Schedule of Workshops
The Prevention Training Program


Trainings will begin at 9:00 A.M. or 1:00 P.M. as noted. All classes will be held at The Consultation Center unless otherwise stated. A letter of confirmation and directions will be sent to you following receipt of your completed registration. Participants are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes before the training event.

TO REGISTER:  Participants must pre-register for the trainings. Click the Register Now link.

Note: Class size is limited and you may be placed on a waiting list if the workshop is full. 
 

NOVEMBER 2011     DECEMBER 2011     JANUARY 2012     FEBRUARY 2012     MARCH 2012     APRIL 2012     MAY 2012

 

NOVEMBER 2011

Promoting Youth Participation and Leadership to Impact Program Outcomes Register Now
11/18/11 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructor: Deborah Stewart, B.A., CPP

This workshop will focus on youth development practices that engage young people in meaningful leadership roles and result in positive outcomes for youth, adult advisors, and the larger community. Research findings from selected best practice program models will be discussed and used for understanding the critical variables for supporting and sustaining youth engagement. A range of tools for assessing youth and overall program outcomes, as well as community impact will be shared and discussed. Participants will receive assistance in modifying or refining site-specific plans for documenting program outcomes. Diverse youth presenters will demonstrate skills and knowledge gained as a result of high quality youth management practices, and be available for small group discussion.  

DECEMBER 2011

A Perspective on Ethical Issues in Prevention Practice and Research (For Certification) (6 NASW CECs)   Register Now
12/2/11 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: David L. Snow, Ph.D. and Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

This training will provide a perspective on ethical issues frequently encountered in implementing community-based prevention programs and in conducting prevention research. Ethical issues will be considered related to: 1) values and value conflicts and determining intervention goals and objectives, 2) principles that guide the processes of action and implementation, 3) ethical dilemmas related to informed consent, and 4) conducting prevention research in community settings and how findings are shared with stakeholders. An experiential component will be built in throughout to involve participants in debating the resolution of various ethical dilemmas. Participants will become familiar with federal and local confidentiality laws and professional codes of conduct/ethics.

Environmental Interventions in Prevention  Register Now
12/9/11 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor:
Deborah Stewart, B.A., CPP

This workshop will include a review of best practices in environmental strategies, sample programs from Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) communities in Connecticut, and group problem-solving on case examples. Strategies planned and implemented to reach and engage youth, parents, and community members will be shared along with resources to support and measure program effectiveness.

JANUARY 2012    Back to Top

Creating and Implementing a Self-Help Group: Bridging Prevention and Recovery   Register Now
1/6/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

This workshop is designed to train participants on how to start and maintain a self-help group. This training is geared toward facilitators and group leaders who are interested in exploring strategies that will keep a self-help group alive, productive, and positive. Topics that will be covered in the training include: 1) attendance and group size; 2) sharing group leadership and avoiding facilitator burnout; and 3) working with difficult group members. Participants who are currently running a self-help group will have the opportunity to receive consultation about particular challenges they are facing in their respective groups for shared problem-solving. 

Prevention Group Work with Adolescent Girls  (6 NASW CECs)   Register Now
1/13/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructor: Raynetta Woods, MSW

Gender-specific prevention work with adolescent girls challenges group facilitators to select topics and strategies that fit the developmental needs of group members. Based on experience with girls’ groups for middle and high school age females, this workshop will emphasize and provide opportunities to discuss gender-specific work with girls; developmental issues; curricular resources; and address structure, activities and group leadership issues. 

Hidden Lives: Immigrant and Refugee Youth in Our Communities, Services and Programs  Register Now
1/20/12 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors:
Terry Freeman, MAT, LCSW, CPP-R and Judith Stonger

Youth workers in the prevention field as well as educators can be unaware of the presence and issues of youth from immigrant families in our communities. This workshop will present profiles of CT immigrant youth (legal and undocumented), issues they encounter in our schools and communities, and important information and strategies for working effectively with these youth and their parents. A panel of immigrant youth will share their experiences and join the discussion with workshop participants. 

Coping with Work and Family StressTM 
An Intervention
 to Prevent Alcohol Abuse and Psychological Symptoms (SAMHSA Model Program) (6 NASW CECs) Register Now
1/20/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: David L. Snow, Ph.D. and Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

This training will provide training in the rationale, design, and implementation of a science-based workplace coping skills intervention aimed at reducing alcohol abuse and psychological symptoms among employees. Participants will: 1) learn a risk and protective factor model that links selected factors from work and family domains to alcohol abuse and psychological symptoms, 2) review the rationale and content of a workplace intervention aimed at enhancing employee’s skills in coping with work and family stress, and 3) examine various issues and strategies for introducing the program into the workplace. 

Risk and Protective Factors for Older Adults Regarding
Alcohol and Medication and Abuse                                        
  Register Now
1/27/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Donna Fedus, M.A.

