Training Schedule

 

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Ohio Human Services Training System Southwest Region

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All workshops start and 9:00 A.M. and end at 4:00 P.M. unless specified otherwise
 
Please call Lynn Simpson at (513)-946-1792 with any questions.

Click on Course Title  below for Course Description

Date

Intended Participants

Location

Summer Quarter:   June 2010

     
Case Planning and Service Delivery in Adult Protective Services
Georgia Anetzberger, Ph.D.
Sept 22 Recommended for APS Staff and Community Partners Jackson County JFS
(740) 286-4181 ext 327
25 E. South St. - Jackson
Ethics Are Forever - 3.0 hours AM & PM Sessions
Lou Vincent

Sept 27
Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - CMHA
(513) 946-1792
1635 Western Ave
Cincinnati
Understanding The African-American Male
Melvin J. Gravely
Sept 28 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - JFS
(513) 946-1792
222 E. Central Parkway - Room 6SE201 - 6th fl.
Cincinnati
Discipline In The Workplace
Melvin J. Gravely
Sept 29 Staff at all levels & Community Partners  Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton

Fall Quarter: October - December 2010

Date

Intended Participants

Location
Effective Performance Feedback Skills
Rita Rizzo
Oct 4 Attendance is limited to Montgomery CJFS Staff Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
Helping The Poor Find and Keep a Job
Rita Rizzo
 
Oct 5, Attendance is limited to Hamilton CJFS WFD Staff Hamilton County - JFS
(513) 946-1792
222 E. Central Parkway - Room 6SE201 - 6th fl.
Cincinnati
Suicide The Deadly Triangle
Sharon Dudash
Oct 6 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
Anger:  Only One Letter Away From Danger - 3.0 hours AM & PM Sessions
Karen Vadino
Oct 7 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - CMHA
(513) 946-1792
1635 Western Ave
Cincinnati
Everyday Ethics for Clerical Workers in Human Services 3.0 hours AM & PM Sessions
Anthony President
Oct 11 Attendance is limited to Hamilton CJFS Clerical Staff Hamilton County - JFS
(513) 946-1792
222 E. Central Parkway - Room 6SE401 - 6th fl.
Cincinnati
So You Want To Be A Supervisor
Lou Vincent
Oct 12 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
Financial Exploitation of the Elderly
Kevin Craine
Oct 15 Recommended for APS Staff and Community Partners and others with a need of interest in this topic are welcome Ross County JFS
(740) 772-7558
475 Western Ave
Conference Room A - Chillicothe
Office Employee Safety - 3.0 hours AM & PM Sessions
Tyrone White
Oct 15 Attendance is limited to Montgomery CJFS Staff Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 1 & 2 - Dayton
First Aid/CPR
Tyrone White
Oct 18 Attendance is limited to Ross CJFS Staff Ross County JFS
(740) 772-7558
475 Western Ave
Conference Room C - Chillicothe
First Aid/CPR
Tyrone White
Oct 25 Attendance is limited to Ross CJFS Staff Ross County JFS
(740) 772-7558
475 Western Ave
Conference Room C - Chillicothe
Business Writing for Caseworkers
Michael McVey
Oct 25 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - CMHA
(513) 946-1792
1635 Western Ave
Cincinnati
De-Escalating Violent Situations
Lee Nutter
Nov 5 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 225-4529
1111 S Edwin C. Moses Blvd Conference Room C2&3 - Dayton
Performance Appraisal Magic
Rita Rizzo
Nov 8 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
Adult Protective Services Intake and Investigation
Lee Nutter, Ph.D.
Nov 8 & 18 Recommended for APS Staff and Community Partners Hamilton County - SWORTC
(513) 946-2163
420 Wards Corner - Loveland
Conflict In The Workplace - 3.0 hours AM & PM Sessions
Melvin J. Gravely                       
Nov 16 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - CMHA
(513) 946-1792
1635 Western Ave
Cincinnati
How To Make An Effective Presentation
Melvin J. Gravely
Nov 17 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Hamilton County - CMHA
(513) 946-1792
1635 Western Ave
Cincinnati
First Aid/CPR
Tyrone White
Nov 29 Attendance is limited to Hamilton CJFS Staff Hamilton County - JFS
(513) 946-1792
222 E. Central Parkway - Room 6SE201 - 6th fl.
Cincinnati
First Aid/CPR
Tyrone White
Nov 30 Attendance is limited to Hamilton CJFS Staff Hamilton County - JFS
(513) 946-1792
222 E. Central Parkway - Room 6SE201 - 6th fl.
Cincinnati
Chill Out:  Managing Your Anger and Theirs
J. Edward Petrish
Nov 30 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
De-Escalating Violent Situations
Lee Nutter
Dec 3 Staff at all levels & Community Partners Montgomery County JFS
(937) 276-1724
3304 N. Main St - Haines Center Conference Room 3 - Dayton
Adult Protective Services Intake and Investigation
Lee Nutter, Ph.D.
Dec 8 & 15 Recommended for APS Staff and Community Partners Hamilton County - SWORTC
(513) 946-2163
420 Wards Corner - Loveland
First Aid/CPR
Tyrone White
Dec 9 Attendance is limited to Pike CJFS Staff Pike County - JFS
(740) 947-2171 ext 45
230 Waverly Plaza Suite - 700
Waverly

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Performance Appraisal Magic

When you hear the words “performance appraisal” do they make you want to yawn, tremble or flee?  Often supervisors and managers dread giving appraisals ever bit as much as staffers fear receiving them.  The repercussions of an anger-provoking performance appraisal can lead to retaliatory actions, and decreased performance on the part of the disgruntled employee.  This can leave the manager feeling punished for their hard work in preparing and delivering a comprehensive evaluation of their subordinate’s work.  If this mindset exists in your workplace, you can reverse this downward trend by creating an “incubator for talent” in your work domain.

 Performance appraisal is an opportunity for line staff and leadership to come together in an intimate conspiracy that inspires performance excellence.  In this era of “coaching” mania, today’s up and coming professional is will to pay out of pocket for a competent life coach, or talent coach.  Why make your staffers part with their hard earned money when performance appraisal is available as a workplace benefit, and can provide much the same developmental value as an expensive “talent coach?”  Attend this workshop to learn how to make the performance appraisal process a high value experience for both the appraiser and the appraised.

 

Everyday Ethics for Clerical Workers in Human Services

Everyday Clerical Staff are responsible for supporting the Agency and it’s Social Workers to ensure that the ethical principles that guide Social Work, also guide the daily duties of clerical staff.  It is essential that sound ethics guide everyday behavior and performance in all clerical duties.  Learn the social work values that promote ethical decision making and the clerical staff’s role in upholding and supporting these values.  We will also discuss the 4 common unethical behaviors that even well intentioned workers may commit and useful strategies to test our decisions before we act.

 

Effective Performance Feedback Skills

When meeting with employees to discuss performance goals and give developmental feedback, can you use the same communication style with every employee and be effectively understood by all?  Social linguists suggest that where you sit, how much eye contact you offer and how you word your inquires and comments are important factors in successful cross-cultural and cross-gender communications.  Com and learn how to deliver developmental feedback in the manner it will be most effectively integrated into the workplace and cultural norms of each employee

 

Ensuring A Respectful Workplace

Respect is a word that means different things to different people.  Given that, how do we assure that everyone who works in your agency feels valued and respected?  Legislation can only guarantee our rights.  This workshop discusses both our legal rights, and professional responsibilities in maintaining a safe, non-hostile work environment where every worker fits in comfortably.

 At the end of this workshop learners will:

  • Understand the protections offered by the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Titles VI and VII, the ADA and the ADEA.
  • Reflect upon EEO legislation and its application to the workplace.
  • Engage in discussion about the more subjective applications of the law.
  • Know how to conduct themselves as professionals in a multicultural work environment.

Chill Out:  Managing Your Anger and Theirs

This workshop helps participants explore what makes them and their clients angry.  Participants will discover their own anger triggers and how to counteract them.  They will also learn how to deal with angry and aggressive clients and how to defuse potentially violent situations.

 We will discuss:

  • 5 stages of anger
  • How anger is created
  • 2 types of anger
  • 4 reasons why people get angry
  • Identifying anger triggers
  • Personal defusing techniques
  • 4 things angry people want
  • Words and phrases to avoid
  • 11 signs of anger
13 defusing techniques                                   

Adult Protective Services Intake and Investigation

This workshop is the most recent addition to the Adult Protective Services Training series.  All of these courses are designed specifically to meet the unique training needs and challenges of Adult Protective Services Professionals.

 This course will focus on the following competencies:

 * Intake Skills                   * Elder Abuse Reporting                     * Case Documentation

 * Case Prioritization           * Application of Law

 * Gaining Access               * Investigation Interviewing

 * Worker Safety                 * Collateral Contacts

 * Confidentially                 * Evidence Collection

 

Helping The Poor Find And Keep A Job

This workshop addresses the norms, traditions, behaviors, values, and survival skills common to poverty culture, and explains how the influence of generational poverty impacts job seekers.  Learn how to help job seekers find and keep jobs that will help them transcend poverty, and cultivate the middle class living skills needed to function comfortably working for and with middle class employers and customers.  Learn how to structure a directed, geographical, skills-based job search.

Problem Solving and Corrective Action

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Performance management and leadership practices impact the work environment/culture of agencies. This course will explore the identification of and training on performance standards and the measurement of and the feedback on actual performance greatly impacts agency performance customer results.

Communication Values and Methodologies

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Communications, vertically and horizontally across organizations, plays a significant role in the culture; in organizational trust. This course will explore Communication Values and Methodologies for staff; amongst themselves and with management that will result in more trust, a better work environment, and more constructive communications which directly impact job performance, project outcomes, and customer outcomes.

