Foster Care Training

This training will introduce providers working with system-involved youth on how to incorporate a Cosecha/Harvest Collage into their work. The participants will learn the benefits of processing what was “harvested” in their work with the system-involved youth i.e. healing tools gained in the course of working together, highs/lows of their experience and what they will utilize in their life-long journey for well-being. The goal of this training is not only to process the lows of their professional life but to celebrate the highs and work on reconnecting personally to their professional life in order to increase longevity in this line of work.

One of the most significant challenges for those supporting system involved youth (SIY) dealing with trauma or victimization (including exposure to violence) is to provide outlets for addressing emotional and/or problem behaviors, coping with painful experiences, and guiding youth to view themselves as survivors and not as victims. In this training, we will explore a sampling of creative & expressive healing strategies which can support system-involved youth to learn new skills, develop new talents, and express thoughts and ideas in creative ways. Learning and teaching these creative & expressive healing strategies will also support the strengthening of SIY problem-solving skills, autonomy, sense of purpose, and social competence which can foster […]

System involved youth can often feel their authenticity and self-expression is restrained by school systems, mainstream culture, peers, and family culture. Mindfulness based expressive arts offers system involved youth a place to find full expression, play, and healing. Join this workshop to engage in expressive arts activities to support system involved youth in finding their creative voice while navigating their anxiety mindfully. This workshop will lead participants through experiential art practices and activities to support system involved youth to develop self-acceptance, compassion and empathy.

This is an advanced course developed for case managers and clinicians who have a basic understanding of MI. Participants will build on the knowledge gained from an introductory MI course. Participants will increase their understanding of open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS). The content explores each interviewing technique in-depth to enhance the participants tool kit of MI responses with system-involved youth and adolescents. Participants will be able to apply the tools learned in this course to establish reports, collaboration, and understanding for their current clients. This course will provide practical skills and strategies to resist the righting reflex when met with client resistance. Participants will increase their understanding of […]

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.

Learning tools for assessing and strategies for addressing suicidal ideation. Register Here

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.

Group supervision can vary widely from exciting and engaging to tedious and repetitive. What are the key qualities, skills, and strategies of dynamic group supervisors? This course will explore each of the elements that contribute to dynamic, engaged groups, including best practices in facilitation, an overview of group development, and strategies for increasing cohesion, participation, and learning in a group setting.

This workshop will address how a traditional cultural game, Loteria can be used in play with the Mexican-American/Latinx population as well as at-risk youth, youth and families in the welfare/probation system, and clients of all cultural backgrounds. This workshop will not only discuss the relevance/significance of the game within the Mexican community but will also demonstrate various interventions to be used during play with individuals and their families. This workshop will cover the helpfulness of including this game in the play office as well as how this game and its interventions can be used with low to no cost items. This workshop is relevant to working with youth and families […]

Based on the EBP Professional Assault Crisis Training (Pro-ACT), this training takes some of the most effective and important principles from the 16-hour curriculum and distills it down to 3 hours. Attendees will learn about their role in reducing client escalation through assertive communication, having an effective self-control plan, understanding the level of danger and the appropriate response, and the crisis communication model. Register Here

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.

This course will focus on why it is important to recognize symptoms of ADHD and to understand how those symptoms impact daily life, decision-making, and therapeutic work with youth who have ADHD diagnoses. Participants will learn ways to differentiate ADHD from Autism Spectrum Disorders. Participants will learn how ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders can look similar and how they are different, and how it can be helpful to teams to have an accurate diagnosis. This is especially complicated when youth have life histories that include trauma as well, as system involved youth do. We will examine case studies to help participants understand how to differentiate and apply learned assessment skills.

This training gives a detailed overview of the Foster Youth Sexual Health Education Act (Senate Bill 89). A review of sexual and reproductive health rights of youth in foster care will be addressed. The duties and responsibilities as a caregiver, as well as those of the caseworker will be detailed. Further, how to engage with youth about sexual and reproductive wellness and current contraceptive methods are highlighted. This discussion will give guidance on how to have these conversations in a manner that is medically accurate, developmentally and age-appropriate, trauma informed, and strengths-based. Participants will be given age-appropriate resources to share with youth.

There is a Mexican saying that goes, “Each head is it’s own world.” This saying perfectly captures the power of sandtray in the therapy room. Sandtray allows for clients to express themselves and get some insight into their own internal world. This is an introductory training for therapists, counselors, social workers, and others who are interested in learning how to integrate sandtray in their clinical work with youth and families in the child welfare or probation systems. This training will cover all the basics of sandtray, from materials needed to implementing sand tray in your first session. The aim for this training is to provide participants with experiential activities in […]

Youth in residential or shelter placements who are also in a state of crisis can at times be at risk and could potentially use to harm themselves or others. Providers attending this training will learn how to be aware of the elements of the environment that may pose a serious risk to youth who could develop suicidal ideation. Attendees will learn strategies for mitigating risks to ensure the safety of the youth, staff, and visitors. Providers will discuss screening for suicide risks, safety planning, and how to best support youth in a milieu setting while being aware of the environmental risks.

Youth Professionals who provide services in the community or in home-based settings have a wide range of safety issues to consider in order to ensure the safety of children, families, and themselves. This course will review key concepts and give participants time to apply these ideas to real-world situations. Throughout the training, there will be a discussion of how bias can impact judgements about safety, responses to safety, and personal comfort levels of safety. Participants will receive strategies to mitigate this bias and reactions.

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. In the second segment of this training, the group will focus on strategies that providers can use if a crisis escalates to a point that is physically unsafe for staff, family, or client. Discussion will focus on harm-reduction strategies in the event objects are thrown, someone is being hit or […]

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.

This training will explain the basic symptoms and causes of personality disorders as well as why System Involved Youth (SIY) are prone to developing personality disorders. Evidence Based Practices for Supporting System Involved Youth with Personality Disorders will be taught and the goals and objectives of these modalities will be explained. Core principles will be explained as well as techniques which can be applied within efforts to support SIY and their families.

Trauma can exist even before we are born. Unfortunately, the DSM-5, the manual used for identifying and creating treatment plans for clients, almost entirely overlooks the myriad of trauma responses and coping methods, instead turning them into pathologies. Backed by the latest in trauma research and neuropsychology, this workshop will show the breadth and depth of trauma, how it shows up in your clients and how we can employ simple, evidence-based methods to help our clients regulate and actually heal. You will be introduced to the basics of Brainspotting paired with other tools to help your child welfare clients move through their process more effectively, for you and for them.

Trauma can exist even before we are born. Unfortunately, the DSM-5, the manual used for identifying and creating treatment plans for clients, almost entirely overlooks the myriad of trauma responses and coping methods, instead turning them into pathologies. Backed by the latest in trauma research and neuropsychology, this workshop will show the breadth and depth of trauma, how it shows up in your clients and how we can employ simple, evidence-based methods to help our clients regulate and actually heal. You will be introduced to the basics of Brainspotting paired with other tools to help your child welfare clients move through their process more effectively, for you and for them.

This training focuses on the importance of self-compassion in healing for foster youth or system-involved youth. Given our nature as mammals, our connection to emotional warmth and touch is critical for our ability to thrive. In the absence of nurturing caregivers during childhood, we are left to meet these basic human needs ourselves. With a blend of research, practice, and connection, we will explore how we can strengthen system-involved youth (SIY) and/or caregiver capacity to give and receive self-compassion, as a powerful path towards healing.

Solution-focused therapy strategies are becoming more popular within mental health and social service organizations as some services are becoming shorter in duration. Solution-focused therapy strategies focus on solutions rather than problems and can be extremely helpful within efforts to support parents of youth in foster care since there are time limits to demonstrating progress needed for their child being reunified with them and return home. The training will provide an overview of solution-focused interventions as well as key concepts and strategies for implementing solution-focused interventions within efforts to support system-involved youth and families.

In this training participants who support youth and their families or significant support persons will learn about youth crisis and how to respond with compassion and safety in mind. Foster youth often exhibit risk behaviors which are misinterpreted as behavioral problems. This training will discuss best practices in working with youth crisis.

