Foster Care Training

This Anger Management and Conflict Resolution Skills for System-Involved Youth training equips probation officers, caregivers and all other support/service providers of system-involved youth with trauma-informed strategies to recognize, de-escalate, and respond effectively to anger and conflict behaviors. Participants will explore the underlying causes of anger, including trauma, shame, and unmet needs, while learning how to model emotional regulation and teach constructive coping skills. Through interactive discussions and role-play, participants will practice communication techniques that foster trust, accountability, and resilience. The training emphasizes a healing-centered and relational approach, helping adults guide youth toward positive decision-making and emotional growth.

This training offers a clear framework for building home environments that work for neurodivergent children and youth, especially those involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

This training offers a clear framework for building home environments that work for neurodivergent children and youth, especially those involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems.

“”To heal is to touch with love that which we previously touched with fear”” – Stephen Levine Codependency and interrupted attachment bonds impact our youths’ capacity for relational repair. This course will offer providers topics and themes for exploration with youth in care who experience protective responses in ways that keep them from building secure bonds. Participants will spend time self-reflecting, resource sharing, and honing skills to support foster and systems-impacted youth whose childhood experiences have shaped their emotional bonds and attachment styles. We will explore the brain and body’s response to perceived relational threats to build a foundation of understanding for effective healing and intervention. By tapping into relational […]

This training will support participants to develop common language and frameworks for navigating challenging conversations, practicing accountability, and building a culture of trust on their teams and in their programs.

When providing services in a new community, there are many key areas to focus on to increase staff and youth safety. This training will review best practices for getting to know a new community and identifying potential risk factors and how to respond thoughtfully to each.

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.

This training is for providers who work with system impacted youth. Eligible participants are Alameda county providers, Teachers, Case Managers, and After School Support Staff. In this training, the facilitator will provide information about tools and strategies to develop lasting, supportive relationships with system impacted youth. Trainer will facilitate interactive group discussions and provide case examples to allow participants to explore various approaches to building rapport, offering support, and empowering youth to thrive. By focusing on trust-building, effective communication, and understanding the systemic factors that impact youth, participants will dive into the essential components of creating safe and nurturing environments that foster positive youth development.

This training is for providers who work with system impacted youth. Eligible participants are service providers working with system impacted youth and families. In this training, the facilitator will provide information to help participants understand and effectively navigate their role in providing behavioral guidance to system-impacted youth. Trainer will facilitate interactive group discussions and provide case examples to allow participants to learn strategies for supporting positive behavioral development, promoting self-regulation, and creating a safe, structured environment. Emphasis will be placed on building trusting relationships, setting clear expectations, and using positive reinforcement techniques that align with the needs and experiences of system-impacted youth.

With a growing awareness of neurodivergence, it’s important for social service providers to learn strategies to effectively support them. This training will provide an overview of interpersonal and communication differences neurodiverse youth can have. Providers will learn how to support neurodiverse youth in increasing their interpersonal effectiveness skills and strategies to navigate social situations in a neurotypical world. Register Here

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

This training provides a grounding in the foundations of Play Therapy as well as its applications for children with trauma, children and youth in crisis setting, and applying play based practices across the life span of developing youth. Play therapy continues to be one of the primary interventions recommended by the American Psychological Association for therapeutic intervention treating children with trauma and mental health symptoms.

This training provides a grounding in the foundations of Play Therapy as well as its applications for children with trauma, children and youth in crisis setting, and applying play based practices across the life span of developing youth. Play therapy continues to be one of the primary interventions recommended by the American Psychological Association for therapeutic intervention treating children with trauma and mental health symptoms.

Peer pressure impacts many system-involved youth and at-risk youth. Developmentally, teens are seeking approval from their peers, placing them at heightened risk for succumbing to social influence. Join us as we provide an overview of adolescent development and the impact of social influence on teens. This training will equip participants to have conversations with system-involved youth about peer pressure as well as strategies to teach them for how to navigate peer pressure.

This training provides participants and caregivers with understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and the impact on system-involved youth and families. Participants will learn to recognize the neurological, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges associated with FASD, distinguish these from other behavioral health and developmental conditions, and apply trauma-informed, FASD-sensitive strategies to support youth across systems of care. Through case vignettes, breakout discussions, and skill-building exercises, attendees will gain the tools needed to create collaborative, strengths-based plans that improve outcomes for foster youth and families.