Performance Improvement

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Performance management practices and how employees are aligned and engaged in these practices impact the work environment/culture of agencies. This course will explore the identification of performance standards and how these can be most effectively measured; the benefits to individual and team performance of performance standards, measurements and feedback; and how to most constructively engage in the performance feedback process.

Performance Improvement I

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Management and Leadership practices have the greatest impact on the work environment/culture of agencies. This course will explore the analysis, selection, implementation and reinforcement of Management models, values and associated practices. In addition, the identification of and training on performance standards and the measurement of and the feedback on actual performance greatly impacts agency performance customer results.

Performance Improvement II

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Performance management and leadership practices impact the work environment/culture of agencies. This course will explore the identification of and training on performance standards and the measurement of and the feedback on actual performance greatly impacts agency performance customer results.

Organizational Change II

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Management and Leadership practices have the greatest impact on the work environment/culture of agencies. Management’s inconsistencies are a part of their practices. This course will explore Management Inconsistencies and the need to curtail them, how to implement this and other organizational changes including overcoming organizational resistances and setting priorities, and explore other parameters influencing change and management practices such as Management Models and Communication Values and Methodologies which guide management practices.

Organizational Change:  Understanding the Process and Your Roles

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Management and Leadership practices have the greatest impact on the work environment/culture of agencies. Management’s inconsistencies are a part of their practices. This course will explore engaging staff in the process (obtaining their input about the inconsistencies which have the greatest negative impact on their jobs and the practices that would positively impact their jobs), how their resistances to change may negatively impact the change process and the outcomes for staff; and of the many factors that management must consider when identifying new management practices.

Business Writing for Caseworkers

Cases are managed through a trail of documentation. Inaccurate, incomplete, hard to read...case documentation can lead to numerous case problems and difficulties in assessing and correcting these and other case problems. Bad writing practices can also lead to difficulties in evaluating trends, in turning over cases to new case managers, and in dealing with audits.

Organizational Change I:  Resistance, Parameters, & Priorities

The work environment/culture of an organization directly impacts the behaviors and performance of SW’s, and therefore the results achieved with their cases. Management and Leadership practices have the greatest impact on the work environment/culture of agencies. Management’s inconsistencies are a part of their practices. This course will explore Management Inconsistencies and the need to curtail them, how to implement this and other organizational changes including overcoming organizational resistances and setting priorities, and explore other parameters influencing change and management practices such as employment laws which guide management practices.

Telephone Techniques

Attend this session to learn how to go from curt to courteous, handle voicemail efficiently, take messages and maneuver telephone processes flawlessly.  Find out how to control the interview with the client, and master softening techniques to manage even the angriest caller.  Become proficient at preventing your own emotional leakage from ratcheting up a tense situation.

Beyond Stereotypes:  Tapping into the Strengths of Different Cultures in a Multicultural Society

We will all agree that the face of our society has changed significantly in recent years due to tremendous progress in technology and transportation, and shifts in political policies throughout the world.  As a result of these changes, it is not unusual to find organizations with culturally blended teams of workers.  Training everyone to appreciated and embrace differences can help distinguish an organization and give it a competitive advantage.  This program explores the benefits and challenges that come about from having a multicultural workforce, the issues that might surface in diverse groups and methods for handling conflicts.

Discipline in the Workplace

While disciplining employees may not be a pleasant task, it does not have to be painful and laborious. Instead, the discipline process can be a valuable tool to help employees and the company achieve success. 

 All managers should be trained to understand that workplace discipline should not be viewed simply as a way to punish employees. For best results over the longer term, it is preferable to view discipline as a way to correct some problem behaviour or performance issue. It should be viewed as a way to develop an employee

 

Understanding the African American Male

It is difficult not to be so greatly disturbed by the disproportionate burden African American males continue to face in achieving success. African American males continue to struggle to achieve educational and economic accomplishments. African American males have higher rates of suspension, expulsion, placement in special education, and dropout than other groups. They are confronted with higher unemployment and low labor force participation rates, but high probation and incarceration rates, representing nearly half of the nation’s male prison inmates. The dilemma of the African American male demands a solution.

 

25 Ways to a Healthy Life-Style

Workplaces around the country are learning that employee health has significant impact on customer service.  Some workplaces are rewarding employees who commit to becoming fit.  Other workplaces demonstrate their seriousness, by having a gym on-site for employees to utilize.  This course is designed to challenge participants to change their way of thinking about their mental and physical health, because we are essentially what we think about, eat, and drink.  Participants learn the importance of being well rested.  They learn the benefits of a healthy life-style, which includes exercising on a regular basis.  Participants also learn that thinking positively will help them physically and mentally.  Some key components are:

 ü      Why care about YOU first?

ü      Break destructive habits:  eating, drinking, smoking and cursing

ü      Make a commitment to getting physically and mentally fit

ü      25 Ways to a healthy life-style.

 

Management & Leadership Development Series:  Communication Practices for Performance & Employee Relations

2.  Communication Practices for Performance & Employee Relations

      a.  Philosophies/Values for Employee Relations and Performance

      b.  Methodologies – Tools and M & L Behaviors

           i.  Communication Worksheets

           ii.  Overcoming Communication Hurdles:  Fear of Confrontation, Differing

                Perspectives, Trust…

·        Ladder of inference

·        Two columns

·        Behavioral and Results Specifics, NOT Personal

  1. Communicating Upward – Inquiries, Clarification, Raising Issues…
  2. Case Studies:  Practicing Impactful Communication Methodologies
  3. Hostile Work Environment:  Policy, Sample Issues, Resolution and Avoidance

 

 

Philosophy and Principles of Adult Protective Services

This curriculum addresses the philosophy and principles of adult protective services (APS) practice as reflected in Ohio law and best practice.

In addition, curriculum content addresses the nature and scope of elder abuse, because elder abuse is the focus of Ohio APS Law.

 This course focuses on the following competencies related to adult protective services

practice:

 • Philosophical Orientation

• Historical Perspective

• Legal Intents

• Roles and Responsibilities

• Handling Community Expectations

• Using Community Resources

• Understanding Elder Abuse

• Ethical Concerns

• Principles of Practice

 

Protect Your Neck, Personal Safety and Self Defense in The District (TP)

While in the district, your personal safety comes first and foremost.  You must be on guard at all times and understand that the potential for an attack is always there by one of your clients, or a stranger.  Each interaction must be assessed by you to determine am I at risk right now?  And if so what is my action plan?  This workshop teaches personal safety strategies that can be used to avoid violent conflict and easy to use self defense techniques to combat attackers.

 

Unique Development and Concerns of the Older Adult (SP)

This is a six hour course that helps workers understand getting older from the consumers point of view.  It incorporates the Adult Protective Law and the strange reasons our older adults do what they do.  It gives helpful tools with how a worker can help families make decisions.  It also helps workers deal with feelings when older adults choose passive suicide, living in unsafe living conditions or harmful relationships.

 

Supervising Employees From Other Generations (SP)

This course is designed to recognize that supervision of employees is a very difficult job given the differences in people.  It becomes much harder when there are as many as five generations to supervise.  From the Silent Generation to the Millennium Generation, the differences are enormous.  This course defines the differences; paints pictures of the unique characteristics of each age group; and offers aids to supervisors in relating effectively with the various values and work philosophies.  It is done with fun activities helping us relate to the differences.

 

Supervising Difficult Employees (SP)

This course is designed to help supervisors with those employees who are challenging.  It helps the supervisor in diagnosing the cause of the problems and teaches them to design prescriptive change methods that will produce win-win results with difficult employees.  It is best when the supervisor comes to the course with a particular employee in mind.

Never Be Lied To Again - Part 2

In this workshop participants will learn useful techniques and develop new skills for detecting lies during verbal communications.  The training will focus on the following learning objectives:

  • Verbal qualities of deceit

  • Types of verbal tools liars use

  • Words and phrases that detect deceit

  • How to structure questions

  • Secret tricks for detecting

 

Is Racism Over In America

Now that the country has elected its first black president many Americans believe that racism in the U.S. is a thing of the past.  Is it?  Long delayed conversations about racism are beginning to surface at work and at home.  Join us for a stimulating discussion and discover...

  • Why those who still harbor racist thinking are often unaware of their own biases

  • How to confront racism with out provoking defensiveness

  • What makes some people unapologetically cling to their racist beliefs?

  • When to examine your own thinking about race in America

 

Management & Leadership Development Series (Supervision)

   I.     Establishing the M&L Framework - The Role of The Supervisor

          A.  Aligning Mission; M&L Values; The Law, Contracts and Policies; and M&L Behaviors

          B.  Laws, Regulations, Policies and Contracts

               1.  Employment & Labor Law Overview

               2.  Labor Contracts and Personnel Policies

         C.  The Dirty Dozen:  M&L Practices to Avoid

         D.  Do's & Don'ts When Dealing with the Union

         E.  Communication Values, Methodologies and Competencies

         F.  Discretion of the Supervisor in Enforcing Policies While Still Being Fair and Consistent

 II.     How to Handle Leave Issues (PPL, VAC, LTSL and FMLA)

III.    Performance Measurement & Feedback

        A.  Effective Evaluations

             1.  What to Measure and When & How to Give Feedback

             2. How to Incorporate Disciplinary Matters without violating CBA

        B.   Corrective Action:  How to Handle Progressive Discipline - Documentation

        C.  Case Studies in Performance Problems:

             1.  How to Handle the "25 Year Employee" Who has Continuous Problems

             2.  How to Handle Rude, Blatant Disrespect, etc.

             3.  Others

        D.   Performance Improvement Plans

 IV.   Hostile Work Environment - Avoiding & Correcting 

 

Management & Leadership Development Series (Administration)

In this course senior agency managers will revisit or learn how to support and reinforce the development of middle managers and front line supervisors.  Specifically, it will address the development of middle managers and front line supervisor in the "management and leadership practices for compliance (legal and contractual), performance and employee relations".  They will learn pre and post-class activities to conduct with their direct management reports to ensure application of competencies developed and continual learning.