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 […]

Training Summary: This workshop provides an overview of the theory and core concepts of the IFS model, case studies using IFS principles and techniques to help clients with complex trauma histories such as system-involved and adverse childhood experiences, and examples of utilizing IFS as a self-care practice for therapists. In addition, this workshop demonstrates a non-pathologizing and compassionate view of trauma symptoms and psychopathology, so that we can invite more safety, connection, and healthy boundaries into the therapy room. Class Objectives: (what knowledge, ideas or skills will participants explore, learn, practice, etc during the training) 1. Introduce the theory and core concepts of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model. 2. […]

This training is designed to help those who support system involved youth adapt and teach the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) interpersonal effectiveness skills to system-involved youth (SIY) which can be used in situations most relevant to the youth. Participants will learn the skills of Clarifying Priorities, DEAR MAN, GIVE, FAST and Factors to Consider, with an emphasis on the systems within and power dynamics under which SIY are often operating. Role play demonstrations will be used to model how to teach youth these skills and apply them to specific situations they may encounter as generated by attendees. We will also discuss strategies to support system involved youth in balancing their […]

This course will focus on the nuanced application of Motivational Interviewing fundamentals when working with adolescent clients. Attendees will learn about the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing, the four processes, OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries), the different forms of communication (change talk, sustain talk, discord), and change plans. Attendees will apply these concepts with the practice of adolescent-friendly Motivational Interviewing interventions that nurture agency and independence. The course will conclude with a discussion around how to increase caregiver (family, school staff, other adults) support around the adolescent’s treatment focus. The training will include large group discussion, breakout groups, and practice with concrete MI exercises.

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.

In order for providers in the caring profession to offer continuous quality support to clients in child welfare, we must be aware of the possibility of our clients experiencing relapse and offer tools to help them through it. Relapse prevention planning is helpful with system-involved youth struggling with a variety of issues from substance use, self-harm, engagement in the commercial sex industry, etc. This course will provide an overview of relapse prevention planning to help you teach youth about relapse prevention and create a relapse prevention plan.

The Internet has opened the door to CSEC recruitment, so its crucial that providers are continually engaging in dialogue with youth about technology. The training will focus on the dangers of cell phones, social media, cyber bullying, sexting, and online gaming. The trainers will also discuss safety strategies for each of these categories and conversation starters with youth.

In this training, service providers of foster youth are invited to reflect on the challenges of working with foster youth. Participants will strategize together on methods for working with foster youth in a milieu setting. Milieu service providers are exposed to youth with a potential for, or a known history of, assaultive behavior. This training will provide tools for service providers to mitigate secondary trauma and promote resilience within team based care for foster youth.

Learn what a system involved youth’s challenging behaviors are attempting to communicate! While it is necessary to understand the function of the child’s behaviors (since it is a communication to us), we also need to understand what this means in the context of the family relationships. This understanding will allow us to better support caregivers and teachers as they attempt to help system involved youth to be successful in school, maintain a placement, be reunited with family, etc.

This course supports providers in deepening their understanding of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and provides them with tools to help these youth regulate and interact in socially appropriate ways. Providers will define important terms related to ability, neurodiversity, & see how ADHD fits into these frameworks, as well as embody helpful tools to use with youth. We will explore self-regulation, mindfulness, focusing, & destigmatizing tools to support youth with ADHD in each provider’s individual context.

This experiential and interactive workshop is designed to provide examples, support and practice in facilitating difficult conversations across differences in supervision. A majority of this workshop will be focused on unpacking and exploring racial identity so that participants are more aware of their triggers, biases and blind spots. We will introduce tools to help create more impactful and authentic supervisory relationships in the foster youth-care space.

This introductory training is designed to equip educators with comprehensive knowledge and practical strategies for effectively supporting students with special education needs. Participants will gain a deep understanding of various special education requirements, learn how to create inclusive learning environments, and explore best practices for individualized education plans and differentiated instruction. The training will focus on fostering a supportive and collaborative school community that prioritizes the holistic development and well-being of all students. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

This course offers a comprehensive and essential knowledge base for professionals in various fields who engage with system-involved individuals. Participants will delve into the core principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), gaining insight into the behaviorist framework and the ABC model. The training goes further by addressing the unique challenges and ethical considerations involved in working with system-involved youth, offering practical strategies which can be used for behavior management and skill acquisition. Through case studies, interactive activities, and cultural sensitivity discussions, attendees will leave with a well-rounded understanding of ABA and the ability to apply these principles effectively in their roles. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short […]

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 working with Severe emotional disturbance differentiate between the variety of Depressive Diagnoses and Co-morbid possibilities, (eg, Major Depressive Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Disruptive Mood Dysregulation, etc.) Participants will use resources, large and small group discussion as well as lecture to consider best practice treatment options.

Youth coming to the Assessment Center often have a challenging time due to trauma they have recently experienced. Service providers are often keeping youth engaged and supporting high needs youth while they await their next placement. Participants attending this training will learn techniques for preventing and managing a crisis. Participants will also learn the importance of communication with other service providers and collaborative partners.

Participants will define and understand Schizophrenia with it’s symptoms as described in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual. Through didactic lecture, group discussion and case examples, the group will map possible ‘red flags’ in youth that may signal the possibility of psychosis occurring currently or in the future. Differential diagnoses, particularly Trauma-based, will be discussed. Treatment options will be examined.

The training centers on exploring the specific mental health challenges and resilience factors associated with first-generation individuals. It includes recognizing the impact of intergenerational trauma, cultural identity, and the adaptation challenges these populations face. Participants will engage with interactive case studies, learn culturally sensitive communication strategies, and explore evidence-based intervention methods. This training is particularly relevant for professionals working with children in out-of-home care. It will equip them with the necessary skills to understand and effectively address the unique mental health needs of first-generation children who may be navigating complex family histories, cultural transitions, and systemic challenges.

The language of video games is one that spans through cultures across the globe, and is practiced in many homes across the country. Technological advancements in this area often leave providers with more questions than answers about how youth are being affected by their video game usage. This training will provide education pertaining to youth who game across a variety of systems, and will offer providers new ways to engage and build rapport with children and adolescents who game in addition to training on how to spot problematic gaming. Cultural considerations related to videogaming will also be reviewed.

Working with foster youth can pose numerous challenges and can often lead to providers experiencing secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. This training reviews ways to foster resilience and continue building positive relationships with foster youth. Providers attending this training are reminded of the positive impacts they can have when working with foster youth. Providers are given the opportunity to share successful practices and strategies when working with foster youth that have led to prosocial behaviors.

It is important for social service providers to have ongoing dialogue with system-involved youth about dating, boundaries and sex. Without these conversations, system-involved youth are left to navigate these topics on their own or with their peers. This course will equip providers working with system-involved youth to have these crucial conversations to ensure the health and safety of their clients.

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.

There is need to focus on the development of infants within the foster care system. Understanding Infant Mental Health, which is a relatively new, is important to support the appropriate development of infants within the child welfare system. This session addresses a wide range of areas including the importance of attachment, building relationships, responsive caregiving as well as challenges or needs in infants that can disrupt these processes. Participants will gain a better understanding of the overall needs of infants, toddlers, and young children and their families and strategies for supporting them.

Promoting health and satisfying sexuality starts with attitudes and age appropriate education. Many system involved youth have had negative sexual experience which may impact their sexuality throughout their lifespan. In this course learn to understand, identify and talk about sex and sexuality with youth, caregivers, family members and school staff. Topics to be covered include: anatomy and physiology, sexual identity, sexual diversity, cultural considerations, STDs, birth control, menstruation, sexual functioning, sexual dysfunctions and disorders, sexual consent, healthy relationships, and sex therapy, This course meets the pre-licensure requirements for Human Sexuality, 10 hours, for individuals applying for a license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. *PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REGISTER FOR […]

Promoting health and satisfying sexuality starts with attitudes and age appropriate education. Many system involved youth have had negative sexual experience which may impact their sexuality throughout their lifespan. In this course learn to understand, identify and talk about sex and sexuality with youth, caregivers, family members and school staff. Topics to be covered include: anatomy and physiology, sexual identity, sexual diversity, cultural considerations, STDs, birth control, menstruation, sexual functioning, sexual dysfunctions and disorders, sexual consent, healthy relationships, and sex therapy, This course meets the pre-licensure requirements for Human Sexuality, 10 hours, for individuals applying for a license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences. *PLEASE MAKE SURE TO REGISTER FOR […]

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives.

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives

This presentation will introduce you to a progressive model of understanding psychosis with system-involved youth. Participants will learn language to describe experiences of psychosis that is empowering and less pathologizing for system-involved youth. Through didactic presentation and screening tools, this training will help participants learn skills and strategies from CBTp and DBT to engage system-involved youth experiencing psychosis.

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.

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.

Trauma can impact development, biology, relationships, and much more. For youth who are in foster care, often they have experienced the trauma of separation in addition to traumas that led to the separation from biological family. In this training, the impact of traumatic stress on the brain of foster youth is discussed. Participants receive a foundational understanding of the parts and processes of brain development that are impacted directly after trauma as well as the long-term impacts of complex trauma on foster youth.