During this introductory training, facilitated fully in Spanish, designed for caregivers, professionals, social workers, educators and others who work with system-involved youth and families who have experienced trauma. The training will cover the principles of trauma-informed care, the effects of trauma on the brain and body, common responses to trauma, screening and assessment for trauma, trauma-informed communication and language, implementing trauma-informed care in organizations and practices and self-care for providers. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout). Register Here

Cultural competency training was the focus of many providers who were serving increasingly more diverse population, with the idea that if they could become more culturally sensitive or competent, that they could provide better care for their patients. While the intention was a good one, the dynamic it often set up was that they were still the expert, the client was ‘the other,’ and ultimately that the providers knew better than the clients and what the clients’ experience was and needs were. Through a process of self-reflection, identifying our different locations of identity, which parts have been historically excluded and which parts of our identity have been historically included, participants […]

Implicit bias is present in society as well as in social services, learning environments, health and many other institutions. It’s important that social service providers understand implicit bias, ways it shows up and how it impacts recommendations, care and ability to build relationships with system-involved youth and young adults. This training will provide an overview of ways implicit bias is present in social services, learning environments and healthcare and how it impacts system-involved youth and young adults and what we can do to address implicit bias when it shows up. Register Here

Learning systems can be intimidating. It can be a challenge for caregivers to navigate. So, we want to equip you with the knowledge and skills to better advocate for at-risk and system-involved youth. The training will provide a description of scholar and caregiver rights; common challenges caregivers face and how we can overcome those challenges. We will discuss services and care plans available. This is a 2-day training. Register Here

With a growing awareness of neurodivergence, it’s important for social service providers to learn strategies to effectively support them. This training will provide an overview of interpersonal and communication differences neurodiverse youth can have. Providers will learn how to support neurodiverse youth in increasing their interpersonal effectiveness skills and strategies to navigate social situations in a neurotypical world. Register Here

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

This training, facilitated fully in Spanish, is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach system-involved youth and their caregivers how to prioritize their well-being and develop a positive sense of self-worth. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to neglect ourselves and struggle with feelings of inadequacy. This training offers a holistic approach for addressing these challenges. Through engaging discussions, interactive activities, and practical exercises, participants will explore the concept of compassion fatigue and strategies to prevent or manage it in order to maintain physical and emotional health. Delve into the connection between these strategies and the development of self-worth, empowering participants to not only recognize […]

This training will be provided in two parts: (Part 1) Facilitation Fundamentals and (Part 2) Advanced Facilitation. Participants can attend one or both Parts and will deepen their understanding of the importance of required elements in a Child and Family Team meeting, and be able to practice facilitation strategies and address common challenges that can arise in these meetings when working to improve outcomes for foster youth and other system-involved youth.

This training will be provided in two parts: (Part 1) Facilitation Fundamentals and (Part 2) Advanced Facilitation. Participants can attend one or both Parts and will deepen their understanding of the importance of required elements in a Child and Family Team meeting, and be able to practice facilitation strategies and address common challenges that can arise in these meetings when working to improve outcomes for foster youth and other system-involved youth.

This training is geared towards anyone who serves and/or supports system-involved youth and families (case managers, family partners, therapists, community workers, supervisors, etc.) and will support training participants in understanding family relationships which can improve the support provided for system-involved youth/families using a strength-based lens with the PITH (Pain in the Heart) questions. Training participants will learn and gain awareness about traumatic attachment ruptures that system-involved youth and families have experienced and enhance their understanding of structural and attachment-based theories which can enable service and support providers to more effectively help system-involved youth who have experienced multiple serious traumas in their lives. We will explore the link between past trauma, […]

This training equips participants with practical strategies to engage disengaged, system-involved youth and their families. Participants will explore systemic and relational barriers to engagement, practice trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches, and learn tools to strengthen collaboration with both youth and caregivers. Through case scenarios, role-play, and group activities, providers will gain hands-on experience applying these strategies. By the end of the training, participants will leave with actionable skills to foster trust, promote youth-centered practices, and build sustainable connections across systems of care.