   I.     Overview of the Curriculum: "M & L Practices for Compliance, Performance and Employee Relations"

          A.  Philosophies - M & L Values

          B.  Methodologies - Practices:  Tools & Processes

          C.  Competencies

 II.      Curriculum Flow:  Pre-Class Survey and Assignment, Classroom, and Post-Class Assignment

III.      Engaging Your Managers and Supervisors: Pre and Post Session

IV.       Reinforcing Continual Application & Development

 

Managing Rumors, Gossip & Criticism

Dear Answer Lady, I love my job but I am thinking of leaving it because of the mean, vicious, hypercritical people that I work with.  They look for the negative in every situation and then exaggerate it as their destructive gossip is spread.  There is not stopping it.  What should I do?  Frustrated in Fargo.

Dear Frustrated in Fargo, Attend this seminar to learn how to help others temper their criticism, avoid becoming the target of gossip, and correct rumors that have gone astray.  Find out how to accept criticism without anger and grow from it.  Evaluate your tendencies to get caught up in  the tangles of your office grapevine.  Resist the temptation to allow office politics to distract you from being your most productive best.

 

Behavior Management

All behavior is prompted by a need, and is directed toward some goal.  Knowing more about a person's needs can help us understand behavior.  Understanding the behavior can help us manage it.  This workshop will help participants recognize patterns of behavior and learn to understand the impetus for the behavior.  Approaches to discipline will be discussed and guidelines for managing and directing behavior will be offered.

Positive Outcomes with Angry Customers

Sometimes customers can act out their inner frustrations.  This can result in verbal expressions that can be loud, disruptive and threatening to other customers and JFS workers.  If not handled correctly, it can impact the entire production culture creating a negative, destructive environment in which people do not want to work or seek services.

Attendees will gain knowledge, philosophies, and methodologies (skills and tools) to achieve more positive outcomes when confronted with these types of situations and to minimize the occurrences of these types of situations.  This will include subjects such as the impact of mindset, organizational support, what not to do to facilitate the behaviors, and tactics to use in person and on the phone.

Living In The Shadows:  Latino Culture

According to the 2000 Census, The Hispanic-Latino population swelled 57.5 percent over the last decade, and now represents 13 percent of the total US population at 35.3 million.  Some predict that Hispanic/Latino groups will become the nation's largest minority group even before 2010.  As social service providers are we prepared to provide or deliver culturally competent services to them?  Who are they?  Why are they coming here?  Do they have rights?  Why don't they get the right papers to be here legally?  Why can't they get their issues resolved?  How are families and children being affected by the recent raids and deportations?  Are they afraid to be seen, to be recognized as Hispanics/Latinos?  What are the social service agencies challenges with this segment of the population?  Are there resources available in the community to assist them?  These and some other topics are discussed in this much needed workshop.

 

Religions in America:  Walking and Working Together

The face of America is rapidly changing as it is becoming one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world.  Religious diversity is all around:  in our hospitals, schools, jobs, and neighborhoods.  Employers today have to take into account an ever-increasing variety of religious beliefs and practices among their employees.  Religion is a very important part of who we are and what we do; in other words, it gives us an understanding of how we, as human beings, inhabit our social and cultural worlds.

Christianity remains the dominant religion in the United States, however, the number of Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists has more than doubled or even tripled.  With more and more people from different religious backgrounds entering the work place, education becomes the most important key to helping both employees and employers become aware of the world's major religions and to living peacefully within our community and conducting business and diplomacy around the world.

Group Dynamics I

(3) contact hours - two one-half days sessions) Groups of people or teams (in the business world) play a tremendous role in the culture and realized production of an organization.  People strongly impact others; sometimes even resulting in some discarding their integrity to fit in or to stand alone.  Groups of people can create anxiety in some and excitement in others.  And, these groups/teams will take on a life of their own unless influenced by the leader.

Attendees will gain knowledge, philosophies, and methodologies (skills and tools) to achieve more positive outcomes when leading groups/teams.  This will include subjects such as creating a culture, group rules, group communications (including dealing with inappropriate behaviors), and when groups change.

Group Dynamics II

(This is part two of two one-half days sessions).  This session explores non-traditional ways to engage employees into group processes and performances improvement systems to be used for teams.

 

Web of Chemical Dependency

It is estimated that in the United States there are over 1,000,000 drinkers.  One tenth of those who drink will become alcoholic.  With each of these people's drinking effecting at least four other people, it becomes clear that many families and children in particular have been exposed to the effects of drinking.

The goal of this workshop is help participants identify the signs and symptoms of alcohol use, abuse and dependency:  understand the Family Dynamics and learn what to do when you encounter abuse.

Happiness:  An Inside Job

Happiness is very difficult to define and although you can't see it, hear it, or touch it, it's something everyone wants.  We all perceive it differently and we each pursue it in different ways.  The problem arises when we look so far beyond and outside ourselves we miss it.  This workshop will explore the internal source of happiness, reciprocal properties of happiness and the power of being happy.  The contributions of attitude, giving and reframing will be discussed.  Come learn to smile!

Case Planning and Service Delivery in Adult Protective Services

This session focuses on the final three phases in the Adult Protective Services (APS) process:

  • Plan Development

  • Plan Implementation

  • Case Termination

It examines key resource systems for resolving elder abuse situations and introduces stress and burnout as particular concerns for APS workers.  Finally, the class employs case studies, exercise, and video tape to apply concepts, principles and techniques learned.

Ethics are Forever

There are two common misconceptions regarding ethics in today's society.  Our exposure to the "situational ethics" of some creates the impression that ethics can be used conveniently rather than consistently.  A second problem is that employers think that a written Code of Ethics will foster ethical behavior.  This workshop is designed to dispel those myths, and will focus on how to use the NASW Code of Ethics as a basis for your agency's ethical standards, and how to make your agency's Code of ethics a living document that is integrated into the personal and professional lives of those who embrace it.

Women and Money:  Chart Your Way Past Financial Stress

Women wear all kinds of hats from CEO, business owner, director, supervisor and social worker to daughter, wife, best-friend, and mom.  Despite their achievements, women and their children are more likely than men to struggle financially.  In fact, whether ever married or childless, elderly women are often poor.  In fields such as social work where women are a dominant population, wages tend to be lower.

If money is the primary stress facing Americans as one national study indicates, women are particularly vulnerable.  From budgeting to debt management, from raising children to dressing for success, the financial challenges facing women are often more stress-inducing than those facing men.  With a change of attitude and careful planning, women take charge of their money and maximize their potential.

Armed with knowledge which addresses financial stresses in their own lives, participants in this class are empowered to assist their customers to overcome some of the stressors in their day-to-day activities as well.

 

Brain Power and Memory Skills

In today's workplace the emphasis seems to be "do more with less."  Efficiency is the theme of nearly all we do requiring that vast amounts of information be recalled at a moment's notice.  Currently a productive memory is not merely a useful thing, but with the increasing rise of needed technical ability coupled with ever shifting policies and procedures associated with the jobs we do; it is a requirement

 

Never Be Lied to Again

In this workshop participants will learn useful techniques and develop new skills for detecting lies during verbal communications.  The training will focus on the following learning objectives:

  • The 3 reasons WHY people lie

  • The 2 forms of lying

  • 4 factors involved in lying

  • 7 Keys for Detecting Deceit

  • Non-verbal clues to deceit

  • Secret ticks for detecting if you are being lied to

The workshop will use video examples of the techniques and exercises that allow you to practice these skills.

 

Working with Substance Abusing Families

This course is designed to assist Case Managers in recognizing the client and familial symptoms of alcohol abuse/dependency.  Participants will explore the physical, behavioral, developmental and symptoms of alcohol and chemical abuse through analyzing family roles to foster understanding and awareness.  The behavioral symptoms to determine level of alcohol and/or chemical dependency will be discussed.  Practical methods for working and communicating with this population will be addressed along with how chemical dependency affects employability.

 

To Lead or Not to Lead:  That is the Question

The role of a supervisor is similar to the role of a parent.  Supervisors need to provide guidance, support motivation and feedback.  The most important factor in employee productivity is the relationship between employee and supervisor.  However, this relationship can be damaged when supervisors have to make unpopular decisions to provide unwanted but necessary feedback.  This workshop will explore these dynamics.

Learning Objectives:

  • To discover the many roles of the supervisor

  • To become familiar with motivational supervision

  • To explore the pitfalls of leaderships

  • To provide suggestions for effective supervision

 

Money Addictions and Recovery

In a recent survey done by the presenter, over 95% of the people taking the survey indicated some degree of money addiction.  This survey was given to employees of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services and Foster and Adoptive Parents who attended Show Me The Money, Budgeting For Consumers.  Our perceptions of money have been shaped throughout our lifetime by those in influence over us.  Our relationship with money is directly relevant and dependent on our self perception.  Since money is so important in daily functioning, it is important that we are able to identify dysfunctional behavior toward it and how it affects our everyday living.  This course looks at the cycle of addiction and dysfunctional behavior, especially in the area of our life where it overlaps with our money interactions.  It is the objective of the course to help people identify their own attitudes and dysfunctions concerning money and develop remedies to correct them.                       

Fundamentals of Motivating People

This workshop focus on the skills managers needs to motivate and inspire others - from senior colleagues and peer managers to the people for whom they are responsible. A key business skill which, when delivered effectively, dramatically improves morale and productivity and reduces cost, attrition and risk.

 

The Culture of Disrespect

It seems that no matter where you look today, there are glaring examples of disrespect in our society. From the workplace to the playground, people of all ages are abandoning civil behavior in favor of “keeping it real.” Today’s workshop will explore issues of workplace bullying, the contagious nature of disrespect, and how it impacts teambuilding, customer service, worker esteem and job satisfaction. Come prepared to discuss how disrespect has impacted the quality of your work life, and bring along some thoughtful suggestions about how we can make a positive impact on your organization…now!

