provide staff serving in Group Homes and STRTP’s behavior management strategies for staff working with traumatized youth and families. The aim of the course is to assist adults with an understanding of who the youth are, where they come from and why they do what they do from an attachment perspective in order to come up with effective tools and techniques when participating in trauma-informed work.

4/3/2024 9:30 am – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 GH & STRTP CEU’s Seneca Family of Agencies

Implications of Developmental Trauma and Attachment Dysregulation—A Case Study

This training is designed to assist providers in screening mental health needs and behaviors over time, which will assist in placement, services, and supportive decisions. Specifically, this training will focus on identifying factors related to experience of developmental trauma and attachment disruption common in foster care youth. This two-hour workshop will review a case example to arrive at a person-centered understanding of the child/adolescent . Major categories for screening will be reviewed and applied to a case. Implications and recommendations for services and case plans will be discussed. Specific attention will be paid to identifying risk factors and protective factors related to developmental trauma and attachment disruption, reviewing not only […]

3/20/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Introduction to Relationship Building Circles from a Restorative Justice Framework

Youth in care who have engaged in harmful acts are often met with a punitive response from systems using traditional punishment-oriented responses. This can lead to shame, ostracizing, or isolation of the youth from their communities, families, and peers. A more useful response to harm or transgressions can help to maintain relationships, as is discussed from a Restorative Practices framework. This intensive training series will explore how Restorative Practice concepts may be used in systems serving youth to improve relationships, CFTs, and networks supporting youth.

3/20/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Language and Culture Needs for Spanish Speaking Youth and Families

Youth in foster care who come from Latino immigrant families may experience placement instability, at times when a parent is deported and there are no remaining family in the United States with which youth can be placed. This training will review unique needs for the Latinx youth in care. Participants will be exposed to a basic understanding of the Latino population, including the difference between Hispanics, Latinos, LatinX and other most commonly used references towards this population. The training will have a concentration in the area of trauma, including historical and intergenerational trauma that Latino families may experience in their country of origin, in their immigration journey, and while resident […]

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Managing Terminations with Foster Youth

This seminar will address the systemic and service contexts for both the youth and providers that influence the predetermined endings of youth. We will examine our own and our youth’s tendencies and common dynamics in relationships that come up around endings; whether it be to ignore and deny, or the anxiety of wanting to end everything perfectly. We will consider the context of youth, some of whom are in foster care or adopted, who have many losses over their lifetime; and how to support them in a possible reparative experience through use of self. In order to enrich and put in to practice the concepts we’ll go over, the trainer […]

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Missing Fathers: The Absent Parent Trauma with System Involved Youth

Develop a better understanding of the importance of fathers to the youth with whom we work in our systems of care. This epidemic of the often-absent father doesn’t mean that the father doesn’t fulfill an important role in the system involved youth and family’s life. We often leave the paternal side of the youth’s family completely out of planning with youth in out of home care even though the father is very much a part of the youth’s “picture” and impacts their day-to-day functioning. Remember, the pain of the missing father is a big reason for the behaviors that we are trying to ameliorate so we can’t forget this area […]

4/17/2024 10:00 am – 4:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 5.5 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Monitoring Foster Youth with Diabetes

This training is intended to facilitate understanding of typical issues that can come up in diabetes management for foster youth in the Alameda County Assessment Center. Staff will learn how to support youth and families in blood glucose monitoring, insulin types, and in following insulin plans. In addition, staff will learn about the importance of caregivers carefully supervising diabetes management and insulin injections. At the end of this course, staff will understand how to work with caregivers/providers to calculate carbohydrates by reading nutrition labels and calculate insulin based on the clients individual plan.

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Neurodevelopmental and Learning Disabilities: Consequences of Trauma

This training reviews related literature and research on trauma as well as highlights the impact of trauma on learning. The implications for supporting foster youth in learning will also be discussed. Further, we will explore how learning disabilities are defined as well as review how different learning disabilities impact foster youth in real-life.

3/21/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Power and Privilege its Impacts on Building Relationships with Foster Youth

Clinicians will be given the opportunity to explore the ways that unearned white privilege shows up in their clinical work. Clinicians will be encouraged to explore and discuss how this privilege impacts them in their work, their relationships with clients, and their sense of agency in creating change in an oppressive and racist society. As a group we will learn about white fragility as well as ask questions and process challenges related to our daily clinical and professional interactions. This group is for anyone who self identifies as white in any point along their journey of unlearning racism.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Practicing Self Care to Reduce the Impact of Secondary Trauma on Providers

Providers working at the Assessment Center are at the forefront of youth experiencing trauma and undergoing crisis. As a result of the nature of this work, providers and caregivers are particularly vulnerable to experiencing secondary and vicarious trauma. Providers attending this training will explore and discuss how they are impacted by the work. This training focuses on strategies for how to remain sustainable while working with foster youth and practice techniques for practicing self-care.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Preparing Challenging Youth for Placement Within the Foster Care System

Providers at the Alameda County Assessment Center work with youth to prepare them as they transition into a new placement within the foster care system. Often youth that have been in foster care will refuse to go to their placements. This training invites providers with the opportunity to open up dialogue about the challenges they encounter and reasons youth refuse placement. Providers will explore and discuss strategies for encouraging challenging youth to transition to their next placement.