As we age, our bodies change the way alcohol and medications are processed. Normal aging actually puts older adults at risk for alcohol and medication misuse. Unintentional misuse can lead to dependence and even abuse. Normal age-related physiological changes will be discussed as they relate to alcohol and medication misuse. The attitudes of health professionals and family caregivers about older adults’ alcohol and medication use, additional risk and protective factors, assessment tools and community resources will also be addressed.

FEBRUARY 2012    Back to Top

Core Competencies in Prevention (For Certification)  Register Now
2/3/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

This course provides an overview of prevention approaches by emphasizing its core competencies of practice, including training and community education, community program development, consultation and technical assistance, community advocacy, and program evaluation. At the end of the workshop participants in the course will: 1) be able to describe the major core competencies in prevention, 2) have developed skills to implement prevention services for at least two core competencies, and 3) be able to identify resources to gain further expertise in specific core competencies as their practice needs change. 

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease and Coping Strategies for Caregivers  Register Now
2/10/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructor: Donna Fedus, M.A.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s Disease is extremely challenging, whether you are a professional or a family caregiver. In this workshop, you will learn to distinguish normal memory loss from Alzhiemer's Disease; the importance of a diagnosis; brain changes and behavioral challenges that accompany the progression of Alzheimer’s Disease; and strategies to help caregivers cope with the difficult behaviors associated with the disease. These strategies help the person with Alzheimer’s maintain maximum independence and dignity.

Working with Fathers: Practical and Relational Issue in Support of Families  Register Now
2/24/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Derrick M. Gordon, Ph.D.

To date little to no attention has been paid to the role of fathers and men in healthy family and community life. With the advent of new Federal and State mandates, programs and service providers are being asked to make their offerings more inclusive of men and fathers. This presentation will provide an introduction to some of the challenges faced, offer helpful suggestions to addressing these challenges, and engage participants in thinking long-term about enhancing program offering to men and fathers in support of their agency's mission. Participants are asked to come prepared to talk about their agency mission, challenges faced to date in working with men and fathers, and their vision for their work with this population.

MARCH 2012    Back to Top

Responding to the Needs of Veterans Returning from War  Register Now
3/2/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: Jim Tackett and Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

Studies suggest that up to 20% of combat Veterans will return from war with a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of the 700,000 Veterans already enrolled in VA, half are receiving mental health treatment. The purpose of the training is to: 1) Familiarize mental health professionals, and others, regarding the nature of military service in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. 2)Discuss the prevalence of psychological and behavioral challenges facing returning Veterans, often referred to as the Hidden Wounds of war. 3)Provide an overview of federal and state services and benefits available to Veterans and their families. 

Legal Issues and Emotional Dynamics in Grandfamilies   (3 NASW CECs)    Register Now
3/9/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructors: Donna Fedus, M.A. and Kathleen Lutz

The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Program at The Consultation Center aims to preserve and support the integrity of grandfamilies in order to prevent children from entering the child welfare system. Some of the reasons grandparents and other relatives take over child-rearing duties often involve a single parent who becomes overwhelmed with financial problems, is incarcerated, succumbs to illness or substance abuse, or dies. High rates of divorce and teen pregnancies fuel the phenomenon. The probability of early exposure to trauma puts children raised by relatives at high risk for emotional, physical and educational disorders. The grandparents also are a high-risk population due to the impact of increased stress on their health and financial vulnerability arising from the unexpected need to raise children while simultaneously managing their own aging. This workshop will provide an in-depth look at the legal issues and emotional dynamics common in grandfamilies which are layered over the normal strains of childrearing.

Community Organization: Part 1 - Introduction Register Now
3/16/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. THIS TRAINING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR 3/30/12
Instructors: Deborah Stewart, B.A., CPP and Esther Armmand, B.S.

History and theories behind U.S. community organizing practices will be reviewed, with current examples from Connecticut groups and communities involved in building citizen participation and social change. Both youth and adult organizing strategies will be discussed, with particular attention to case examples of community issues such as substance abuse, community safety, racial/ethnic disparity issues, and the environment. 

A Perspective on Ethical Issues in Prevention Practice and Research (For Certification)  (6 NASW CECs)  Register Now
3/23/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: David L. Snow, Ph.D. and Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

This training will provide a perspective on ethical issues frequently encountered in implementing community-based prevention programs and in conducting prevention research. Ethical issues will be considered related to: 1) values and value conflicts and determining intervention goals and objectives, 2) principles that guide the processes of action and implementation, 3) ethical dilemmas related to informed consent, and 4) conducting prevention research in community settings and how findings are shared with stakeholders. An experiential component will be built in throughout to involve participants in debating the resolution of various ethical dilemmas. Participants will become familiar with federal and local confidentiality laws and professional codes of conduct/ethics.

Positive Racial and Ethnic Identity Development in Children and Adolescents Register Now
3/23/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors:
Jeana Bracey, Ph.D. and Raynetta Woods, MSW

This workshop will explore the process of racial identity development with the goal of training youth service providers to promote positive development among adolescents. The workshop will include an overview of racial identity development models, an examination of the role of stereotypes and biases, and will provide practical examples of ways to promote positive identity when working with youth. Workshop participants will engage in interactive activities to promote personal growth around cultural awareness and positive identity. 