 

Effective Use Of Power

Power is defined as “the ability to influence others”.  Do you have enough influence over others to induce them to cooperate with you?  This workshop explores the difference between use and abuse of power, introduces the learner to the seven sources of power available to leaders, and discusses the “positive politics” of power usage.  Come and find out how to increase your own power while empowering others to work to their full potential.  Leave the workshop with a plan to distribute power more effectively in your organizational structure.

 

Introduction To Addictive Behaviors

This course will discuss the world’s most prolific manufacturer and user of drugs.  The biochemistry of the brain of a person with an addictive personality and compulsive behavior of people that seek thrills will be examined.  Participants will learn how to recognize these personality types and establish prevention and intervention for youth that have addictive personalities.

 

Immigrant Populations In The Workplace

Demographics in the workforce continue to shift as our national and local populations become more culturally diverse.  According to the Bureau of US Citizenship & Immigration Services, approximately 10 million immigrants have entered the US in the last decade alone.  The US Census Bureau reveals that English is not the primary language spoken in 10% of the homes in Columbus, Ohio.

 Employers must foster an understanding of the respect for our immigrant population in order to benefit from their talents, serve their needs as customer and employees, and strengthen our organizations and community.  Exercises and discussion cover immigration trends, current demographics, and a study of the primary cultures introduced to your community. 

Working With Diversity in Supervision and Line Staff

 Being a manager is a difficult job.  It is more complicated today due to the composition of diversity in the workplace.  Cultural difference Awareness is essential for effectiveness and efficiency. This seminar will provide practical tools for balancing diversity and work productivity.

 

Dialogue Across Differences:  Multi-cultural Approaches

According to the Census Bureau’s 2000 statistics and reports, racial and ethnic changes are taking place faster than initially expected.  Immigration rates are expected to continue their explosive growth.  With the increase in the racial and ethnic composition of the country, human service professionals will work with more adults and children from different cultures.  Anticipating these continued changes will help ensure quality service for clients regardless of racial or ethnic background.

 Participants will be provided information associated with the following racial and ethnic groups:

    Ø      Africo Haitians/Caribbean

Ø      African Americans

Ø      Hispanics/Latinos

Ø      Middle Easterners

Ø      Native Americans

Ø      Sub Saharan Africans

 

The Culture of Poverty

At times it may appear that the poor are invested in staying poor.  It seems their decisions; judgments and attitudes serve to keep them stuck in poverty.  This seminar addresses the norms, traditions, behaviors, values and survival skills employed by the impoverished and explains how the impact of generational poverty affects behavior and thinking.  Perhaps not everyone is enthused about joining the middle class.  Come and find out why.

 

The Ten Lenses

The magazine “Psychology Today” tells us in its August 1998 issue that stereotypes are an ingrained part of the thinking of most Americans.  We make assumptions and take actions regarding others who are different than ourselves based on the “isms” programmed into our minds when we were children.  This seminar explores the impact of ethnocentric behavior on our ability to build effective cross-cultural relationships and gives tips on how to avoid “cultural collisions” when dealing with diverse others.  Come and discuss issues such as the “Ten Lenses” Americans tend to use to view diversity issues, and explore what we might do together to achieve greater harmony among all who work together in a multicultural environment.

 

Are You Managing Your Time Or Is Time Managing You

A comprehensive workshop on time management.  Workshop includes a Departmental Time Management Pre-Training Assessment Survey.  Survival data will be utilized to customize training to meet departmental staff professional and personal needs and identified weaknesses.  Personal strengths will also be identified and reinforced.

  • Effective elements of time management pre-test

  • Strategy for organizing work task in thoughts and deeds

  • How to prioritize multi-task responsibilities

  • How to work with ineffective time management work team members and help them rise to time management accountability in a non-threatening

Power, Gender And Identity

The 1990's have brought with them a bundle of confusion regarding gender roles and responsibilities.  It appears both men and women are looking for ways to identify themselves, and influence the opposite sex in constructive and lasting ways.  Books such as John Gray's Venus and Mars series, and the "Rules" book authored by two traditionalist women are bestsellers, reflecting our current thirst for understanding of gender based issues.  This workshop explores the way in which men and women identify themselves, and how they use gender based skills to influence the thinking and behavior of others.

Understanding Individual Diversity and Personality

Are there some people that you click with instantly while others just don't seem to by your type?  Come and assess your own work and home personality style and compare and contrast it with the other types described in the DISC model of style differences.  Learn the benefits and challenges of each style to productivity in your work team.  Leave with a greater appreciation for the individual diversity of each member of your work team and personal community, and expanded insight into your own style.

Capitalizing On Gender Differences In Work Teams

Does your team have distinct gender roles for its members?  Do the men do all the heavy lifting while the women deal with emotional outbursts from customers?  Are men called upon to protect team members when a threat is suspected?  Who takes the notes at training or in team meetings?  Come and examine your team's use of gender roles.  Is your team capitalizing on gender diversity, or still depending on tired assumptions to determine who is best at what?  Attend and discuss how best to utilize both genders in your team based on the perceptual, structural and emotional differences that exist between men and women.

Conflict In The Workplace

It is all about conflict in the workplace.  Is it avoidable?  Is it preventable?  Is it necessary?  The answer to all of these questions is "yes".

Organization leaders are responsible for creating a work environment that enables people to thrive.  If turf wars, disagreements and differences of opinion escalate into interpersonal conflict, you must intervene immediately.  Not intervening is not an option if you value your agency and your positive culture.  In conflict-ridden situations, your mediation skill and interventions are critical.

The Many Faces Of Diversity (pun intended)

This basic course is an introduction to the benefits and challenges of an increasingly diverse workplace.  Exercises and discussions focus on defining diversity and related terms, identifying and dispelling prejudices, valuing differences, and examining relevant laws and allowable behaviors in the workplace.

Growing Old In Youth Oriented America:  Aging as a Sub Culture

This workshop is designed to provide an opportunity for participants to learn what it feels like to be elderly and have a cope with some of the functional difficulties associated with aging.  Participants will have an opportunity to learn the history of our attitudes toward aging and how institutionalized ageism impacts services to seniors

ANGER:  Only One Letter Away From Danger

Anger is a very physical emotion.  It can be a great motivator or a very unpleasant experience with very destructive results.  If we can learn to manage our anger constructively and channel it into action, it can be a powerful tool which may enable us to make positive changes in our lives

When we understand what's underneath anger we can better assist our clients in managing their anger and mending families and communities.

Blue Eyed, Brown Eyed:  An Exercise in Discrimination

This course examines the exercise in discrimination conducted by Jane Elliot and how it relates to discriminating behaviors in the workplace.  Participants will explore Differing Realities, the Unwritten Rules of the Game, the Pygmalion Effect Complicity and Transformative experiences.

Spanish To Go

This workshop will enhance the participants' Spanish Language skills through discussing, practicing and drilling exercises relevant to the social work profession within the context of culture and communication styles.  Participants need to be prepared to actively participate in the session.

Some knowledge of Spanish preferred, but no required.

Attendees must have a great interest in learning the survival skills in the language since there are going to be many opportunities to practice the most important skills.

Cultural Diversity In The New Millennium

To achieve true systemic change means changing the fundamental ways in which we do our business with children and families and with other agencies and groups who serve those same children and families, the issue of culture in the Millennium has to be addressed.  Addressing culture in the workplace is crucial for determining whether employees will use the policies and their general attitudes towards achieving the agencies mission in providing quality service delivery.

Teamwork:  More We and Less Me

There is no limit to what can be accomplished if it doesn't matter who gets the credit.  No one person possesses all the skills necessary to do all things.  Therefore, it is beneficial to gather several people together, each one of whom possesses some of the skills necessary to accomplish the task.  This can make the difference between success and failure.  The only difficulty is performing the magic needed to blend the many personalities into an effective, cohesive mix.  This workshop will explore the various techniques for successful team building, the necessary characteristics for effective leadership of the group and the ingredients required, such as trust, commitment, cooperation, etc.

 

Time Management:  An Oxymoron

Can things like stress, conflict and time really be managed?  If so why are so few of us ever successful at managing them effectively?  It seems as though the more time we have the more we need, and the more we hurry the more behind we get.  If you can spare the time, and even more so if you can't you need to attend this workshop where we will discuss some methods for managing your time.  Discussion will include prioritizing, goal setting and sabotage.

Balancing Work and Life Commitments

This workshop explores ways that social service workers can better balance their home and life commitments and encourages them to share information with their clients so that they too can lead more balanced lives.  The session  allows learners to set life goals, find their "true worth" and identify ways to both achieve and enjoy the life/work responsibilities that make demands on their time.

 

Street Drugs:  Recognition and Identification

    Street Drug Course content includes:

  • Drug pharmacology/composition

  • Abuser/user symptoms and affect

  • Area of personal & vehicle concealment

  • The latest trends in illicit drug use

  • Drug points of geographic origin and use

  • Obtaining treatment for the experimental user of addicted person

  • Packaging techniques

  • Drug paraphernalia and manufacturing tools for synthetic designer drugs i.e. ecstasy

  • Identifying drug trafficking and notifying authorities

  • Internet drug trafficking

  • Commonly abused prescription drugs and symptoms

  • Recognizing affect and effect of psychoactive drug use, misuse, and abuse

 

Affairs Of The Mind

This workshop will focus on the dynamics of gender and working relationships in an agency. Female/male roles and the socialization process will be discussed.  Communication patterns and styles of interaction, verbal and non-verbal, will also be examined.  The effects of early childhood messages on our working relationships will be presented.  The use of humor as an effective communication tool will be highlighted.