Training Summary: This introductory training is designed to foster a deep understanding of neurodiversity and equip participants who work with system-impacted families and youth with practical strategies for promoting inclusivity and advocating for the rights of neurodiverse individuals. This training will delve into the diverse spectrum of neurodiverse conditions, their impact on various environments, and the significance of creating accommodating spaces that celebrate differences. Through interactive sessions, case studies, and practical exercises, participants will gain valuable insights and tools to create an inclusive and supportive environment for neurodiverse individuals in their communities, workplaces, and educational institutions. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout […]

Adults and children with neurodiverse traits have emerged from a history of scholastic shame and the need to be “directed and controlled” to a world of options and the freedom to express their needs. With this knowledge, we, as professionals, have the chance to collaborate with autistic system-involved youth to determine the degree of stimulation they need to increase or decrease in their surroundings in order to carry out necessary life skills. We also recognize that some autistic youth are quite task-oriented, while others are much more relationally focused. With this in mind, we will look at how both routine and novel circumstances can increase interest in a task and […]

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

With a disproportionately high rate of suicide reported for Asian-American & Pacific Islander identified youth and adults, there is a call to examine factors that potentially contribute to the emotional and mental health of individuals. This course examines the unique experience of AAPI communities, with a broad focus on the social, cultural, religious and historical implications of the AAPI identity and racial oppression. Through multimedia, small & large group discussion, participants will gain knowledge and skills to better equip them to be culturally responsive to AAPI youth who are grappling with mental health issues.

The purpose of this part 2 training is to further consider the processes of racial socialization and the ways in which providers can support children’s and families’ racial identity exploration and development. The presenter will describe theories and research related to racial socialization, including: (1) children’s developing conceptions of race and racial bias, (2) children’s experiences of racism and discrimination, (3) impacts of racism on mental health and functioning, and (4) processes of racial identity development.

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

While foster care providers must address the challenges of improving child safety, well-being, and stability, they also must meet the needs of an increasingly culturally and ethnically diverse child welfare population. This series of trainings will review how important it is to consider culture when working with youth in out of home care, how to improve communication across diverse cultures and to support foster parents provide culturally relevant caregiving.

This course is a thorough exploration of the process of internalization starting from the self. It is designed to provide participants opportunities to share space with others who are curious about the ways we have been socialized to follow binary and fixed rules.

This training provides an examination of the culture, history, divisions, and landscape of Alameda County Foster youth that live there. The cultural philosophies and orientations that form from living in different areas, the economic, political, and social realities that impact children living in Oakland and the philosophical and psychological sources that influence the children and their behaviors will also be reviewed. Explorations highlight how different areas, schools, turfs, and sets exist and affect the diverse youth populations and their needs over time. Participants will discuss how having a better understanding of the contextual conditions and circumstances in which these children live in can help in fostering inclusivity and cultural acceptance, […]

This training is designed to provide participants with an overview of the impact helping organizations have on diverse ethnic and racial groups, cultures, social classes and groups with minority status in the US. The values and attitudes of diverse ethno cultural groups in cross-cultural environments will be discussed. The application of a multicultural lens and anti-racist stance when engaging a diversity of cultures will be addressed. The training includes lecture, small group exercises, discussions and videos/films. This is an in person training 1266 14th St., Oakland, Ca 94607. Please register with: [email protected]

Social Identity is a key player in how we live. How we inhabit our bodies and how we demonstrate our own expressions of gender, race/ethnicity, culture, and so many other aspects is emboldened or repressed depending on how we feel power, trust, and safety. The intersectionality of historically oppressed identities creates compounded and complex lessons and understandings as well as felt experiences that shape how we move through the world and what we believe is true about us and others. This course is a thorough exploration of the process of internalization starting from the self. It is designed to provide participants opportunities to share space with others who are curious […]

Placement changes for foster youth can at times bring up a culture clash of values, beliefs, and understandings of how to best support youth in culturally responsive ways. This training provides multiple frameworks for understanding cultural identity and context of youth and families. Participants will review the ADDRESSING model, and Sociocultural Identity Wheels, the Layered Ecological Model of the Multicultural Guidelines, and the Bronfenbrenner Ecological Model.

In this training, participants will learn about principles of engagement that can be applied when providing services to families who have experienced generations of trauma, including individual, intergenerational, and historical trauma. Typical challenges found in the engagement process in supporting this population will also be identified, such as cultural implications, bias, and social justice issues. Lastly, we will discuss practices and effective strategies for the engagement process and in building a positive alliance with families from a trauma informed and multicultural perspective.

Changing systems to support best practices can often be discouraging when conversations do not lead to actions. If the conversation is collapsed, it can create more harm and recreate the same systemic issues that need to be addressed. This training validates the importance of including the voice of the provider and explores the immediate need to take a proactive, restorative and harm reduction approach. Providers will discuss new approaches to embody anti-racist work while working within systems of care. This training will provide tools to empower providers and youth to disrupt harmful language or experiences by responding in ways that everyone can feel safe and valued at the Assessment Center.

When families begin working with providers, many parents and caregivers are afraid to show their challenges and flaws. This is especially true when the family has experienced trauma or crisis, and if there is a cultural gap between the family and provider. This workshop introduces a framework for working with families that prioritizes safety, relationships, and trust, before introducing tools and behavioral changes. We will offer approaches and strategies for connection in a culturally humble context.

Trauma informed care is critical and positive development in systems of care, understanding how poverty and racism impact individual children. While this lens moves us in the right direction, it is inadequate. This training introduces a concept of Healing Centered Engagement. By unpacking the missing elements in trauma informed lens, this training outlines and discusses 3 other critical elements to take into consideration when addressing trauma. Understanding trauma typically lead to efforts to eliminate the negative impacts of trauma, but true healing incorporates a lens that supports children and the adults who support them to imagine, envision, and act toward a life of flourishing.

Este entrenamiento introducirá a los proveedores clínicos como incorporar Las Pláticas, El Personalismo y El Empoderamiento en su tratamiento. Los participantes aprenderán los beneficios de Las Pláticas, El Personalismo y El Empoderamiento como herramientas de empoderamiento mutuo. Este entrenamiento/taller será conducido en español porque es la lengua primaria de los clientes servidos. Solo para recalcar, que la expectativa es que los proveedores clínicos bilingües proporcionen servicios en español con pocas/ningunos entrenamientos en el idioma.

This ongoing workshop is designed to provide participants with both foundational tools for exploring conversations around cultural identity and privilege, as well as provide experiential opportunities and conversation to deepen an understanding of cultural identity and how this impacts services and systems for foster youth. This group will be meeting in support of becoming stronger culturally responsive professionals that aligns with overall efforts to participate in anti-racism work and serve marginalized youth. Participants will be provided space to explore cultural lenses and instances of privilege, but also the power inherent in this identity and the impact it has interpersonally and professionally through various tasks of the privileged (from Kenneth V. […]

This month was designed to support service providers in deepening their awareness of race and the impact it has on their ability to serve at risk youth and families of color. We discussed and looked closely at dilemmas each participant was confronting with youth/families or interpersonally with other providers working with youth. We used the article by Tema Okun to better identify a racial identity development trajectory, as well as looked at “stress shapes” to create better language for the defensive structures that may be in place when we confront elements of racism within foster youth systems.

With a focus on intentional movement through stages in a community care practice, this interactive workshop will begin with a personal reflection on the concept of liberation. We then shift to reckoning with our past, the stories we were told about us and others, and the histories we inherited from our ancestors. We will examine the ways that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders all hold legacies to confront and explore. We then move to releasing; a healing focused examination of internalized oppression and the impacts of harmful propaganda such as the Model Minority Stereotype. As we shift to closure, we will consider what AANHPI people wish to reclaim, […]

In the ever-evolving landscape of social justice, “”decolonization”” has emerged as a pivotal concept. But what does it truly entail? Join us in this interactive session as we delve into the essence of decolonization, exploring its profound implications for anti-oppression and liberation movements. Together, we’ll unravel the legacy of colonization that has permeated our collective existence, shaping our minds, bodies, spirits, and hearts. Through foundational knowledge and dialogue, participants will gain insight into the intricacies of decolonization and its resonance with our social conditioning within colonial frameworks. We’ll navigate the disruptions inflicted upon our relationships and connections by colonialism, envisioning new paradigms of self and communal interaction. Central to our […]

Addressing race, culture and identity for youth in care requires a commitment to honoring and respecting the youth, families and communities they live in. This is challenging when layering in the impact of trauma, poverty, and racism. This training establishes a common understanding of key words and concepts related to identity and culture. Participants are invited to identify and bring their own culture and identity in the room in order to connect and relate to cultural humility practices that create authentic spaces for culturally supported growth, development and functioning of youth. Participants learn about pitfalls of cultural and identity work as well as effective practices that lead to transformative work […]

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, […]

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 […]

In all our relationships (work, social life, family) we consciously or unconsciously set personal and professional boundaries. In the work setting, it is important to be conscious and thoughtful about the boundaries we set with clients to maximize the therapeutic impact of our interactions with system involved youth and their families. In this class we will discuss how to set culturally appropriate boundaries with clients in different situations including use of technology, physical contact, dual relationships and accepting gifts. We will also explore particularly challenging situations and have time to think through boundary issues in participant’s current caseload.