Sibling relationships are among the most significant and lasting bonds in a child’s life, providing identity, stability, and emotional support. For children and youth in foster care, maintaining sibling connections can serve as a protective factor against trauma, loss, and instability. This interactive training will examine the developmental, emotional, and cultural importance of sibling bonds, the systemic and legal barriers that often disrupt them, and strategies to preserve and strengthen these relationships. Through case examples, research insights, and applied practice tools, participants will gain skills to better support sibling connections and advocate for policies that prioritize family continuity.

Although familial sex trafficking has been a known pathway of entry into commercial sexual exploitation, it is often overlooked. This is problematic as many youth enter the sex trade this way. As more entities are learning about trafficking, familial trafficking is becoming a more prevalent point of discussion. This training will provide an overview of current data about familial trafficking, examples of it, warning signs and impact of familial trafficking. The training will end with a discussion of strategies to support individuals who have been trafficked by a family member. Register Here

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 settings […]

Shame often accompanies trauma and can delay one’s ability to disclose their abuse which can delay one’s healing journey as well as create barriers to utilizing one’s support system. It is crucial for social service providers to understand the connection between shame and trauma. In this training, we will talk about how shame presents in services and what we can do to combat shame. One of the strategies that will be highlighted is self-compassion. Register Here

During this introductory training, facilitated fully in Spanish, designed for caregivers, professionals, social workers, educators and others who work with system-involved youth and families who have experienced trauma. The training will cover the principles of trauma-informed care, the effects of trauma on the brain and body, common responses to trauma, screening and assessment for trauma, trauma-informed communication and language, implementing trauma-informed care in organizations and practices and self-care for providers. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout). Register Here

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. Often their involvement in foster care becomes a risk factor for victimization. Issues specific to sexual exploitation of youth, including the difficulty in identifying youth at risk, can make the provision of appropriate treatment and services a challenge for systems that serve the youth. This training will address the importance of early identification and will present the Commercially Sexually Exploited Identification Tool (CSE-IT) as a method of screening and identifying of commercially sexually […]

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. Often their involvement in foster care becomes a risk factor for victimization. Issues specific to sexual exploitation of youth, including the difficulty in identifying youth at risk, can make the provision of appropriate treatment and services a challenge for systems that serve the youth. This training will address the importance of early identification and will present the Commercially Sexually Exploited Identification Tool (CSE-IT) as a method of screening and identifying of commercially sexually […]

Crisis Prevention Interventions focuses on early intervention and non-physical methods for managing disruptive and aggressive behaviors. Trainers will explore effective communication techniques and the physiological responses that occur during moments of aggression, along with the core philosophy of Care, Welfare, Safety, and Security, which underpins the training. Human service professionals worldwide have participated in CPI programs to learn proven strategies for safely managing situations involving anxious, hostile, or violent behavior, all while preserving therapeutic relationships with those under their care.

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.

Given the prevalence of trauma, it’s important for caregivers to learn about trauma and how to best support their youth. Youth may turn to maladaptive coping skills such as self-harm or substance abuse. They may struggle academically and even behaviorally. They may withdraw or exhibit many other behaviors. It can be hard to make sense of their emotions and behaviors in the wake of trauma. This training will better equip you to talk with caregivers about their youth’s trauma and how best to support them. Register Here

Some caregivers of system-involved youth have struggled or are struggling with substance use. It is important for care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand the impact caregiver substance use has on youths’ development. This training will provide an overview of how caregiver substance use impacts youths’ physical development, social development, academic development and emotional development. Care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports will learn strategies for how to support system-involved youth when caregiver substance use is prevalent. Register Here

Implicit bias is present in society as well as in social services, learning environments, health and many other institutions. It’s important that social service providers understand implicit bias, ways it shows up and how it impacts recommendations, care and ability to build relationships with system-involved youth and young adults. This training will provide an overview of ways implicit bias is present in social services, learning environments and healthcare and how it impacts system-involved youth and young adults and what we can do to address implicit bias when it shows up. Register Here

It is important for caregivers of system-involved youth to learn how to develop the prefrontal cortexes of their children so they can be successful in academic and career related activities, build networks of support, and avoid using drugs and compulsive behavior to self-medicate. In this training, we will explore rapport building strategies which can be both used with caregivers and taught to caregivers. We will also learn strategies for fostering skills in caregivers for Leadership by Facilitation and self-regulation that empower caregivers to have effective, sensitive topic conversations with their children. We will also explore situational leader coaching points that can prepare us to foster caregiver ability to effectively influence […]

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.