 

Laughing:  Just for the Health of it

Humor and laughing offer us important benefits in our lives.  This course will help participants learn how to reduce stress and be healthier through looking at life with some humor.  It is designed to explore the impact of humor on our self-concept, communications, our relationships, our works, our stress management, and our health.  Participants will be given the opportunity to discover their own sense of humor and define the steps necessary to put more humor and laughter in their lives.

 

Communicable Diseases

The purpose of Communicable Diseases Training is to educate staff on the various types of communicable diseases and precautions to protect staff and individuals receiving support from contracting and/or spreading potential infections diseases.  The training will enable staff to:

  • State the rationale for and definition of standard (universal) precautions

  • Identify various aspects of communicable diseases

  • Understand the disease causing organisms and how they spread

  • Demonstrate proper hand washing procedures

  • Identify the proper notification procedures for various communicable diseases

 

Adult Development and the Aging Process - Core 703

This core course id designed to give participants a foundation for understanding the stages of adult development from physical, social and emotional perspectives.  Our discussion of the life cycle begins at birth and concludes with a major focus on the aging process.  The developmental theories of Erikson and Piaget are used as a frame work to explain adult behaviors and the effects of childhood trauma of adult functioning.  We will also examine the following issues on adult development:

  • Mental Illness/Mental Retardation

  • Abuse and Neglect

  • Physical and Psychological infirmities associated with aging

  • Chronic Illness

 One of the key traits of exceptional workers centers on their ability to communicate effectively.  This workshop will include content that addresses the elements of communication; barriers to effective communication; the top 3 ways in which we communicate; listening skills, and why people fail to communicate well.  Strategies will be offered to assist the learner to negotiate with others on an ongoing basis, demonstrate assertiveness, gain cooperation, and listen to insure that they first understand before seeking to be understood.

 

Chemical Dependency And The Elderly:  A Hidden Problem

This workshop will provide participants with information about the unique characteristics of engaging elders in treatment of their chemical abuse/dependency issues.  The workshop will look at how an alcohol drug problem develops assessment and intervention strategies.  An evidenced based model of engagement and treatment will be reviewed and used to assess and plan for treatment of an elder cites in a case study.

 

Office Employee Safety

This course will teach employees how to prevent and respond to incidents that threaten the safety, security, and well-being of both the agency and its employees.  Course objectives will be accomplished by providing workshop participants with information on the following:

  • Client threat assessment and emergency planning

  • Responding to menacing phone harassment

  • Off worksite client threats (Stalking)

  • Non-physical intervention techniques.

  • Office set-up and office safety equipment

  • Office crisis code communication

  • Incident management and collaboration with security and law enforcement

  • How to implement course material into office operating procedures

  •  

    Working With The Severely Mentally III Client

    This workshop will describe a differential assessment and treatment process for intervening with the severely mentally ill.  The intent of the workshop is to provide participants with the skills and strategies to assist the client in the management and recovery from the impact of the effect of his/her mental illness on day to day functioning.  Using an evidenced based model of assessment and treatment participants will have the tools necessary to successfully help the mentally ill adult.

     

    Harassment:  Knowing Our Civil Rights

    This workshop is designed to provide workers with factual information about the issues of sexual harassment (and other civil rights laws protected harassments) and discrimination.  Learn what it is what it isn't and what it might be; how women and men may have different perceptions; and what the US court system is deciding.  Learn the law, analyze gray areas, discuss case history, understand what it does to a workplace, evaluate your responsibilities and liabilities, the complaint process, saying no or confronting a harasser, and government enforcement.

    This course explores employment laws such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with disability Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act and Fair Employment Practices law, and agency policies which affect staff behaviors, interactions with clients and suppliers and management to staff relations

     

    Me Myself and I (Self-Esteem)

    It has been said that self-acquaintance is a rare condition, meaning that so many of us do not really know ourselves.  Yet, truly knowing ourselves and caring about ourselves has a great deal to do with everything else in our lives.  It affects our ability to be assertive, it affects our interactions with others, and it influences our decision-making.  This workshop will help participants gain more self- awareness and insight into the power of self-concept and self-worth, and will examine ways to improve both.

     

    Communication:  The Final Frontier

    Communication is so important that its presence or absence can seriously affect our physical and emotional health.  Evidence suggests that an absence of satisfying communication can even jeopardize life itself.  Despite its importance, many people fail to communicate effectively.  Unfortunately, the people we care about the most, our family and friends, are often those with whom we communicate least effectively.

     

    Working With The Immature Adult

    This seminar is designed for the special population of the immature adult.  It will include content to aid in distinguishing immaturity from other behavioral manifestations such as mental retardation.  It will apply social work assessment to interviewing and engaging to determine causal factors.  It will review content of human development and behavior including abuse and neglect to better understand the immaturity.  It will give methodology of working with the immature adult to reach program goals.

     

    All Stressed Up And No One To Choke

    This stress management workshop is designed to help participants recognize stressors, become aware of their own personal stress level, and discover some healthy, effective methods to reduce stress.  Time management and humor are discussed as methods for effective stress managements A personal stress level assignment and plan for healthy stress management will be the outcome of the training.

     

    Writing Skills for JFS

    This seminar is designed to help the worker understand how to write in proper English and to document so that others in the profession can understand and comprehend the case.  It will include technical writing presentations of grammar, punctuation, sentence structure and spelling.  It will help participants with words and phrases that are used in the field of social work and how to use them correctly in the case structure of the written document.  It will include points on brevity and professionalism of writing.

     

    No On My Wall:  A Workshop on Gangs

    A workshop on gangs in the community, participants will learn about various antisocial groups (gangs) that can compromise their safety, avoid being caught in the cross fire.  This workshop will detail gang signs, symbols, and other identifiers that appear in neighborhoods.

    Course will detail the following type of gangs:

    •   Anti government Groups

    •   Street Gangs

    •   Ideological Gangs

    •   Cults/Occults

     

    So You Want To Be A Supervisor

    Good preparation is a key element of any plan, particularly a plan that includes getting promoted to a supervisory position.  This one day workshop helps prepare you to assume the responsibilities of supervision by providing tips on how to develop a "promotable image", and equips you with an understanding of the basics of supervision.  Join us if you are thinking of applying for promotion within the next year.  Learn about supervisory responsibilities including goal, purpose, and vision setting; performance management; team building; problem solving; and conflict resolution.

     

    Coping With Change

    Change is constant in our world and at one time or another, we all as individuals must learn to cope with not only the change but also with the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty that accompanies it.  In this one-day workshop, we will focus on the following:

    • Identifying our personal thoughts and attitudes about change; both positive and negative and their origins

    • Overcoming the tendency to resist or procrastinate a change

    • Learning to leave the "comfort zone"

    • Strategies for coping with the feelings of anxiety and uncertainty that often accompany changing the way we do things

    • Examining how we can best adapt our individual work and communication styles to manage changes effectively        

     

    Negotiation And Unification Skills For Supervisors

    Many in the management ranks of helping organizations are interested in avoiding competition in our dealing with others and finding ways to collaborate in hopes of achieving win-win outcomes.  This workshop addresses negotiation skills and strategies that will assist the supervisor in getting their own needs met while meeting the needs of others.  Dealing with impasses, influencing the thinking of others, using information strategically, and asking smart questions are but a few of the topics to be discussed in this session.  Learn to unify with other managers to produce powerful outcomes that will benefit your staff, yourself, and your agency.  Come prepared to discuss a situation where you wish to unify with others to accomplish a win-win outcome.

     

    Building Your Agency Team For Success

    The course will detail the difference between an authentic work team and a work group.  This information will help participants create powerful work teams and build them for success using proven strategies developed by Case Weatherhead School of Business.  Participants will discover fundamental of successful teams, how the team model functions and five types of teams.  Participants will learn how to establish a charter to give the team vision, implement shared leadership, set goals, make decisions and solve problems as a team, establish peer feedback, recognize effective team work and resolve conflict.

     

    Case Planning and Service Delivery in Adult Protective Services

    This session focuses on the final three phases in the Adult Protective Services (APS) process:

    • Plan Development

    • Plan Implementation

    • Case Termination

    It examines key resource systems for resolving elder situations and introduces stress and burnout as particular concerns for APS workers.  Finally, the class employs case studies, exercises, and video tape to apply concepts, principles and techniques learned.

     

    Resolving Conflict & Confronting Differences of Opinion

    Having a time resolving conflict when you disagree with another?  How do you confront others while minimizing their becoming defensive or escalating the disagreement? How do you effectively handle manipulative responses?  Are there some ways to help others resolve their conflicts without taking sides or getting caught in the middle?  What are the positive outcomes of handling conflict well?  Learn answers to all these questions and develop techniques that really work (when they are used) in this very valuable day of training.

     

    First Aid/CPR

    It is better to know First Aid/CPR and not need it than to need it and not know it.  This is an important course because most people will eventually find themselves in a situation requiring it, either for another person or themselves.  Consequently, participants will learn lifesaving measures, how to get help, how to prevent further harm or injury to a victim, and how to address less severe injuries.

    Competencies will include:

    *Good Samaritan Law & Liability * Universal Precautions * Issues associated with Breathing Impairment (i.e. choking) * Allergic Reactions * Heart Attack * Stroke * Head Injuries * Bones & Joint Injuries * Seizures * Burns * Splints * Spinal Injuries & CPR * Amputation Accidents * Punctures to Flesh * Bleeding Internal/External * Eye Injury * Animal/Human Bites * Protocol for Automated External Defibrillator * AED USAGE

     

    Organization Stress Management

    Most professional are aware of the contemporary sources of stress and the impact of stress on one's health.  This workshop will approach individual responses to stress as being learned in the family of origin and explore the influence of values, communication styles, and the developmental consequences that promote tension on the job and in your life.  This session will provide an opportunity to gain personal insight into these issues and to develop stress coping strategies.