The focus of this training/seminar series is to honor the toll of racial trauma on queer & trans youth of color, to explore ways to support their cultural needs in complex systems. The training will facilitate conversations around accountability, collective action, and collective healing by connecting liberation psychology theory and praxis to achieve mental health justice and explore ways to support youth and families around mental health needs. This training will focus on connecting liberation social movements within liberation movements in mental health services. This training addresses how these concepts impact the overall health of foster youth, youth in probation, or youth at risk of involvement in systems. In the […]

Many providers are familiar with the concept of gender dysphoria, the sense of distress related to the perception of one’s gender as it relates to gender diverse identities. However, many providers are not familiar with its opposite, gender euphoria—anything that makes a person feel affirmed or aligned in their gender. In this session, rather than focusing on factors that cause gender diverse youth to feel incongruent in their gender, we will explore sources of gender euphoria—not only for those we work with or serve, but for ourselves. As we discover what makes us feel joyous & authentic, we can support others in doing so for themselves.

When a hard-of-hearing or deaf system-involved child joins a new family, there are many communication, education, philosophical and cultural barriers to overcome. Meeting these challenges with openness and curiosity are the best tools for the job at hand. In this workshop, we will discuss resources, ASL and other visually based skills and cultural communication strategies to make the life of the child and the family blend in a coherent way.

Do you know youth and families trying to navigate transracial foster and adoptive placements/homes? Many of the issues they are facing are fairly typical of foster and adoptive homes. At the same time, we know that youth placed in homes with caregivers of a different racial/cultural group often experience distinct challenges in family, school and community life. If foster and adoptive parents are not considering racial identity development as a critical part of a youth’s needs while in care, then accidental harm can be done. Concrete scripts for supporting youth and caregivers in these conspicuous families will be explored. This training is designed to examine the strengths and challenges involved […]

Institutional racism is a thread that has been woven into our country’s history and continues to be present today. For some, it feels covert and, for others, it feels very visible and present in their daily life which sparks tension when discussing this topic. Therefore, it is important to work in collaboration to increase our awareness and knowledge that relates to the ways in which institutional racism haunts our daily lives and interactions, including in the work we do so that we can truly hear the voices of those affected.

It has becoming easier for many of us to identify some systems of oppression, like racism or sexism, and know them for what they are when we see them enacted in our daily lives. Others, however, can be more challenging to notice, identify as oppression, and interrupt. Anti-fat bias (also discussed as fatphobia, sizeism, and/or weight stigma) is one such construct, partially because we do not often recognize the discrimination around body size as a system of oppression. What does this mean for how we go about our lives as change makers? As workers in the child welfare system? How can we adjust our understanding of these topics to mitigate […]

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.

Accountability is a keystone of racial equity work. Accountability, as used in this training, refers to creating processes and systems that are designed to help individuals and groups to be held in check for their decisions and actions and for whether the work being done reflects and embodies racial justice principles. This training will review concepts related to personal and professional accountability for individuals that benefit from white privilege.

Youth in foster care carry a wide range of cultural identities. It is important for providers and caregivers to understand frameworks that can help to promote the development of the youth’s cultural identity. This training will review foundational theories and frameworks that provide context to cultural identity disruptions that can happen in care, as well as steps to fostering cultural identity development in foster youth.

In our daily lives, the pervasive impacts of sexism manifest in myriad ways, both subtle and overt. Just as with other systems of oppression, discerning these effects requires a keen awareness of the thoughts, events, and feelings that perpetuate gender bias. Within the child welfare system, for instance, the unequal distribution of childcare responsibilities burdens women disproportionately, influencing how we evaluate mothers and their children. Studies consistently reveal disparities in child protection decisions along lines of race, ethnicity, and gender, with referrals concerning girls more likely to prompt investigation than those involving boys. How does the pervasive influence of sexism shape our self-perception and societal roles, irrespective of our individual […]

This training is a deep dive into community-defined healing practices and strategies for wellness used in Indigenous families. The work of Anton Treuer, who is Ojibwe, is used to discuss groundbreaking scholarship and service has equipped him with an authentic perspective on the most important work of our time and our individual and collective quest for healing.

Training explores locating ourselves in our privilege and accountability as white identifying individuals, therapists, and staff at WAG. This directly impacts how we work with clients, clients’ systems of care (including foster system and associated care teams, juvenile court and probation, families and community support systems), colleagues, and our own internal awareness and developmental growth. Some examples are: building rapport; interrupting our own implicit bias; rupture and repair work; staying in relationship with others; and incorporating a systemic lens when working with clients and through the resources offered at West Coast. Intersectional identity is prioritized.

This training teaches how to understand family dynamics from a relational perspective that will allow us to develop case plans for our system-involved youth using a strength-based lens with the Pain in the Heart Healing (PITH) Questions. These questions were developed specifically to utilize evidence-based elements from structural and attachment-based family theories in an applied way for kids in our continuum of care who have experienced multiple serious trauma and attachment ruptures in their lives. We will explore the link between past trauma, current feelings about the past trauma, and the fear of what might happen in the future. Since our kids are acting out these traumas in their behavioral […]

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.

From the time they enter the state’s care and likely long before, foster youth experience trauma that can severely alter their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being. The impact of trauma on foster youth can mean that this vulnerable population faces numerous additional challenges as they grow and develop into adulthood. Foster youth experience trauma in many ways, often starting at home. Youth will enter the foster care system because they have experienced physical or sexual abuse, neglect, a loss of a parent, or abandonment, forcing the state to step in. Other family stress factors such as poverty, substance abuse, mental illness, and incarceration can lead to a child’s removal from […]

This training will equip attendees with foundational knowledge about how to best understand and support children with ADHD, autism & other learning differences. Register Here

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

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

Developing Staff to Better Support Youth in Care – 2 GH & STRTP CEU’s

Created by an RCS Licensed Clinician, this training focuses on attachment theory, how a disrupted or damaged attachment can affect a child’s development and physical & mental health. It also covers the effects of stress and trauma on a child’s body and brain. Register Here

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

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

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.

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.

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.

This training reviews youth’s personal rights and clarifies the differences between youth and non-minor dependent’s. This training also covers the caregiver’s role and responsibilities to ensure that youth in out of home care rights are protected. Register Here

This training reviews youth’s personal rights and clarifies the differences between youth and non-minor dependent’s. This training also covers the caregiver’s role and responsibilities to ensure that youth in out of home care rights are protected. Register Here

Attendees will understand Sexual and Reproductive Wellness Rights for youth in foster care. These rights ensure young people in foster care age 10 and older, including non-minor dependents, have access to education, information, and services about their sexual and reproductive health. Attendees will understand the sexual and reproductive health rights of youth in foster care and the duties and responsibilities as a caregiver as well as those of the case worker, how to engage with youth about sexual and reproductive wellness. Register Here

With power point and lecture, trainers will discuss common challenging behaviors, particularly lying and stealing by foster youth. A behavior is defined as “challenging” when it is of such an intensity, frequency, or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and it is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion. Trainers will discuss the origins of these behaviors; as well as methods that can be implemented by resource and other care staff to reduce or eliminate these behaviors. Trainers will also discuss “observable and measurable” to be used with any particular behavior – as […]

With power point and lecture, trainers will discuss common challenging behaviors, particularly lying and stealing by foster youth. A behavior is defined as “challenging” when it is of such an intensity, frequency, or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and it is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion. Trainers will discuss the origins of these behaviors; as well as methods that can be implemented by resource and other care staff to reduce or eliminate these behaviors. Trainers will also discuss “observable and measurable” to be used with any particular behavior – as […]

With power point and lecture, trainers will discuss common challenging behaviors, particularly lying and stealing by foster youth. A behavior is defined as “challenging” when it is of such an intensity, frequency, or duration as to threaten the quality of life and/or the physical safety of the individual or others and it is likely to lead to responses that are restrictive, aversive or result in exclusion. Trainers will discuss the origins of these behaviors; as well as methods that can be implemented by resource and other care staff to reduce or eliminate these behaviors. Trainers will also discuss “observable and measurable” to be used with any particular behavior – as […]

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.

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.

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 […]

This training will discuss gender affirming care and how caregivers can affirm gender identity in an age appropriate way. The training will review the history of transgender people and their contributions to society. The training will identify current and past role models and identify resources for caregivers and trans children. Register Here

Meeting appropriate standards is foundational for the provision of competent child and youth care. Many dimensions of these standards are clear and have remained constant over the years, yet others continue to evolve. Care and service providers routinely confront complex and ambiguous situations requiring important decision-making. The purpose of this training is to give child and youth care providers an opportunity to renew and sharpen their ability to engage in knowledgeable and effective ethical decision-making, and understand and apply such standards to challenges inherent in their work with youth, adolescents and families in care. The course also has the goal of assisting participants in better managing the risks of youth […]

This training explores vocabulary and linguistic considerations, provides essential information about sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, and intersections of those issues with health and social services systems. Recommended practices for inclusion of LGBTQ+ clients are presented along with action steps and examples to help carry them out.