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.

Learning systems can be intimidating. It can be a challenge for caregivers to navigate. So, we want to equip you with the knowledge and skills to better advocate for at-risk and system-involved youth. The training will provide a description of scholar and caregiver rights; common challenges caregivers face and how we can overcome those challenges. We will discuss services and care plans available. This is a 2-day training. Register Here

Unfortunately, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral distress are common in the social services and behavioral health fields. When individuals don’t intentionally care for themselves, it can lead to burnout, premature departure from an organization and more. It is crucial for providers to recognize these warning signs and are equipped with strategies to address them. This training will provide an overview of vicarious trauma, moral distress and compassion fatigue. We will discuss strategies to mitigate these by creating self-care plans to be more resilient and compassionate. It’s essential for social service providers to prioritize our overall well-being so we can model it to the youth and families we work with. […]

Many girls and young women struggle with self-esteem. Whether the low self-esteem is related to a history of trauma, depression, comparing oneself to others on social media, etc., it’s important to understand the challenges girls and young women face with self-esteem. In this training you’ll also learn some strategies to help them increase their self-esteem and self-worth. Register Here

With a growing awareness of neurodivergence, it’s important for social service providers to learn strategies to effectively support them. This training will provide an overview of interpersonal and communication differences neurodiverse youth can have. Providers will learn how to support neurodiverse youth in increasing their interpersonal effectiveness skills and strategies to navigate social situations in a neurotypical world. Register Here

Triggers are common for individuals who have been exposed to trauma. They can show up immediately or sometime after the trauma. They can be confusing and difficult to navigate without adequate support. This training will provide an overview of trauma and triggers, common types of trauma triggers and strategies to support system-involved youth and young adults who are being triggered. Register Here

Gratitude has been shown to have positive effects on one’s well-being. This training will provide an overview of the research of gratitude, the impact it has on one’s emotional, physical and spiritual well-being. The training will also cover strategies to teach youth about gratitude as well as how to practice gratitude with system-involved youth. Register Here

Trauma impacts many aspects of one’s life. One of those areas is a scholar’s learning path. It’s crucial to understand how trauma impacts youth in care’s emotional and behavioral health and learning performance. The better we understand how trauma presents, the better we can support caregivers and staff to implement trauma-informed learning environments. Register Here

Shame often accompanies trauma and can delay one’s ability to disclose their abuse which can delay one’s healing journey as well as create barriers to utilizing one’s support system. It is crucial for social service providers to understand the connection between shame and trauma. In this training, we will talk about how shame presents in services and what we can do to combat shame. One of the strategies that will be highlighted is self-compassion. Register Here

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

While mindfulness has grown in popularity to support individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, etc., it’s starting to be recognized as a helpful tool in addressing substance use with system-involved youth and transitional age youth. Join us as we’ll talk about how to apply mindfulness strategies with individuals in substance use recovery. Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/applying-mindfulness-strategies-for-youth-who-use-substance-tickets-1975636818908?aff=oddtdtcreator

During this introductory training, facilitated fully in Spanish, designed for caregivers, professionals, social workers, educators and others who work with system-involved youth and families who have experienced trauma. The training will cover the principles of trauma-informed care, the effects of trauma on the brain and body, common responses to trauma, screening and assessment for trauma, trauma-informed communication and language, implementing trauma-informed care in organizations and practices and self-care for providers. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout). 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.

This training will provide examples of extraordinary frameworks that could improve safety, well-being, and permanency outcomes for children in out-of-home care and how they can be used to find families of children who have no families and help permanently connect children with their kin.

Across the nation, system-involved youth (SIY) are experiencing a rising increase of emotional and behavioral health needs which can negatively affect them in the core areas of their life. All too often, these young people are subjected to unnecessary hospitalizations, long stays in inpatient facilities, juvenile justice system involvement, disproportionate school discipline, and out-of-home placements.. For too many youth, these crises end tragically. All SIY and their families should have access to robust crisis response strategies that address their needs equitably and effectively with appropriate and timely support delivered for optimum results. In this training, we will explore how to enhance our capacity to support SIY & their families encumbered […]

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.