3/19/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Reflections on Race in the Relationship with Youth

This training will explore race and culture and their impact on the dynamics of the assessment relationship. Race-related transference and countertransference will be discussed from theoretical, humanistic, and trauma-informed perspectives. Through reflection and analysis of a case example, this training will integrate race-related transferences as data points in order to create treatment recommendations that may address complex relational trauma. This training is designed to support training clinicians with facilitating therapeutic-collaborative assessment for youth in foster care.

3/21/2024 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Screening Youth Needs with a Race-Conscious Lens: Acknowledging the Harmful History and Working Toward Honesty, Humility, and Healing

This training describes ways to incorporate equitable practices throughout the process of working with youth. These practices are a constant series of choices toward equity at the individual, interpersonal, and institutional level. To be equitable in practices requires professionals to reflect on their own biases and to acknowledge how inequitable practices seep into work with youth. Moving toward equitable practices is crucial because of the harmful history of child welfare and services have impacted youth and families of color have been harmed by assessment processes and outcomes. This training will offer an historicized perspective on the detrimental effects of harmful practices in order to frame the need for intentional efforts […]

3/29/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Skills for Self-Care When Working with Traumatized Youth

Practitioners who work with foster youth after crises or exposures to traumatic events can experience a high level of compassion satisfaction, especially when they employ self-care strategies that foster their internal and external resources. This training reviews the risks and benefits for practitioners who work with foster youth after such events and exposures. This training also provides a way for practitioners to understand these risk and benefits, and a roadmap to help them foster their own resilience.

3/27/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies and Practices to Enhance Understanding of Trauma-Exposed Foster Youth

This training provides understanding and learning around use of performance-based tasks and their utility in working with trauma-exposed youth in the child welfare system. Participants will glean information about how these strategies and practices can provide insight into foster youth’s internal motivations and coping.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies and Skills for Working With Adolescents In Distress

This second workshop of a 2-part series provides a deeper look at trauma in adolescents in foster care, examining factors within their community and environment that connect to their experiences of trauma in their homes. Participants will learn strategies for working with adolescents’ distress related to trauma wounds.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies for Reducing Impact of Secondary Trauma on Providers

This training will provide strategies for direct service providers in reducing the impact of secondary trauma. These strategies include meditation, the role of nutrition, mindfulness, essential oils, body work and movement such as stretching and yoga. These strategies can be implemented by providers on an ongoing basis, and can also be shared with clients and caregivers as strategies to cope with trauma symptoms.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies for Understanding and Strengthening Attachment with Youth

Youth in foster care who have experienced multiple placement disruptions, may struggle with developing lasting relationships, have an under-resourced natural support system, and have difficulty maintaining resiliency and resourcefulness. This training helps attendees better understand attachment difficulties with youth in care. Participants will also learn strategies for strengthening relationships to stabilize placement and build resiliency. The focus of discussion will be around incorporating trauma-informed and social-emotional development principles into best practices for supporting youth in care.

3/26/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies in Mitigating the Effects of Secondary and Vicarious Trauma in Work with Foster Youth

It is not uncommon for service providers who work with youth in out of home care to experience secondary trauma. While secondary trauma can be experienced in a multitude of ways for service-providers, it is known to impact the capacity to provide effective care for youth and can increase feelings of isolation and exhaustion. By engaging in a dialogue that centers on the impact of secondary trauma among service providers and their work with foster youth, participants can work together to collaborate on strategies and skills to manage their experiences of secondary trauma in their work.

3/27/2024 9:30 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Strategies to Assess Familial History of Trauma and Resilience of System Involved Youth

As we grow in our understanding of trauma and adversity we are recognizing how common it is. It’s important for us to not only understand the trauma and resilience of youth we work with, but it’s also important we understand it within the context of their family. This training will provide you with strategies to assess familial trauma and adversity as well as resilience.

3/25/2024 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 3.75 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

Strengthening Conversations between Youth of Color who Engage with White Providers

This training presents several models that can help providers develop a more effective alliance and contribute to a fuller understanding of a youth’s presenting concerns when working across race. This training will highlight how conversations with a foster youth about their many identities and the importance (or lack thereof) of these identities are encouraged early in the engagement process as part of an ongoing conversation that incorporates these contextual frames throughout work with foster youth.

3/22/2024 10:00 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Suicide Prevention: How to Assess Suicidal Ideation and Safety Planning in Work with Youth

During this training, participants will review their roles in assessing and intervening to prevent suicide as defined by professional organizational ethics and legal statutes. Participants will deepen their knowledge and understanding about the drivers to suicidal ideation and what they can do when they are working with a client with suicide risk.

4/10/2024 10:30 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A Seneca Family of Agencies

Supporting Youth Entering Foster Care

Youth entering foster care are often removed due to reasons of abuse or neglect. Providers at the Assessment Center work with youth that have recently been removed and determine what supports and strategies the youth needs. This training offers providers with an understanding of the impact of trauma on a child’s social and emotional development. Participants will learn strategies for working with youth experiencing trauma and provide tools for promoting developmentally appropriate functioning.