This training explores vocabulary and linguistic considerations, provides essential information about sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, and intersections of those issues with health and social services systems. Recommended practices for inclusion of LGBTQ+ clients are presented along with action steps and examples to help carry them out. In Part 1, the training will discuss the importance of recognizing LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system and emphasizing permanency for their overall health and wellbeing. Part 1 of this training will define sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, use inclusive language with LGBTQ+ youth, and understand the impact of inclusive language on building trust and communication. Part […]

This training explores vocabulary and linguistic considerations, provides essential information about sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, and intersections of those issues with health and social services systems. Recommended practices for inclusion of LGBTQ+ clients are presented along with action steps and examples to help carry them out. In Part 2, the training will focus on effective communication and participants will demonstrate active listening skills, apply motivational interviewing techniques to help LGBTQ+ clients reach their goals, and conduct self-awareness checks to enhance communication and rapport. Part 2 will allow participants opportunities to practice using inclusive and gender-neutral language to create a welcoming and safe environment for LGBTQ+ youth, […]

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

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

Join other parents in building your skills as a therapeutic, reparative parent Practicing and identifying the 5 Intersections of Challenge for your children/teens and develop your own in home coaching plan. Practice using the Privilege Pause/Nothing Else Happens. Get help establishing “”we work first and then we play”” to help children/teens complete chores, homework. Reinforcing “”We don’t always get what we want”” by setting firm limits and boundaries Practice “”Ignoring the protest”” Deepen your knowledge about the effects of trauma on your child/teen’s brain development and what can be done to help them heal and mature.

Promoting health and satisfying sexuality starts with attitudes and age-appropriate education. Many system-involved youth have had negative sexual experiences which may impact their sexuality throughout their lifespan. In this course learn to understand, identify and talk about sex and sexuality with youth, caregivers, family members and school staff. Topics to be covered include: anatomy and physiology, sexual identity, sexual diversity, cultural considerations, STDs, birth control, menstruation, sexual functioning, sexual dysfunctions and disorders, sexual consent, healthy relationships, sexual dysfunction and sex therapy, This course meets the pre-licensure requirements for Human Sexuality, 10 hours, for individuals applying for a license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

Promoting health and satisfying sexuality starts with attitudes and age-appropriate education. Many system-involved youth have had negative sexual experiences which may impact their sexuality throughout their lifespan. In this course learn to understand, identify and talk about sex and sexuality with youth, caregivers, family members and school staff. Topics to be covered include: anatomy and physiology, sexual identity, sexual diversity, cultural considerations, STDs, birth control, menstruation, sexual functioning, sexual dysfunctions and disorders, sexual consent, healthy relationships, sexual dysfunction and sex therapy, This course meets the pre-licensure requirements for Human Sexuality, 10 hours, for individuals applying for a license with the Board of Behavioral Sciences.

This training is designed to address the self-care needs of those serving children, youth and adults facing and impacted by traumatic life events. Participants are encouraged to verbalize their understanding and connectedness to the multiple aspects of compassion fatigue. By taking a self-inventory, participants will see first-hand, the levels of stress they experience. The group will look at several tools and techniques to circumvent the most challenging aspects of compassion fatigue and to be able to regain a state of neuro-physiological (mind-body) regulation, recovery and resilience.

The training will begin with an overview of approaches used to work with sex trafficked youth in the Foster Care and Juvenile Justice systems. The training will then look at harm reduction strategies and stages of change and how they can be used to effectively help sex trafficked youth exit the commercial sex industry. The training will conclude with strategies to more effectively safety plan and navigate public systems with Foster Care and Juvenile Justice involved youth who have experienced sex trafficking.

Participants will receive an overview of current statistics on child abuse, including information regarding types, ages, victims, and perpetrators of abuse. The impact of various forms of abuse upon child actions and presentations for care will be presented and discussed. Types of reportable child abuse will be reviewed, as will obligations of care providers of children in out-of-home care as mandated reporters. Training will also cover all aspects of accurate incident reporting including how, why and when to write an IR, who receives incident reports and information gathered from incident reports. Please register with: [email protected]

There is a Mexican saying that goes, “Each head is it’s own world.” This saying perfectly captures the power of sandtray in the therapy room. Sandtray allows for clients to express themselves and get some insight into their own internal world. This is an introductory training for therapists, counselors, social workers, and others who are interested in learning how to integrate sandtray in their clinical work with youth and families in the child welfare or probation systems. This training will cover all the basics of sandtray, from materials needed to implementing sand tray in your first session. The aim for this training is to provide participants with experiential activities in […]

In the first segment of this training, we will discuss the concept of ‘preferred self’, a concept from Narrative Therapy also known as how we express our values around caring for youth and families while we are at work. This course will discuss the two major reasons that professionals working with youth and families don’t always live up to our preferred self: crisis and burnout. Participants will have an opportunity to discuss prevention plans for both barriers, including developing a self-control plan for times of crisis and a self-care plan during times of burnout.

Considered by scholars to be the oldest practiced healing science, this training will provide a holistic approach to health that can be applied to helping foster youth improve their wellbeing through the use of different modalities. These practices emphasize the uniqueness of an individual and offers approaches based on foster youth’s individual needs. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of this approach. They will gain insight into how a youth’s unique individual needs can surface. They will also learn how to incorporate these to help youth use their 5 senses to achieve wellbeing and resiliency. (Register for this training here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JIJ9ydw272Ln7Y3qo3WolzsFU5U_stBDG8hAlMWv8qU/edit?ts=6324af96)

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives

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

Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based course developed by the National Council for Mental Wellness that teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. The training will give participants skills needed to provide initial support to any system involved youth or their family members who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis and connect them with the professional support they need for recovery and long-term wellness. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, and self-reflection. To increase participant engagement and content retention, presenter will also utilize the chat box, reaction […]

This training will focus on the use of Motivational Interviewing to prevent system-involved youth suicide. Attendees will examine the way in which providers fall into the fixing reflex in high acuity situations and explore means to mitigate this. The training will support provider recognition of suicide-related sustain talk and life-affirming change talk and the way in which OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries) can be used to highlight life-affirming change talk and consolidate motivation to live. The training will culminate with breakout session practice of the use of OARS when facilitating a comprehensive assessment of suicide risk and safety planning.

This training provides an overview of different drugs effects on the brain and body. It explains stigma, the science behind opioid and stimulant dependency, and how to identify an overdose and how to respond to save a life. Register Here

Direct care providers who serve and support commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEC) are particularly vulnerable to burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. This increased risk for unintended, “negative impacts” is due to the nature of the work, the settings in which the work takes place, and the systemic surround. All of this combines to create pressure and potentially harmful impacts for providers doing work that is already intense, trauma-exposed, and at times dangerous and isolating. For providers to serve and support CSEC with the best care possible, providers need their support and attention with regards to vicarious trauma vulnerabilities and self-care strategies. This training will explore vulnerabilities and related […]

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. (Register for this training here:

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.

This training will focus on theory, research and practice covering individual developmental growth regarding the positive impact of Narrative strategies for engagement with youth and their families. Importance will be placed on the intersectionality of youth and families who are who have benefited from Narrative engagement approaches. Examples of engagements from the presenter will include strengths and challenges of Narrative approaches to engagement to support providers with developing their own unique engagement strategies.

This training is designed to meet the licensing requirements for 6 hours of training on managing suicide/high risk behavior and will help providers who support system involved youth have the best, research-informed skills for assessment, strategies, and prevention for suicide. We will review epidemiological data on suicide and related behaviors and review the literature on predictors of suicidal behaviors that informs evidence-based risk assessment. An overview of evidence-based risk assessment and best practice procedures will be provided, followed by opportunities to practice applying components of safety planning to enhance the skills of those who support system involved youth. Video vignettes and role plays will be used throughout to enhance learning […]

Given that alcohol consumption is prevalent amongst adults and youth, it’s important for social service providers and those who support system involve youth to understand the potential harms associated with alcohol misuse as it can impact relationships, school success, performance at work, and even prenatal development. This training will provide an overview of alcohol misuse amongst youth and adults and strategies to consume alcohol responsibly. Additionally, the training will discuss fetal alcohol syndrome, including discussions about what it is, risk factors, screening and how to support someone with it.