Given the prevalence of trauma, it’s important for caregivers to learn about trauma and how to best support their youth. Youth may turn to maladaptive coping skills such as self-harm or substance abuse. They may struggle academically and even behaviorally. They may withdraw or exhibit many other behaviors. It can be hard to make sense of their emotions and behaviors in the wake of trauma. This training will better equip you to talk with caregivers about their youth’s trauma and how best to support them. Register Here

Some caregivers of system-involved youth have struggled or are struggling with substance use. It is important for care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand the impact caregiver substance use has on youths’ development. This training will provide an overview of how caregiver substance use impacts youths’ physical development, social development, academic development and emotional development. Care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports will learn strategies for how to support system-involved youth when caregiver substance use is prevalent. Register Here

Implicit bias is present in society as well as in social services, learning environments, health and many other institutions. It’s important that social service providers understand implicit bias, ways it shows up and how it impacts recommendations, care and ability to build relationships with system-involved youth and young adults. This training will provide an overview of ways implicit bias is present in social services, learning environments and healthcare and how it impacts system-involved youth and young adults and what we can do to address implicit bias when it shows up. Register Here

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) 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 […]

With the rise in opioid-related deaths across the nation, an informed community response is needed now more than ever. This training will cover the essential components of opioid overdose care and intranasal naloxone (NARCAN) administration in youth. During an interactive presentation, attendees will learn about what causes opioid overdose through a medical lens as well as how to identify and treat overdose victims as community bystanders as well as while working with youth and families. This training will also cover community harm-reduction resources and places to obtain free NARCAN. The training culminates with a group quiz on the topic covered.

This training is a continuation of NSSI Part 1 (required) which will also examine case plan options. This 4.5-hour course is designed to provide staff serving in Group Homes and STRTP’s the skills to enhance Pro-Social behaviors for staff working with traumatized youth and families. The aim of the course is to assist adults working with severe emotional disturbance have some clarity about who self injures, why they self injure and myths associated with self injury.

This training will review the rights of youth and young adult in foster care to sexual and reproductive health care and information, to confidentiality of sensitive health information, and the reasonable and prudent parent standard. It will discuss the duties and responsibilities of the assigned case management worker and the foster care provider in ensuring youth and young adults in foster care can obtain sexual and reproductive health services and information.

Domestic violence/interpersonal violence (DV/IPV) is a growing concern so it’s essential for those who support system-involved youth to understand what it is, how to recognize warning signs and how to support individuals in a violent relationship. This training will provide an overview of domestic violence/interpersonal violence including a history of it in the United States and an overview of groups at heightened risk for domestic violence/interpersonal violence. Participants will learn how to conduct a risk assessment and safety plan for a system-involved youth or caregiver in an abusive relationship and how to support them whether they are still in an abusive relationship or have recently gotten out of one.

Unfortunately, vicarious trauma, compassion fatigue and moral distress are common in the social services and behavioral health fields. When individuals don’t intentionally care for themselves, it can lead to burnout, premature departure from an organization and more. It is crucial for providers to recognize these warning signs and are equipped with strategies to address them. This training will provide an overview of vicarious trauma, moral distress and compassion fatigue. We will discuss strategies to mitigate these by creating self-care plans to be more resilient and compassionate. It’s essential for social service providers to prioritize our overall well-being so we can model it to the youth and families we work with. […]

Many girls and young women struggle with self-esteem. Whether the low self-esteem is related to a history of trauma, depression, comparing oneself to others on social media, etc., it’s important to understand the challenges girls and young women face with self-esteem. In this training you’ll also learn some strategies to help them increase their self-esteem and self-worth. Register Here

With a growing awareness of neurodivergence, it’s important for social service providers to learn strategies to effectively support them. This training will provide an overview of interpersonal and communication differences neurodiverse youth can have. Providers will learn how to support neurodiverse youth in increasing their interpersonal effectiveness skills and strategies to navigate social situations in a neurotypical world. Register Here

When considering the trauma system-involved youth are exposed to, it’s crucial to not only consider individual traumas but it’s also important to consider community violence. Join us as we talk about different types of community violence, its effects on system-involved families and strategies to support them. Without this knowledge, it’s hard to support system-involved youth and families. Register 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 content themes such as early warning sign recognition, effective crisis response protocols, and fostering a positive school climate. Through engaging training techniques, participants will learn to identify behavioral indicators of potential violence, implement crisis response procedures, and cultivate a supportive school environment. Attending this training is highly relevant to supporting foster youth or system-involved youth as they may face additional challenges in school settings. By recognizing early warning signs, attendees can offer timely support to system-involved youth experiencing trauma or emotional distress. Learning effective crisis response protocols will enable them to act swiftly and protect vulnerable youth during critical incidents. Additionally, fostering a positive school […]