     

    Suicide: The Deadly Triangle

    This workshop will offer education about the risks of Suicide across all ages economic and social strata of the American Culture.  Participants will learn how to assess lethality risks for children, adults and older adults.  Participants will recognize the warning signs for suicide and intervention strategies to address this ever increasing social problem

     

    Financial Exploitation of the Elderly: Indications & Interventions

    This one day interactive workshop will focus on how to identify signs of financial exploitation in the elderly.  A comprehensive review of state and federal laws relative to financial management and banking policies will be presented.  Legal remedies available to victims of financial exploitation will also be explored in a case intensive method. Don't miss this opportunity to discuss your cases involving exploitation with the "experts."

     

    Elder Abuse:  Afraid To Leave Afraid To Stay

    The workshop will address the impact of domestic violence in families upon the elder family member.  The seminar will also look at Elder Abuse specific issues and the role the law plays in prevention and intervention.  The course will also cover the unique psychological factors involved i.e.: "undue influence".  Information will be provided about the prevalence of the problem, ethical issues, resources for help and barriers to the services.

     

    Team Building for Supervisors

    This one day Team Building Program focuses on helping groups to understand the benefits of working together and the efficiencies associated with doing so.  The program will also provide participants with a means to help teams function at a high level with measurable outcomes and results

     

    Advanced Interviewing Skills For the Helping Professional

    You consider yourself a pretty good interviewer.  You consistently get the information you need to serve your customer and you excel at getting the facts from even the most reluctant interviewee.  Some days though unexpected interviewing challenges arise that you are not quite prepared to handle.  This workshop will explore methods to deal with dangerous interviewees, those with disabilities, and those with mental health issues.  Test your listening skills and practice "non-defensive" responses to defuse volatile others.  Learn 5 magic questions to help build insight in your customer population.  Please come with some good examples to challenging interview situations.

     

    De-Escalating Violent Situations

    With the more stringent requirements and consequences of "welfare reform,' it is more than likely that workers will encounter angry, potentially aggressive individuals on their jobs. In this workshop, participants will learn the hierarchy of behaviors and emotions that a person displays at various levels of agitation and the appropriate verbal intervention for each level, as well as the importance of body language and other non-verbal communication. The emphasis will be on learning way to avoid potentially dangerous situations by planning ahead and anticipating behaviors

     

    Working Effectively Across The Generations

    As cultural diversity was of major concern for the last decade of the twentieth century; generational diversity is of great concern for the new millennium, as baby boomers pass the work controls to gen-x-ers.  In today's high speed, high tech environment, it is necessary for us to develop new ways of working together, in order to deliver excellence in service and to get our needs met.  This workshop is designed to increase understanding and reduce generational conflicts.  We will explore collaborative approaches that will capitalize on the strengths of both generations, in order to provide excellence in service to our clients and customers, both internal and external.

     

    Using the Language of Influence to Increase Case-Plan Adherence

    Non-compliant clients; the resistant, the unmotivated, the stuck!  This two day training will give caseworkers and supervisors skills, strategies and tactics to move the unmovable and shake up the unwilling! Strategies will include non-verbal rapport building, elegant language patterns, and tips and tricks from master therapists, communicators and sales savvy wizards.  Come with an open mind, a playful attitude and desire to try new skills.

    CORE 159 - Overview of Chemical Dependency

    Clients who are chemically dependent or who abuse chemicals may possess significant barriers to self sufficiency.  This workshop will provide workers with a basic understanding of the variety of barriers present in chemically dependent clients.  We will identify the causality of addiction based on a variety of models.  Addiction risk factors, the process of addiction based on the disease model, defense mechanisms, addiction screening, treatment concepts, and relapse factors will be presented.  We will review types, effects, and hazards of variety of drugs.  Workers will have an opportunity to examine their own beliefs and values about chemical dependency and addiction, particularly as a barrier to self-sufficiency.

     

    Mentoring

    There is a new process for developing people evolving in many organizations.  Although the concept has been around for years, the process used by today's organizations is turning into a very effective tool for recruiting and retaining valuable employees. Mentoring is a process of two people working together to gain and enrich each other from the experience.  The goal of an organization should no longer be to simply train an employee for a job, but to offer the guidance and counsel that is needed to develop the person's abilities to the fullest.  This program will help you develop a mentoring program that will allow the people to grow while enhancing the effectiveness of the organization.

     

    Dementia & Other Mental Disorders in Older Adults

    This course is designed for adult protection workers and all persons that work with clients that experience dementia.  It will allow participants to recognize the different causes for persons to loose memory and exhibit behaviors that result from deterioration brain functions.  It will help participants to distinguish between dementia that is reversible and dementia that is not reversible.

    It will allow participants to do case studies to reinforce this learning event.  The course will also allow for discussion of resources for the treatment and care of persons with dementia.  It will further give a lot of information for the client, and the caretaker.  Basic day by day tips of dealing with the frustration of care for the dementia patient will be given and participants will be given the opportunity to share and exchange information.

     

    Managing Anger And Conflict With Elegance

    Anger:  watching it manifest in someone else, or seeing it explode from yourself can leave each party in any relationship feeling insecure and powerless.  This training will examine the origin of anger in ourselves and others.  Through self-assessment, participants will be led to objectively interpret anger's value in an array of situations and be able to "decide" whether it is the best tactic for successful resolution.  Utilizing the "phases of anger" procedure, participants will learn five conflict management techniques that can be used to disengage, gain composure, and handle anger and conflict with elegance!

     

    Problem Solving and Decision Making Skills & Strategies

    A manager was once overheard telling an employee, "I don't know what you should do, but be sure you do the right thing1" This workshop explores group and individual critical thinking strategies, decision-making, problem solving and judgment-making skills and techniques.  Attend to learn how to weigh options, explore alternatives, gather pertinent information, and brainstorm effective solutions to even the stickiest problems.

     

    Employee Relations: Employment Law for Supervisors and Managers

    This course is designed for all management personnel to assist them in conducting all day-to-day operations in compliance with Employment and Labor laws and to assist them in understanding their roles in compliance versus the roles of the Human Resources Department and legal counsel.  This course explores the importance of compliance with all Employment and Labor laws; the purpose of the laws, which activities and which organization are covered by the laws; management compliance behaviors and compliance tools; and who enforces the laws and what enforcement actions may be taken.

     

    Adult Protective Services Assessments

    Intake and investigation may reveal elder abuse, neglect or exploitation.  However, it is assessment that determines the older adult's need for protective service, the urgency of that need and available resources to assist.  Assessment is essential for case planning and intervention.  This course explores the assessment phase of adult protective services, including related techniques, tools and challenges.

      

    Case Management I

    This workshop introduces the fundamentals of case planning; presents a cohesive case planning model; focuses on working jointly with clients to identify strengths, needs and barriers to self-sufficiency; and applies concepts to the development of the plan.  Collaboration with community resources is also addressed.

     

    Business Etiquette:  A Better Way To Serve

    Learn how good office/business etiquette leads to:

    •  improved business relationships amongst agency peers which results in improved services (quality and quantity)

    •  a feeling of respect toward clients which improves performance of processes between employees and clients

    •  a professional atmosphere that is less subject to inappropriate behaviors which can damage business   relationships and subsequently damage results. . .

     

    Productive Reading & Memory Skills

    This one-day workshop is designed to provide practical ways to scanning and reading for the purpose of maximum comprehension.  we will do this by looking at the most common reading problems and ways of overcoming them in the morning.  Then we will explore ways to improve concentration.  Moving on to memory in the afternoon, we'll look at its function and the three stages of memory.  We will practice memory exercises and recall tests to help you develop effective retention and recall.

     

    Showing Respect By Keeping Confidences - And It's The Law

    Showing respect comes in many forms.  From the time the client comes in the door and is treated courteously to what we do with their information that they are obliged to give us, respect for our customers is our hallmark.  They have a right to their privacy, even though you may not think it is private once they have told you.  Sure, they have to tell s that information to get their benefits but we also have the obligation and legal responsibility to treat it with respect.  They may have made some poor life choices that have caused them pain and problems that we think we wouldn't have made.  That does not mitigate our responsibility to be respectful of their life story and the information they give us. Come to this class and learn when this comes into play in your work in this interactive class filled with true to life situations.

     

    Making The Right Decision

    A manager was once overheard telling an employee, "I don't know what you should do, but be sure you do the right thing!"  This workshop explores group and individual critical thinking strategies, decision-making, problem solving and judgment-making skills and techniques.  Attend to learn how to weigh options, explore alternatives, gather pertinent information, and brainstorm effective solutions to even the stickiest problems.

     

    Beyond The Transition To Self-Sufficiency

    Okay - they have a job and you can close the case.  But, wait, they're back! You thought you were done. What did you miss?

    First - working is hard work, and it usually isn't the work itself that is hard.  Often the hardest part about work is the interactions with others and with the system of work rules, both written and unwritten.  If you have been successful for any length of time in the work force, you have learned how to effectively deal with these things without quitting or getting fired.  If you haven't (and our folks often haven't) you don't know all the unwritten rules for dealing with bosses and co-workers.  Past work experiences often carry into new settings and affect it negatively.

    Secondly, how do you keep more of your pay?  Many of us with dependents know about the earned income tax credit but those new to an earned income don't.  How can you maximize your resources and which one should you focus on?  Ride sharing isn't a bargain if it costs you your job because your ride is always late or costs more in gas than a bus token.  What community resources are out there to help with the working poor and how can they best be accessed?

    Thirdly, how can you structure your home life to accommodate being at work each day when you never have before?  Are there extended a family responsibilities that haven't been shared with the caseworker? Perhaps domestic violence is a part of the picture.

    Come to this workshop to create answers to these questions and engage in problem solving for your clients so you can really close the case and they can be responsible for their own personal work successes and hence, be productive citizens.