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 […]

This course will provide an overview and introduction to the basics of Clinical Supervision for those who may be new to (or preparing to step into) the role. We will begin with an overview of legal and ethical responsibilities of clinical supervisors and best practices in the structure and approach to supervision. Participants will then have an opportunity to discuss some of the most common challenges for new supervisors, including creating a coherent supervisory approach, assessing supervisees areas for growth, and navigating challenges in the supervisory relationship. Participants will end the day with an opportunity for self-assessment and creating a professional development growth plan for continued learning.

This training was designed to help educators, group home staff and other providers to have a clear understanding of how trauma impacts youth and how to best respond. Participants will learn strategies and techniques that can be applied to support youth who have experienced trauma and systemic processes that can be revisited in ways that support youth who have trauma in their history. The trainer will provide information around the impact of trauma on child development, as well as behavior modification and de-escalation skills. Participants will be able to apply these abilities and information in their work with youth in out of home care.

This training will explain the basic principles of several family therapy modalities so that these evidence-based strategies can be used to support System Involved Youth (SIY) and families. The goals and objectives of these modalities will be explained. Core principles will be explained as well as techniques which can be applied within efforts to support SIY and their families.

One of the most significant challenges for supporting caregivers of system involved youth (SIY) is helping them recognize, promote and enhance their ability to meet their own needs, solve their own problems, and mobilize the necessary resources to feel in control of their own lives. To be successful change agents within their own families, caregivers need self-regulating techniques so they can minimize the influence of negative personal history while being “present” to guide their children to be successful in life’s important activities. In this training, we will explore how to enhance the caregiver capacity for empowerment and advocacy. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us […]

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives

This presentation will introduce you to a progressive model of understanding psychosis with system-involved youth. Participants will learn language to describe experiences of psychosis that is empowering and less pathologizing for system-involved youth. Through didactic presentation and screening tools, this training will help participants learn skills and strategies from CBTp and DBT to engage system-involved youth experiencing psychosis.

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.

With an interactive, workshop-style flow, we will weave together independent reflection, small groups breakout space, and full group dialogue. Attendees will be offered tools and practices to support a deeper understanding of the impacts of internalized oppression, domination, and subordination with clients and colleagues who are engaged in or impacted by the child welfare system.

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

This training will assist providers in reflecting on their own power and privilege within their personal identities, while also considering the intersectional context of their youth clients in out of home care. Through personal assessment, group discussion, and multimedia, participants will define microaggressions, bias, power, privilege, and learn to recognize them. Participants will review four frameworks (Client-Centered, Critical Race Theory, Person-in-Environment, and Trauma-Informed Care) to reflect on power & privilege dynamics within their work with youth and families. Finally, through group activity and roleplay, participants will develop personal strategies to intervene when witnessing the perpetration of damaging messages and embody what it feels like to respond in uncomfortable situations, particularly […]

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.

In this workshop, we will demonstrate through theory, case studies, and practice how the sandtray can be a powerful tool to use in Gestalt Play support strategies for children and adolescents and for their family members. Using the Oaklander Model of Gestalt Play, participants will learn the fundamentals of both virtual and in-person sandtray work. This training will teach how to apply the theory and technique of this projective support strategy, and how to modify it specifically to honor diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging issues which children, adolescents and families face. Oaklander’s approach, employed by therapists worldwide in dozens of cultural contexts, is particularly suited to exploring and extending both […]

This training will support service providers in examining their implicit biases and the adverse impact of these biases on the outcomes of vulnerable youth. Participants will learn about what implicit bias is, how their own biases manifest across settings, and how these biases disproportionality impact at-risk youth, such as clients of color and youth who have experienced trauma. Participants will explore strategies for combating their biases and disproportionate discipline practice in their work.

Training Summary: Reflective supervision has been gaining momentum amongst leaders in social services and mental health. This training will provide an overview of the three pillars of reflective supervision. We will also discuss strategies to implement reflective supervision with your team. This training is ideal for individuals in leadership roles and those interested in taking on supervisory roles in the future. Class Objectives: (what knowledge, ideas or skills will participants explore, learn, practice, etc during the training) 1. Participants will be able to explain reflective supervision 2. Participants will be able to identify one of the three pillars of reflective supervision 3. Participants will be able to identify at least […]

This training is targeted to those who support system involved youth and their families within community settings such as in the schools and homes. We will focus on understanding unhealthy family relationship patterns and traumatic attachment ruptures via the use of the Pain in the Heart Theory (PITH). For youth in the continuum of care, their lives are very disrupted by these ruptures due to removal from home, losing placements, deportation and incarceration, to mention a few. Once we are able to understand the pain, we will be ready to know where the healing needs to occur so that our youth can start experiencing positive outcomes in all of their […]

This training will focus on the developmental needs that are specific to young children in foster care. Approaches to assessing their functioning will be reviewed. Strategies for helping foster youth in a way that enhances resilience will also be discussed.

The purpose of this part 2 training is to further consider the processes of racial socialization and the ways in which providers can support children’s and families’ racial identity exploration and development. The presenter will describe theories and research related to racial socialization, including: (1) children’s developing conceptions of race and racial bias, (2) children’s experiences of racism and discrimination, (3) impacts of racism on mental health and functioning, and (4) processes of racial identity development.

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

While foster care providers must address the challenges of improving child safety, well-being, and stability, they also must meet the needs of an increasingly culturally and ethnically diverse child welfare population. This series of trainings will review how important it is to consider culture when working with youth in out of home care, how to improve communication across diverse cultures and to support foster parents provide culturally relevant caregiving.

While foster care providers must address the challenges of improving child safety, well-being, and stability, they also must meet the needs of an increasingly culturally and ethnically diverse child welfare population. This series of trainings will review how important it is to consider culture when working with youth in out of home care, how to improve communication across diverse cultures and to support foster parents provide culturally relevant caregiving.

Mental Health Providers working at the Assessment Center are often collaborating with Child Welfare Workers, caregivers, and other providers to support the wellbeing of youth in foster care. Providers attending this training will learn about how placement is determined for youth in foster care. Participants will also review how to develop a case plan and learn strategies on how to support youth transitioning into placement in foster care and connect them to resources in the community.

Service providers working with youth at times learn of information that impacts the family and house environment. This training will explore ways to provide feedback in a way that resonates with caregivers. Participants will identify different levels of feedback, underlying principles in the process of giving difficult feedback, and ways to support caregivers in the moment when hearing challenging feedback. This training will include case examples and small group discussion and activities.

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 are often discussed in ways that leaves families at times 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 welfare workers. (Register for this training here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JIJ9ydw272Ln7Y3qo3WolzsFU5U_stBDG8hAlMWv8qU/edit?ts=6324af96)

The language of video games is one that spans through cultures across the globe, and is practiced in many homes across the country. Technological advancements in this area often leave providers with more questions than answers about how youth are being affected by their video game usage. This training will provide education pertaining to youth who game across a variety of systems, and will offer providers new ways to engage and build rapport with children and adolescents who game in addition to training on how to spot problematic gaming. Cultural considerations related to videogaming will also be reviewed.

This training provides an examination of the culture, history, divisions, and landscape of Alameda County Foster youth that live there. The cultural philosophies and orientations that form from living in different areas, the economic, political, and social realities that impact children living in Oakland and the philosophical and psychological sources that influence the children and their behaviors will also be reviewed. Explorations highlight how different areas, schools, turfs, and sets exist and affect the diverse youth populations and their needs over time. Participants will discuss how having a better understanding of the contextual conditions and circumstances in which these children live in can help in fostering inclusivity and cultural acceptance, […]

This training will review why it is important to create inclusive spaces when working with foster youth. Enabling all members of our community to participate and contribute can increase the engagement of the diverse voices of foster youth. Respectful spaces create a sense of belonging and a safe place to engage in dialogue, to learn, and to grow.

With the vast majority of foster youth belonging to ethnic and racial minority groups, there is importance in exploring policies and procedures in youth-serving systems that will impact youth-of-color disproportionately, while also developing strategies for transforming the system of care to one that is increasingly equitable and empowering for youth of color. This training reviews tools for cultural examination within organizations that serve foster youth.

Working with foster youth can pose numerous challenges and can often lead to providers experiencing secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. This training reviews ways to foster resilience and continue building positive relationships with foster youth. Providers attending this training are reminded of the positive impacts they can have when working with foster youth. Providers are given the opportunity to share successful practices and strategies when working with foster youth that have led to prosocial behaviors.

Traditional ways of measuring successful outcomes for foster youth and families often have involved metrics that do not connect to the transformational change that they wish to see in their lives. A family-centered approach to examining outcomes and managing decisions related to youth/family care involves the use of data and metrics that reflect the vision that youth/families have for a positive outcome. This training examines ways to measure progress and outcomes within foster youth systems that are more family-centered.