Trauma impacts many aspects of one’s life. One of those areas is a scholar’s learning path. It’s crucial to understand how trauma impacts youth in care’s emotional and behavioral health and learning performance. The better we understand how trauma presents, the better we can support caregivers and staff to implement trauma-informed learning environments. Register Here

As more providers are learning about trauma and becoming trauma-informed, it’s crucial to not only focus on trauma but equally as important to focus on resilience. Resilience impacts how individuals respond and recover from trauma. This training will provide an overview on resilience as well as ways to identify and foster resilience with system-involved youth, their families and their communities. The training will also provide strategies to better understand generational resilience. Register Here

Examine the reasons why you chose to work in this field. They can be a “double-edged sword”- by being both the very things that make us excellent at our work and that can also lead to compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Explore how our own “stuff” impacts our work with system-involved youth (SIY) and their families and, if you are a supervisor, how to support those you supervise with all of this. Discuss self-disclosure with system-involved youth and families, explore ourselves and countertransference, identify how we know when we are over-involved with those we support, and review ways to address this.

If you are a supervisor and are supervising unlicensed support providers who are working with system-involved youth and their families, this is an important training for you. We will focus on issues of culture in supervision and also on ethical boundaries in supervision and how this parallels boundaries that support providers need to establish and maintain their relationships with system-involved youth and their families.  We will also review the relevance of countertransference in the supervisory relationship and how to help supervisees identify this in order to stay focused on, and most effectively address, the needs of system-involved youth and their families.

As social services case planning, mental health care, 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.

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.

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

Autistic system-involved youth are regularly expected to interpret, absorb, and adapt to unspoken social norms in structured environments—such as classrooms, courtrooms, Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and group homes—without being taught what those expectations are or why they matter. This training provides participants with the tools to identify where those social assumptions live, how they are communicated, and what alternatives exist. Participants will explore how to support autistic system-involved youth in naming, rejecting, or working around neurotypical social demands that may conflict with their natural communication styles. This session centers the dignity of autistic experience while offering practical approaches for reducing misinterpretations, relational ruptures, and environmental pressure in structured settings.

A well-planned outing can be a gateway to joy, connection, and learning—but for autistic and intellectually disabled system-involved youth (SIY), it can quickly become a truly unsafe experience without thoughtful preparation. This training equips participants with the tools to assess, modify, and prepare for outings that meet the needs of the youth they support. Participants will develop emergency contingency plans, practice neuro-inclusive location assessments, and apply a structured discernment process using a grid system to determine which outings best fit a youth’s needs. Using real-world examples—including the Oakland Zoo, Chabot Space & Science Center, Pretend City Children’s Museum, playgrounds, skateparks, and franchise coffee and restaurants with consistent layouts and designs—this […]

In this training, participants will gain a better understanding of shame and its impact on individuals. Also, participants will explore ways to address shame while building resilience and hope through a compassionate approach to service delivery.

Many system-involved youth struggle with attention deficit and/or hyperactivity. So, it’s important for service/support providers and caregivers to understand these issues in order to best support them. This training will provide an overview of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and how it can present at home and school. The training will also discuss strategies to support system-involved youth with attention deficit and hyperactivity.

Foster youth experience many challenges while navigating the system. One of the most impactful ones is relational permanence. It makes a world of difference if foster youth/transitional age youth have a support system when they exit the foster care system. This training will discuss challenges to establish relational permanence as well as strategies to help foster youth/transitional age youth address these challenges.

Shame often accompanies trauma and can delay one’s ability to disclose their abuse which can delay one’s healing journey as well as create barriers to utilizing one’s support system. It is crucial for social service providers to understand the connection between shame and trauma. In this training, we will talk about how shame presents in services and what we can do to combat shame. One of the strategies that will be highlighted is self-compassion. Register Here

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians.

This course will provide an overview and introduction (or refresher) on the impact of domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) on families and children for both new and experienced clinicians.