     

    SAFETY AWARENESS IN THE WORKPLACE  

    As workers we may find ourselves in situations where our safety could be at risk.  We often find our work puts us in situations with emotionally upset or unstable people when there is no guard or police instantly available.  There may or may not be warning signs in our records.  We will explore ways to minimize our risk and what warning signs to be on the alert for.  It will promote an awareness of the dynamics that place workers at risk of physical assault in our workplace.  We will examine the real issues versus media hype and also how our perception of differences plays into this.  We will also look at understanding the worker's own issues when it comes to dealing with a dangerous client or co-worker.  We will develop risk prevention strategies and techniques for potentially dangerous situations while still serving our clients/customers and maintaining our own safety.  The focus of this class will be office safety rather than that in the field.

     

    BASIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

    This is the next module of the revised core APS worker training.  In this class we will cover the legal structure and the state statutes for protecting older adults, including the reporting and investigating requirements of the law and involuntary interventions possible under the law.  To compliment this, we will look at interpreting the law and applying it.  That leads us to unraveling key concepts, such as valid consent and undue influence, and legal actions that may be taken against the perpetrators of elder abuse.  We will discuss incompetence and incapacity in an attempt to differentiate them.  This is an essential class for all who are working with APS. 

     

    GENDER DIVERSITY (aka He Said/She Said)

    Rapport talk, report talk: the languages of women and men.  If only we could learn to talk to each in a mutual tongue! This session explores the differences in the ways men and women communicate and it suggests methods designed to improve understanding between the sexes both at work and at home.  Learn about the differences in the structure and functioning of the male & female brains.  See how these differences affect the way each gender perceives the world, seeks power, and communicates.  We will examinee ways in which men/women build teams, handle stress, and tackle work differently as we try to understand the importance of both gender perspectives and how to incorporate them into a mutually beneficial  collaboration.

     

    OVERVIEW OF MENTAL HEALTH

    We have developed a Core Curriculum for the OWF/TANF worker who must work with those who have mental health issues.  Sure, we refer those we can easily identify to mental health centers, but what about the ones who aren’t too ill to work?  It has been said that the CDJFS worker is often the first to identify mental illness.  Mental illness and/or a DSM-IV diagnosis does not remove a person from the workforce.  We have people with mental health problems in all sorts of jobs from Congress to the street sweeper.  We still have to work with those not severe enough for SSI.  This workshop will teach you about the possible problems you may encounter and how to use that information in finding appropriate settings for them to work.  This course has been designed around responses from actual OWF workers around the state.              

     

    Writing Skills: a Workshop for JFS Professionals

    During day one of this two-day course, participants will learn to write clearer, more efficient sentences. Focusing on documents and notes written in a social service context, participants will identify twenty-six principles of good writing and master techniques for structuring sentences that are confident, concise, and precise. Participants will also learn the six steps that will enable them to create documents and notes that their readers can more easily understand and use.  Day two will focus on document organization. Participants will learn the best way to organize information and document their professional opinions. The course will also cover common grammar errors and usage problems.

     

    LEADERSHIP RULES OF ENGAGEMENT  

    Leadership is not about egos.  It's about helping develop the people of the organization.  It's about bringing the team together to perform effectively.  Leadership is about integrity and helping people succeed.  It is about making the organization better today than it was yesterday. Leadership is not about "me;" it's about "we". This program will provide the skills to help improve the performance of the organization at all levels. It will provide an effective process for dealing with conflict within the workplace and  you will learn how to solve performance issues using a simple three step process.  

     

    DEATH EDUCATION:  Dealing with a Fact of Life

    Many workers and clients, particularly older ones, are experiencing serious illnesses in loved ones or are trying to cope with the loss of a loved one.  Many of us have lost parents or will soon.  This workshop is designed to provide workers with factual information about the grief process.  It will assist participants in gaining insight into one=s own feeling about death and help to develop a realistic perspective of what can be done for dying individuals and their families.

     

    METHAMPHETAMINE LABS:  Staying Safe in a Volatile Environment

    Meth labs are found everywhere.  They create an extremely hazardous situation to anyone in or around them both during and after production.  This workshop will provide information on ways to detect meth labs and ways to protect your own safety.  We will discuss what methamphetamine is, how it is produced, what tools are used and what the hazards are.  We will also cover the patterns of abuse and the medical considerations.  Finally, we will explore the investigative issues and your role in the volatile environment.

     

    FROM INVESTIGATING TO TESTIFYING:  Preparing the APS Worker for Court
    Many APS workers seldom receive formal capacity assessment training and many are not certain as to what is      expected at a court hearing. This course will focus on the following objectives:

    •  Roles of others in the APS Investigation and probate court proceedings

    • Assessment and Documentation

    •  Review of Statement of Expert Evaluation

    • P reparation for Court

    • Testifying, courtroom etiquette and protocol

     

    UNDERSTANDING HOW TO WORK EFFECTIVELY IN A BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM  

    Bureaucratic systems are designed most often to provide a service to customers and stakeholders. However, such systems can appear as a hindrance rather than a help and a provider of frustration instead of real help. This session is designed to assist those who need to gain the most from bureaucracies in the least amount of time and effort. This session is designed to explore such systems and deliver practical methods for short-cutting red tape.

     

    MANAGING TIME, PAPERWORK & MULTIPLE PRIORITIES           

    This course will examine the limited resource of time and how you can better manage it to meet your performance requirements. It will begin by exploring how you spend time and then analyzing your time usage to determine Time Wasters & Under-utilizers. This analysis will include how to ensure your priorities are in sync with those of your manager’s.

    From here you will explore different ways to organize your schedule and your workspace (e.g. paperwork) to enhance your use of time; and how to maintain that organization. In addition you will learn ways to deal with or eliminate time wasters such as procrastination, everyday distractions, interruptions such as the telephone and ‘emergency’ meetings, and “drop-in” coworkers and visitors. Finally, you will learn ways to eliminate, prepare for, and adapt to stress.

     

    MAINTAINING TEAM SPIRIT

    Can you locate the “spirit” in your team?  Do you feel like part of a “team?”  This course will explore the dual concepts of team and spirit.  Most of us experienced the team concept as children.  Have we lost our eagerness to learn; our spirit and excitement in pursuit of “professionalism?”  This session will challenge participants to reactivate and energize their spirits, become active, committed team members, and empower themselves as well as their colleagues and clients.

     

    ENHANCED CRIS-E INTERVIEWING  

    When you sit down at your computer to interview the next client, do you struggle to get all the information gathered before the time is up and the next person is waiting?   This course is designed to give techniques in interviewing to enhance the fact gathering interview of Cris-e.  Building trust during the initial phase of your interview is a crucial skill that will be developed here, allowing customers to be comfortable with disclosure.  A large part of the training will be skill building through application.  Come and learn new skills and techniques that are directly applicable to your jobs!

     

    OVERVIEW OF FAMILY VIOLENCE - DAY 2

    This is part of a two-day course that may be taken as independent days.  Day 1 is a prerequisite for Day 2.  Day 1 was offered most recently on October 1, 2004 and many times previously.  Six contact hours will be given for each day. 

    This workshop is designed to provide participants with increased awareness about the problem of family violence and how violence against women is a barrier to self-sufficiency.  Participants also will gain an understanding of the scope of the problem; be able to identify women who may be living in violent relationships; understand the types of family violence as well as the various forms of abuse; recognize the importance of inquiry into the extent of the violence to determine the severity and the frequency of the abuse; know the legal definition of domestic violence and the dynamics of family violence; learn to develop a safety plan for women and children; learn how to interview a women from a strength based approach; and understand how culture influences violence against women.   

        

    CUSTOMER SERVICE SKILLS FOR EXTERNAL & INTERNAL CUSTOMERS

    In this one day workshop, participants will learn about the four levels of customer service and learn techniques for providing more effective customer service—to both the external and the internal customer.  Handling customer complaints, dealing with difficult or upset customers, maintaining positive work attitudes, and the Do’s and Don'ts for communicating empathy will also be presented, along with ways of using external and internal customer feedback in the planning and improvement of services.

     

    THE LEADERSHIP SERIES MODULE 4:  Communicating Effectively

    This series has been designed to develop leadership in workers who are looking to advance.  With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, many positions will be opening up across the state and we need trained leaders to fill them.  The series consists of 4 days of training that are best taken in sequence. 

    The fourth one includes:

    ·        Legal Aspects

    ·        Leadership Skills

    ·        Coaching and Motivation

    ·        Dealing with Conflict

     

    HOW TO MAKE AN EFFECTIVE PRESENTATION

    This course is designed to familiarize the participants with the concepts and ideas that are relevant to making effective presentations.  What makes a presentation successful?  This question is the basis for all presentation.  In our workshop, we discuss the importance of Participation, Good Preparation, and Communication Skills.  You will learn how to express yourself clearly, summarize your ideas and listen to others suggestions.  Participants will present a brief presentation using creative flip chart design.  At the close of your successful presentation, you’ll be glad you took the time to attend this workshop.

     

     THE LEADERSHIP SERIES MODULE 3:  Team Building

    This series has been designed to develop leadership in workers who are looking to advance.  With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, many positions will be opening up across the state and we need trained leaders to fill them.  The series consists of 4 days of training that are best taken in sequence. 

    The third one includes:

    • Employee Orientation and Cross Training

    • Employee Relations and Attitudes at Work

    • Assessing Growth and Development

     

      SUPSUPERVISING EFFECTIVELY ACROSS CULTURAL LINES

    As a supervisor are you sometimes hesitant to give developmental feedback to those on your team that are culturally different than you?  Do you fear your words will be misinterpreted or that you will be accused of being biased towards or against certain team members?  This workshop will explore methods to fully develop your entire team without creating “cultural collisions” and divisions within the team.  Learn to deal effectively with accusations of bias.  Become aware of inclusive strategies designed to engage all members of your work team and assure that you are fully capitalizing on the wealth of perspectives that diversity brings to your team.