This training is designed to present and consider the impact of multiple forms of trauma and oppression on our youth and their families and communities as well as build shared language and commitment to implementing and sustaining trauma-informed, culturally-grounded healing policies and practices. The training aims to provide new insights into the dynamic and systemic impact of violence on individual and community development, the impacts of personal and collective trauma on adolescent mental health, and strengthen successful clinical and organizational practices for serving trauma-exposed youth and communities.

Placement changes for foster youth can at times bring up a culture clash of values, beliefs, and understandings of how to best support youth in culturally responsive ways. This training provides multiple frameworks for understanding cultural identity and context of youth and families. Participants will review the ADDRESSING model, and Sociocultural Identity Wheels, the Layered Ecological Model of the Multicultural Guidelines, and the Bronfenbrenner Ecological Model.

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 […]

Youth in residential or shelter placements who are also in a state of crisis can at times be at risk and could potentially use to harm themselves or others. Providers attending this training will learn how to be aware of the elements of the environment that may pose a serious risk to youth who could develop suicidal ideation. Attendees will learn strategies for mitigating risks to ensure the safety of the youth, staff, and visitors. Providers will discuss screening for suicide risks, safety planning, and how to best support youth in a milieu setting while being aware of the environmental risks.

Changing systems to support best practices can often be discouraging when conversations do not lead to actions. If the conversation is collapsed, it can create more harm and recreate the same systemic issues that need to be addressed. This training validates the importance of including the voice of the provider and explores the immediate need to take a proactive, restorative and harm reduction approach. Providers will discuss new approaches to embody anti-racist work while working within systems of care. This training will provide tools to empower providers and youth to disrupt harmful language or experiences by responding in ways that everyone can feel safe and valued at the Assessment Center.

This training will review the impact of trauma on children, youth and families particularly families who have had contact with DHS or have experienced any family separations and/or foster placement. The training will also review the impact of trauma on communities and systems and will encourage participants to consolidate and put these concepts into practice using case based scenarios. This training will highlight the benefits of utilizing strategies that are trauma based as well as restorative practices within a social justice frame.

This training will explore ways to provide feedback in a way that reflects the client’s story and experience through accessible language. Furthermore, it will focus on discussing strategies to create effective feedback stories.

Given the amount of trauma system involved youth and families have experienced, it’s crucial for those who support them to understand common trauma responses and how they may manifest. Although fight, flight, and freeze are more commonly known, there is increasingly more acknowledgment of the fawn response. This training will provide an overview of these common responses, how they manifest and how to support system-involved youth who are experiencing them. Not only is it important for us to understand these trauma responses, but it’s equally as important to help system-involved youth understand how they show up in their lives and may even be impeding their functioning at home, at school, […]

There is need to focus on the development of infants within the foster care system. Understanding Infant Mental Health, which is a relatively new, is important to support the appropriate development of infants within the child welfare system. This session addresses a wide range of areas including the importance of attachment, building relationships, responsive caregiving as well as challenges or needs in infants that can disrupt these processes. Participants will gain a better understanding of the overall needs of infants, toddlers, and young children and their families and strategies for supporting them.

Child sexual exploitation is a major child protection issue for communities across the country. Hidden from view and often unnoticed, vulnerable young girls and boys are recruited, groomed and then abused, leaving them traumatized and without support. This training is a framework for engaging with sexually exploited youth and will offer suggestions for talking with youth.

Shifting to providing telehealth services can present a number of complexities and challenges for foster youth and their caregivers. Often times, providers may need to make a concerted effort to re-engage foster youth and their caregivers in services. Additionally, providers may need to reassess the most pressing needs facing foster families in order to promote stability. This training will cover the legal and ethical considerations to providing telehealth to foster youth and families, as well as review strategies for continued engagement in services.

Considered by scholars to be the oldest practiced healing science, this training will provide a holistic approach to health that can be applied to helping foster youth improve their wellbeing through the use of different modalities. These practices emphasize the uniqueness of an individual and offers approaches based on foster youth’s individual needs. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of this approach. They will gain insight into how a youth’s unique individual needs can surface. They will also learn how to incorporate these to help youth use their 5 senses to achieve wellbeing and resiliency. (Register for this training here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JIJ9ydw272Ln7Y3qo3WolzsFU5U_stBDG8hAlMWv8qU/edit?ts=6324af96)

Shame is perhaps the most excruciating emotion youth experience, sometimes embedded deeply into their experiences of emotional abuse. It is also a signal that can assist in protecting and maintaining social bonds. Because of its aversive nature, there is a natural inclination to avoid shame either by denying, avoiding, ignoring, or rising above it. However, failure to tend to youth experiences of shame can lead to other negative consequences. Avoidance may foreclose rich and crucial channels to understanding and deepening human relationships, particularly within foster families. In this class, participants will look at the topic of shame: how a relationship to shame can inhibit and/or facilitate work with foster youth. […]

Shame is perhaps the most excruciating emotion youth experience, sometimes embedded deeply into their experiences of emotional abuse. It is also a signal that can assist in protecting and maintaining social bonds. Because of its aversive nature, there is a natural inclination to avoid shame either by denying, avoiding, ignoring, or rising above it. However, failure to tend to youth experiences of shame can lead to other negative consequences. Avoidance may foreclose rich and crucial channels to understanding and deepening human relationships, particularly within foster families. In this class, participants will look at the topic of shame: how a relationship to shame can inhibit and/or facilitate work with foster youth. […]

This training is focused on how simple acts of appreciations, compassion and Community Building helps with symptoms of Vicarious Trauma felt by providers and families working with foster youth and youth at risk in the system. Participants will gain experience through discussion and activities of strategies underlying appreciations and gratitude practices. Through exercises encouraging reflection on compassion and building of relationships and community, participants will gain an experiential understanding of how to strengthen families and natural supports surrounding youth.

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, through an exploration of parental stress responses and childhood diagnoses. Participants will then formulate effective tools and techniques when engaging in trauma-informed work.

Trauma informed care is critical and positive development in systems of care, understanding how poverty and racism impact individual children. While this lens moves us in the right direction, it is inadequate. This training introduces a concept of Healing Centered Engagement. By unpacking the missing elements in trauma informed lens, this training outlines and discusses 3 other critical elements to take into consideration when addressing trauma. Understanding trauma typically lead to efforts to eliminate the negative impacts of trauma, but true healing incorporates a lens that supports children and the adults who support them to imagine, envision, and act toward a life of flourishing.

Shifting to providing telehealth services can present a number of complexities and challenges for foster youth and their caregivers. Often times, providers may need to make a concerted effort to re-engage foster youth and their caregivers in services. Additionally, providers may need to reassess the most pressing needs facing foster families in order to promote stability.

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. This training identifies and helps to develop the skills that care providers will need to provide a safe and comfortable environment for foster youth. Participants will work together to determine needs of foster youth by modifying program culture to support these practices.

In this training participants who support youth and their families or significant support persons will learn about youth crisis and how to respond with compassion and safety in mind. Foster youth often exhibit risk behaviors which are misinterpreted as behavioral problems. This training will discuss best practices in working with youth crisis.

Youth in foster care may experience varying degrees of trauma exposure and response. For providers who may be new to working with foster youth, this can pose challenges for engaging and addressing youth’s needs. This training will discuss strategies to address varying levels of trauma that foster youth experience. The aim will be to help providers to understand the proper level of containment once a traumatic event has been experienced.

In this course, participants will be review risk factors and exposure to trauma that Central Americans experience in their country of origin, as well as while residing in the United States. Participants, initially, will review a general introduction to the LatinX American population, such as differences between Latinos/Hispanics/LatinX. The diversity found throughout Latino America will be highlighted to create a foundation in exploring the trauma and challenges that are specific to Central America. Lastly, participants will identify ways to engage and work with LatinX families that are considered supportive and culturally responsive.

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives.

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Youth may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Frameworks are needed for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives.

Communities are continually impacted and challenged in addressing complex trauma in their settings. Children may display a range of symptoms and behaviors that are difficult to organize and understand. Teachers, providers and caregivers need frameworks for interpreting behaviors and expanding practices that build a more attuned and responsive environment. This course will offer providers a framework of understanding traumatic impact in terms of arousal and attachment behaviors that can guide response and support improved functioning in the community, participation in tasks required for daily functioning. Facilitated discussion, didactic material, and experiential exercises will be used to discuss the themes and address class objectives

This training will cover the implementation of the problem-solving framework as an assessment tool through identifying dangerous behaviors, responding to simple assault with crisis communication, documenting the phases of the assault cycle, using evasion to minimize physical contact, and debriefing an assault crisis to model healthy problem solving.

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 […]

1 in 12 children are impacted by the death of a sibling or parent by the time they are 18 years old. Proper grief-informed education, support, and resources are known to greatly reduce the impact of stressors related to loss and support healthy development (CBEM,2022). Since grief processing for system-involved youth and teens differs from adults, they may benefit from alternative options in expressions, storytelling, and healthy coping strategy development. This training will focus on utilizing activities rooted in evidence that are appropriate for system-involved youth that have experienced grief and loss.