During this introductory training, facilitated fully in Spanish, designed for caregivers, professionals, social workers, educators and others who work with system-involved youth and families who have experienced trauma. The training will cover the principles of trauma-informed care, the effects of trauma on the brain and body, common responses to trauma, screening and assessment for trauma, trauma-informed communication and language, implementing trauma-informed care in organizations and practices and self-care for providers. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout). Register Here

In this training attendees will explore crisis interventions, case management approaches and resources using team based care. This training will feature tools and frameworks to provide youth centered trauma-informed care. This training will also use tools to navigate barriers and limitations to services to improve engagement.

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. Often their involvement in foster care becomes a risk factor for victimization. Issues specific to sexual exploitation of youth, including the difficulty in identifying youth at risk, can make the provision of appropriate treatment and services a challenge for systems that serve the youth. This training will address the importance of early identification and will present the Commercially Sexually Exploited Identification Tool (CSE-IT) as a method of screening and identifying of commercially sexually […]

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. Often their involvement in foster care becomes a risk factor for victimization. Issues specific to sexual exploitation of youth, including the difficulty in identifying youth at risk, can make the provision of appropriate treatment and services a challenge for systems that serve the youth. This training will address the importance of early identification and will present the Commercially Sexually Exploited Identification Tool (CSE-IT) as a method of screening and identifying of commercially sexually […]

This seminar will discuss some of the central issues surrounding community-based services and give participants the opportunity to discuss the benefits and challenges about seeing youth in a wide range of community settings. It will provide discussion about using an expanded frame to provide services to foster children and families in the home, school, community centers, parks and other non-traditional settings. In addition to all the complexities, delivering community based services can provide a new way of working with foster youth that can allow a more expanded way of engaging and creating relationships with youth and foster families.

This course will provide relevant information on foster youth that have immigrated to this country and how to best support them in many environments including school, social services, clinical services, and in the community. The trainer will provide information on immigration trauma including: fears of deportation of self and/or extended family members, discrimination, anxiety regarding accessing resources, traumatic experiences prior to immigration, trauma in the process of immigrating, and post-immigration traumatic experiences. The training focus on how to assess for trauma, create safety and connect foster youth who have experienced immigration trauma with the appropriate care.

Given the prevalence of trauma, it’s important for caregivers to learn about trauma and how to best support their youth. Youth may turn to maladaptive coping skills such as self-harm or substance abuse. They may struggle academically and even behaviorally. They may withdraw or exhibit many other behaviors. It can be hard to make sense of their emotions and behaviors in the wake of trauma. This training will better equip you to talk with caregivers about their youth’s trauma and how best to support them. Register Here

Some caregivers of system-involved youth have struggled or are struggling with substance use. It is important for care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports to understand the impact caregiver substance use has on youths’ development. This training will provide an overview of how caregiver substance use impacts youths’ physical development, social development, academic development and emotional development. Care and service providers, foster parents and natural supports will learn strategies for how to support system-involved youth when caregiver substance use is prevalent. Register Here

Implicit bias is present in society as well as in social services, learning environments, health and many other institutions. It’s important that social service providers understand implicit bias, ways it shows up and how it impacts recommendations, care and ability to build relationships with system-involved youth and young adults. This training will provide an overview of ways implicit bias is present in social services, learning environments and healthcare and how it impacts system-involved youth and young adults and what we can do to address implicit bias when it shows up. Register Here

There are many challenges that providers will face when engaging foster youth in the early stages of service. For providers who have never worked in homes or communities, this may present challenges for knowing ways to provide a structure and supportive framework for care and services. Attention is paid to helping providers develop strategies for engaging youth in services and with systems of care. Participants learn strategies to learn how to overcome dilemmas and barriers to accessing or engaging youth in treatment.

This training provides a grounding in the foundations of Play Therapy as well as its applications for children with trauma, children and youth in crisis setting, and applying play based practices across the life span of developing youth. Play therapy continues to be one of the primary interventions recommended by the American Psychological Association for therapeutic intervention treating children with trauma and mental health symptoms.

This training provides a grounding in the foundations of Play Therapy as well as its applications for children with trauma, children and youth in crisis setting, and applying play based practices across the life span of developing youth. Play therapy continues to be one of the primary interventions recommended by the American Psychological Association for therapeutic intervention treating children with trauma and mental health symptoms.