3/28/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

Teaching Resilience and Sustainability to Youth Impacted by Trauma

Working within foster youth systems can involve multiple complex initiatives that together work towards establishing resiliency of youth and families, and sustainability for providers and those working within the system of care. Building Trauma informed systems requires ongoing training and development of providers who have newly entered the system of care and may be unaware of previous actions and steps taken to begin developing a trauma-informed system. This training sets a frame of how the modality of education and teaching can be used to bridge gaps in power dynamics to foster healing within foster-youth serving systems. Participants will engage in activities that help articulate the actions involved in building resilience […]

3/28/2024 9:00 am – 11:00 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The Challenges of Extended Stay at the Assessment Center

Youth at the Assessment Center in Alameda County historically were required to be placed by child welfare within 24 hours of their removal. With limited placements available for transitional aged youth and youth with specific and higher levels of needs, instances of extended/overstays with youth and non-minor dependents have become more common. However, this setting may not be well suited for youth with certain acute and high level needs. Using case presentations, participants explore the dynamics present at the Assessment Center and discuss service approaches and strategies to support and stabilize youth in the context of the complex system of care.

3/26/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The Collaborative Assessment in Practice: a Case Example

This training reviews the key concepts of Collaborative engagement/assessment with families and applies these concepts to a case example. Participants will have an opportunity to explore how the collaborative assessment principles are used. The training will explore how this framework for engagement of families can help to strengthen relationships and facilitate support to youth within a foster family system.

3/19/2024 11:00 am – 12:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The Collaborative Model: Discussing Feedback on Outcomes with Families and Youth

This seminar looks at how the Collaborative Model can provide a framework for engaging families in understanding youth needs and strengths. This multi-part training series focuses on applying family-based theories to creating plans for engagement, dialogue, and case planning that will help the family begin to understand the youth’s experiences and reasons for their challenging behaviors. Participants will learn effective strategies to use with families in order to demonstrate key elements of family relationships and dynamics. This seminar focuses on discussing feedback on outcomes with families and youth. Participants will be involved in case-based discussion to explore the Collaborative Model concepts.

3/27/2024 9:30 am – 11:30 am DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic

The Impact of Gender Inequality on System-Involved Youth and Transitional Age Youth

Gender inequality shows up in many ways from pay inequality, opportunities one has, exposure to violence, objectification, discrimination, etc. System-involved youth and transitional aged youth are especially impacted by gender inequality in many cases. It’s important for providers, foster parents, and natural supports to understand how gender inequality shows up and how to help youth and young adults when they experience gender inequality.

4/24/2024 9:15 am – 2:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4.5 A Better Way, Inc.

The Impact of Mass Incarceration on System-Involved Youth

Training Summary: Given the disproportionate number of people of color in the prison system, it is important to understand mass incarceration and how it impacts system-involved youth. In this training we will talk about the historical context of mass incarceration, why mass incarceration exists, how it impacts youth, and strategies to support youth who have an incarcerated parent. This understanding is crucial for social service and behavioral health providers, caregivers and other natural support people to compassionately support youth impacted by incarceration. Class Objectives: (what knowledge, ideas or skills will participants explore, learn, practice, etc during the training) 1. Define mass incarceration 2. Describe two factors contributing to mass incarceration […]

3/22/2024 9:30 am – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 Family Paths, Inc.

The Power of Rituals to Help System-Involved Youth Process and Release Emotions Related to Loss

Since the beginning of civilization, people have practiced rituals as a way to process and release the emotions related to loss. This training offers an educational presentation about the power of rituals to connect us to our agency, resilience, and one another as we integrate loss into living and help system involved youth to do so as well. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, and small group processing. This training also offers instruction on specific ritual practices which can be used to support system involved youth who are processing loss, as well as ritual practices for helping those who support system involved youth to release vicarious […]

3/26/2024 10:00 am – 2:15 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 4 Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

The School to Prison Pipeline

Black and brown students are disproportionately pushed out of the public school system and funneled into the criminal justice system. System-involved youth are at particular risk. It is essential for those who support system involved youth to learn about this topic to advocate and support youth and families impacted by this issue. Register Here

3/19/2024 9:30 am – 3:30 pm DISTANCE LEARNING 6 Lincoln Families

The Stories We Tell: Social Justice, Empowerment, and Narrative Approaches for Engaging Youth

The intention of this training is to offer participants an opportunity to explore the Narrative perspectives, emphasizing that “problems are problems, and people are people,” and that problems are defined by our relationships to the stories we tell ourselves, shaped by interactions with socio-cultural and systemic factors, others, and environments. Case examples, experiential-learning, and a collaborative, community-building orientation will help facilitate participants’ learning. Participants can expect to gain Narrative strategies to support engaging foster youth in meaning-making, telling their stories, separating their lives from problems, and re-authoring their stories through identifying strengths, natural supports, and identifying empowering alternative steps to take that align with their hopes, values, and case plan […]

3/28/2024 10:00 am – 12:00 pm DISTANCE LEARNING N/A WestCoast Children’s Clinic