This training will be a participation-based training in an activity to minimize traumatic experiences, particularly in relationship to placement changes and attachment disruptions.

Intimate partner violence continues to happen in families with alarming frequency, and is likely to happen more frequently during stressful economic and social times such as these. It is clear that both adults and children are impacted when there is intimate partner violence. According to research, adult intimate partner violence often occurs in the same homes that child abuse occurs. Consequently, many children and teens who are in the child welfare system have witnessed violence between adult caregivers, and they carry the emotional scars and behavioral symptoms of having been impacted. Is intimate partner violence between parents experienced by children the same way as other exposure to violence? How can […]

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

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 […]

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.

This training is focused on working collaboratively with system related providers on behalf of youth in care. We will facilitate a conversation with providers on how to exercise professionalism when difficult situations present themselves in the work. Further, the training will explore how to navigate difficult conversations related to providers on behalf of youth in care. This training will encourage and empower providers to explore where their biases are and how they may impact youth in care and the effectiveness of engaging youth in their services.

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.

Trauma can impact development, biology, relationships, and much more. For youth who are in foster care, often they have experienced the trauma of separation in addition to traumas that led to the separation from biological family. In this training, the impact of traumatic stress on the brain of foster youth is discussed. Participants receive a foundational understanding of the parts and processes of brain development that are impacted directly after trauma as well as the long-term impacts of complex trauma on foster youth.

Child sexual exploitation is a major child protection issue for communities across the country. Hidden from view and often unnoticed, vulnerable young girls and boys are recruited, groomed and then abused, leaving them traumatized and without support. Issues specific to sexual exploitation of youth, including the difficulty in identifying youth at risk, can make the provision of appropriate services a challenge for systems that serve the youth. This training is a framework for engaging with sexually exploited youth and will offer suggestions for talking with youth.

Created by an RCS Licensed Clinician, this training explores the impact of childhood trauma on child behavior and mental health. The material includes information about signs and symptoms of PTSD in children, and how parents and caregivers can address it, as well as tips and strategies for remaining calm to help calm a traumatized child. Register Here

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.

This ongoing workshop is designed to provide participants with both foundational tools for exploring conversations around cultural identity and privilege, as well as provide experiential opportunities and conversation to deepen an understanding of cultural identity and how this impacts services and systems for foster youth. This group will be meeting in support of becoming stronger culturally responsive professionals that aligns with overall efforts to participate in anti-racism work and serve marginalized youth. Participants will be provided space to explore cultural lenses and instances of privilege, but also the power inherent in this identity and the impact it has interpersonally and professionally through various tasks of the privileged (from Kenneth V. […]

This month was designed to support service providers in deepening their awareness of race and the impact it has on their ability to serve at risk youth and families of color. We discussed and looked closely at dilemmas each participant was confronting with youth/families or interpersonally with other providers working with youth. We used the article by Tema Okun to better identify a racial identity development trajectory, as well as looked at “stress shapes” to create better language for the defensive structures that may be in place when we confront elements of racism within foster youth systems.

Addressing race, culture and identity for youth in care requires a commitment to honoring and respecting the youth, families and communities they live in. This is challenging when layering in the impact of trauma, poverty, and racism. This training establishes a common understanding of key words and concepts related to identity and culture. Participants are invited to identify and bring their own culture and identity in the room in order to connect and relate to cultural humility practices that create authentic spaces for culturally supported growth, development and functioning of youth. Participants learn about pitfalls of cultural and identity work as well as effective practices that lead to transformative work […]

This course will review principles and practices of accountability to build a working knowledge and practice of Relational Leadership. The course will frame accountability practices within Trauma-Informed Competencies to develop strong professional relationships to influence growth for providers that conduct their services within teams. Attendees will discuss and practice in a Trauma Informed orientation while facilitating an analysis of competencies in the context of alliance, privilege, and client care. Content of this course will be delivered in a stepwise approach that lays the foundation of these principles for the contextual application and analysis of the practices through a combination of didactic presentation, break-out group discussion, and role-play.

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, […]

This training will focus on the specific needs of children in foster care and group homes. Participants will discuss how attachment challenges arise in youth in foster care and strategies for understanding them. Discussion will also focus on strategies to work with and to help foster youth stabilize in placement.

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 […]

Direct care providers who serve and support commercially sexually exploited youth (CSEC) are particularly vulnerable to burnout, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma. This increased risk for unintended, “negative impacts” is due to the nature of the work, the settings in which the work takes place, and the systemic surround. All of this combines to create pressure and potentially harmful impacts for providers doing work that is already intense, trauma-exposed, and at times dangerous and isolating. For providers to serve and support CSEC with the best care possible, providers need their support and attention with regards to vicarious trauma vulnerabilities and self-care strategies. This training will explore vulnerabilities and related […]

This training offers the opportunity for providers to learn about the complexities of working with youth in the foster care system and reflect on challenges they have experienced. Providers will discuss complex trauma and the different ways complex trauma can manifest. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about how to best support youth by promoting resilience and utilizing trauma informed care practices.

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. (Register for this training here:

The training, focused on the incorporation and integration of multiple sources of data to inform evidence-based conclusions, prioritizes a strong empirical basis for conclusions for those involved in the foster care system. Diagnoses, clinical and parental decisions, and recommendations must stem from an evidence-based approach to integrating data from multiple sources and often reconciling contradictory data, and this training provides the framework for such work.

In this training, service providers of foster youth are invited to reflect on the challenges of working with foster youth. Participants will strategize together on methods for working with foster youth in a milieu setting. Milieu service providers are exposed to youth with a potential for, or a known history of, assaultive behavior. This training will provide tools for service providers to mitigate secondary trauma and promote resilience within team based care for foster youth.

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.

The focus of this training/seminar series is to honor the toll of racial trauma on queer & trans youth of color, to explore ways to support their cultural needs in complex systems. The training will facilitate conversations around accountability, collective action, and collective healing by connecting liberation psychology theory and praxis to achieve mental health justice and explore ways to support youth and families around mental health needs. This training will focus on connecting liberation social movements within liberation movements in mental health services. This training addresses how these concepts impact the overall health of foster youth, youth in probation, or youth at risk of involvement in systems. In the […]

The Assessment Center serves youth with varying needs who come from diverse ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. This training invites participants to explore cultural humility practices to authentically engage with foster youth from diverse backgrounds. Participants will have an understanding of key concepts related to identity and culture in order to provide foster youth with culturally relevant care. Participants will explore various identities to support continued development in working across diverse cultural groups.

The Assessment Center provides a safe place for youth to stay while they await placement within the Foster Care system. Youth at the Assessment Center have the opportunity to engage in art activities, play video games, listen to music, and read a book. Since the Assessment Center has become a licensed facility, youth can stay at the Assessment Center for up to 72 hours. This training focuses on modifying program culture to promote social, emotional, and intellectual well being of foster youth while they are at the Assessment Center. Providers will contribute to supporting foster youth’s developmental needs and restoring developmentally appropriate functioning.

Transitional age youth in care represent a higher percentage of the population in probation than the general population of youth. Providers, child welfare professionals, and caregivers working with youth in care who participate in this training will understand essential information about the probation system in Alameda County and identify strategies and resources for helping youth and families best navigate this component of the legal system and understand youth rights.

Transitional age youth in care represent a higher percentage of the population in probation than the general population of youth. Providers, child welfare professionals, and caregivers working with youth in care who participate in this training will understand essential information about the probation system in Alameda County and identify strategies and resources for helping youth and families best navigate this component of the legal system and understand youth rights.

Transitional age youth in care represent a higher percentage of the population in probation than the general population of youth. Providers, child welfare professionals, and caregivers working with youth in care who participate in this training will understand essential information about the probation system in Alameda County and identify strategies and resources for helping youth and families best navigate this component of the legal system and understand youth rights.

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 […]

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.

A sense of community, belonging, and relational connections have been found to be key factors in mitigating the impact of secondary trauma and can be especially impactful for caregivers, providers, and social workers to integrate into their sustainability practices. This training highlights the healing power of community and connection will then also be applied to supporting youth in care, as this is a primary obstacle for many of our foster youth as they are often removed from their communities of origin and connections and have this experience again and again as they move through placement. Secondary trauma exposure often leads to isolation, withdrawing from family and social connections, and a […]

This training will focus on theory, research and practice covering individual developmental growth regarding the positive impact of Narrative strategies for engagement with youth and their families. Importance will be placed on the intersectionality of youth and families who are who have benefited from Narrative engagement approaches. Examples of engagements from the presenter will include strengths and challenges of Narrative approaches to engagement to support providers with developing their own unique engagement strategies.