Introduction to Suicide Prevention  Register Now
3/30/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

In any given year in the United States, approximately 30,000 individuals commit suicide and thousands more make attempts. It is estimated that 90% of those who die by suicide at any age have a diagnosable mental illness, most often depression, making the identification, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with emotional disorders critical to suicide prevention efforts. Suicide is clearly a clinical issue, but it is also a public health or environmental issue, requiring a shift in focus that not only includes prevention and treatment at the individual level, but also includes prevention at the community level. This course will include an overview of risk and protective factors across the lifespan that place certain individuals at increased risk for suicide. An array of preventive intervention strategies will be explored, including examples of “effective” and “promising” evidence-based programs. Participants will: 1) learn about the signs and symptoms of mental illness and the risk factors for suicide for individuals across the lifespan and 2) increase their awareness of multi-level preventive intervention strategies targeting individuals and communities. An interactive component will be built in throughout.

Community Organization: Part 1 - Introduction Register Now
3/30/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: Deborah Stewart, B.A., CPP and Esther Armmand, B.S.

History and theories behind U.S. community organizing practices will be reviewed, with current examples from Connecticut groups and communities involved in building citizen participation and social change. Both youth and adult organizing strategies will be discussed, with particular attention to case examples of community issues such as substance abuse, community safety, racial/ethnic disparity issues, and the environment. 

Part 2 Hidden Lives: Immigrant and Refugee Youth in Our Communities, Services and Programs Register Now
3/30/12 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
Instructor:
Terry Freeman, MAT, LCSW, CPP-R

This workshop will build on Part 1, examining relevant policies and practices in our programs, and working with scenarios typical of this youth population. Youth workers in the prevention field as well as educators can be unaware of the presence and issues of youth from immigrant families in our communities. This workshop will present profiles of CT immigrant youth (legal and undocumented), issues they encounter in our schools and communities, and important information and strategies for working effectively with these youth and their parents.

APRIL 2012    Back to Top

Needs Assessments and Program Evaluation: Collection and Utilization of Archival and Novel Data  Register Now
DATE CHANGE - 4/13/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:15 P.M.
Instructor:
Amy Griffin, M.A.

This workshop is geared to participants who have some understanding or experience with needs assessments and/or program evaluation. The workshop will review how the collection of needs assessment data and the development of outcomes that are measurable, realistic (program can impact them), feasible (program can collect the data) and useful and impact both the development of a program and the evaluation of the efficacy of a program. Participants will also be exposed to a variety of ways to collect or access data for needs assessments and assessing program outcomes including: program data, social indicator data, archival data, qualitative data (including key informant interviews and focus groups) and survey data. Finally, participants will learn how to utilize data for ongoing program development and evaluation.

The Entanglement of Family Violence and Substance Use Register Now
4/20/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructor: Julianne Hellmuth, Ph.D.

Review existing research and practice regarding the multiple relationships that exist between family violence and substance use for youth and adults, men and women. Enhance skills to identify family violence as a contributor to substance use for men and women. Be introduced to tools that can be used to assess for family violence and substance use. Enhance skills to intervene with clients who experience family violence and substance use.

Healthy Relationships: Preventing Partner Violence for Young Adults Register Now
4/27/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: Tamora A. Callands, Ph.D.
and Veronique Jaquier Erard, Ph.D.

This interactive workshop will include principles, curricula and strategies for working with adolescents and young adults to promote healthy relationships and prevent dating violence. Based on our curriculum, "Healthy Inside and Out", the workshop will prepare participants for planning and implementing relationship-focused programs to fit adolescents and young adults. Participants will review current knowledge about adolescent and young adults dating violence, sample strategies and materials they can use with adolescents and young adults, and exchange ideas on tailoring curriculum to their own population and setting.

MAY 2012    Back to Top

Health Promotion: Linking Prevention and Health Promotion to Recovery  (3 NASW CECs)   Register Now
5/11/12 9:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Instructor: Susan Ottenheimer, LCSW

A multifaceted training that will provide an overview of health promotion delivered in an array of settings, including knowledge, skills and ideas to help your clients, contacts and colleagues. Learn how research supports effective programming solutions, and how simple techniques can begin a path to wellness.

Community Organization: Part 2 - Advanced Register Now
5/18/12 9:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
Instructors: Deborah Stewart, B.A., CPP and Esther Armmand, B.S.

This interactive workshop will build on Community Organizing, Part 1, including an overview of community organizing strategies and their effectiveness in creating positive change outcomes. Participants will learn specific methods for increasing community engagement, influencing social policy, promoting positive social change. Upon completion, participants will be able to identify community change models, strengthen organizing capacity, mobilize individuals and organizations, and identify resources to support organizing efforts. The workshop will include guest speakers experienced in different community organizing initiatives.

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