     

    BUDGETING FOR CONSUMERS

    (formerly SHOW ME THE MONEY)

    Estimates suggest that the average family spends $500-$1,500 per month more than it earns.  This course gives both a philosophical and a practical look at family finances.  It deals with financial attitudes, problems, and solutions for families.  The workshop includes activities that will help participants see the personal historical basis for the attitudes they have about money and spending.  It involves looking at their current financial situation in a non-threatening way, discovering habits and attitudes, and implementing changes to help achieve financial independence.  Practical aspects of the training include short-term and long-term planning, spending estimates, and money saving strategies in everyday living.

     

    SUCCESSION PLANNING: Building Leadership from Within

    Insuring that there is a steady flow of well-trained, experienced people to fill your key leadership positions is one of the most effective and proactive steps that can be taken to prepare for the future.  Systematic succession planning saves the cost and time of personnel searches, as well as enhances employee retention, improves employee morale, and creates a diverse talent pool within an organization.

     Attend this two-day workshop to understand the basics of succession planning and learn the steps necessary to identify and prepare high-potential candidates for key positions.  We will also examine ways to implement such a plan and pitfalls to avoid.

       

    TIME AND STRESS MANAGEMENT

    This course will examine: the impact of organizational time management and its impact on staff; work sampling or how you really spend your time; identifying time wasters and time under-utilizers and tactics to reduce both; the difference between planning (e.g. time blocking) and ‘to do’ lists; reducing meeting time and increasing their effectiveness; managing telephone time; and how others affect your time.

    In addition, it will look at stress and its causes; your reactions to stress (symptoms and results); and coping strategies (e.g. eliminate, prepare, and adapt).

     

    THE LEADERSHIP SERIES MODULE 1:

    This series has been designed to develop leadership in workers who are looking to advance.  With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, many positions will be opening up across the state and we need trained leaders to fill them.  The series consists of 4 days of training that are best taken in sequence. 

    The first one includes:

    • Work Ethic

    • Managing Change

    • Planning & Prioritizing

     

    THE LEADERSHIP SERIES MODULE 2:

    This series has been designed to develop leadership in workers who are looking to advance.  With the baby boomers reaching retirement age, many positions will be opening up across the state and we need trained leaders to fill them.  The series consists of 4 days of training that are best taken in sequence. 

    The second one includes:

    •  Giving Assignments, Delegating

    •   Span Of Management

    •    Resource & Staffing Utilization

     

    STREET DRUGS


    This workshop will present information regarding commonly used street drugs, the people who use them, and ways to respond to users when they are high.  Drugs covered will include crack, cocaine, narcotics, stimulants, solvents, barbiturates, legal substances, etc.  Topics of discussion include:  

    • The effect of street drugs on those who use them

    •  Lifestyles of drug users 

    •  Indicators that can help a worker recognize drug use

    •  Methods of responding to users

    •  Cultural considerations

     

    PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES OF ADULT PROTECTIVE PRACTICE  

    This curriculum addresses the philosophy and principles of adult protective services (APS) practice.  In addition, this course addresses the nature and scope of elder abuse and the Ohio APS law.  Elder abuse is a growing problem facing older adults nationwide and we must prepare to deal with it effectively.  This class focuses on these competencies related to APS practice:

     
    • Philosophical Orientation
    • Historical Perspective
    • Legal Intents
    • Roles and Responsibilities
    • Handling Community Expectations
    • Using Community Resources
    • Understanding Elder Abuse
    • Values Clarification
    • Ethical Concerns
    • Principles of Practice

    This course is one in the APS Core Series which constitutes the fundamental knowledge and skills required for APS practice in Ohio .  Completion of this and the other seven in the series is required for the receipt of the Certificate of Ohio APS Practice and the Certificate of Ohio Advanced Practice.

    ETHICAL DECISION MAKING IN SOCIAL WORK


    Codes of ethical practice have been established for licensed professionals that should be adhered to by anyone who provides any measure of client service. This session defines and describes the standards of ethics practice established by national organizations and makes recommendations about how each standard of ethical practice can be measured and carried out.
    It is important to realize that different professionals may implement different courses of action in the same situation and that there is rarely one right answer to a complex and critical dilemma. However, if professionals follow a systematic model, they can assure that they will be able to give a professional explanation for the course of action that they choose and avoid the pitfalls of a poor understanding of ethical limits. 

     

    SAFETY AWARENESS AND SELF PROTECTION

    This workshop will include an overview of the issue of vulnerability for all of us in our personal lives and on the job.  We will focus on the four "A's" of self-protection: awareness, assessment, anticipation and action concerning self, environment, client and agency.  Also discussed will be confrontation/assertiveness training, the continuum of assaults and defenses and self-protection in addition to physical intervention strategies.  There will be active physical participation and practicing of techniques.  Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably.  

     

    INTERPERSONAL HELPING SKILLS

    *This is the prerequisite for the Case Management classes

     This workshop assists participants in defining their role as professional helpers who enable clients to achieve and maintains self-sufficiency; addresses the importance of a collaborative worker-client relationship; stresses the need to individualize approaches based on client’s needs; and gives basic interviewing and relationship building skills.       

       

    THE DIMENSIONS OF HOARDING AND HOW TO RESPOND


    As helping professionals, we may be asked to intervene with clients who either hoard or who are at-risk for hoarding. Hoarding, oftentimes the result of indecision, fear, and grief is a growing problem with adults and older adults. Questions from our colleagues, the client’s family members, and the client’s neighbors may be "why does hoarding occur?" or "why does the person continue to hoard even after a "clean-up" intervention has occurred?" This session will help professionals learn the answers to these questions and learn how to identify when someone is at-risk for hoarding and how to intervene when the client hoards objects and/or animals.

     

    FAMILY AND RELATIONSHIP VIOLENCE


    422: Specialized Family Violence This class is designed for people with at least 6 hours of Family/Domestic Violence training, enabling them to meet the requirements of OAC 5101:2-33-60. If you do not have at least 6 hours of training already, do not sign up for this class. Please take the 2 day Overview of Family Violence. Those without it will be asked to leave.
    As we become more aware of family and relationship violence issues with our clients, questions develop such as: What are the defining characteristics of Family Violence? Why does it occur? Why do they stay in the relationship? And why do they continue to batter even after serious negative consequences? Whether the client situation includes child abuse, sibling abuse, relationship/date abuse, spousal abuse, parent or elder abuse, these questions continue to arise. This session will help you learn the answers to these questions along with how to identify that someone is being abused, how to assess the severity and level of risk within their life situation, safety planning and how to intervene. Strategies to maintain the professional’s safety during intervention will also be addressed.

     


    DEALING WITH EMERGENCIES: #420.08- Worker Safety


    How would you respond in an emergency? What would you do if a co-worker or family member suddenly became ill or injured? Do you have the skill to provide support to victims of illness or injury until emergency personnel arrive? In the event of an emergency seconds can mean the difference between life and death. This program will give you a variety of skills that will allow you to respond quickly and effectively in times of emergencies. Learn how to care for a heart attack or stroke victim. Understand how to control bleeding and prevent shock. Become certified in CPR. This course provides hands on skill development and practice.

     

    ASSISTING THE NEWLY EMPLOYED IN DEALING WITH RACISM


    411.15: Specialized Cultural Awareness Skills
    A significant number of minority job seekers face an unanticipated workplace obstacle: racism. This workshop explores issues of racism and discrimination, and offers suggestions to workers as to how to assist clients who face these issues. Learners will view a film that uncovers the dynamics of discrimination, and will gain new insights as to how to prepare job seekers to maintain integrity in the face of discriminatory others.

     

    CULTURALLY SENSITIVE INTERVIEWING SKILLS


    409.05: Specialized Interviewing Skills
    Does it really make a difference where you sit, how much eye contact you offer, or how you word your inquiries when attempting to obtain information from those of other cultures? Social linguists suggest these factors are quite important to cross-cultural and cross-gender communications. Attending to small matters of protocol can heighten trust, build rapport and increase understanding between those with different speaking and listening styles. This workshop explores issues of affect, body language, speaking and listening styles, physical touch and distance considerations when seeking to develop understanding among those of differing custom, habit and tradition. There is a new process for developing people evolving in many organizations. Although the concept has been around for years, the process used by today’s organizations is turning into a very effective tool for recruiting and retaining valuable employees.

     

    STRESS INOCULATION


    #421.21 - Time/Stress Management
    Stress Inoculation training is based on the principles of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, methods consistently found to be dramatically effective for stress reduction. Operating from a "coping" philosophy rather than one of "mastery," participants are led to discover their own unique style of stress management and are taught generalization skills and practices instead of a "hodgepodge" of techniques and strategies. Participants are led through experiential exercises using their own lives as the road map in order to produce fundamental change.

     

    CONFLICT RESOLUTION


    (Formerly Assertive Communication for Effective Conflict Resolution)
    #422: Dealing with Hostility
    It is important, both professionally and personally, for us to understand our learned communication style that either initiates, maintains or exacerbates conflict. The goal of this workshop is the development of skills needed to predict and control unproductive communication during situations involving conflict. We will seek to develop an awareness of physical, emotional and territorial boundaries to aid in avoiding confliction interactions. By expressing and receiving anger effectively during conflict, permanent resolution of negative relationships can be fostered. Lecture, small group discussion, music, large group activities and other modalities will be used to assist your learning in this workshop.

     

    SAFETY AWARENESS AND SELF PROTECTION

    This workshop will include an overview of the issue of vulnerability for all of us in our personal lives and on the job. We will focus on the four "A's" of self-protection: awareness, assessment, anticipation and action concerning self, environment, client and agency. Also discussed will be confrontation/assertiveness training, the continuum of assaults and defenses and self-protection in addition to physical intervention strategies. There will be active physical participation and practicing of techniques. Participants are encouraged to dress comfortably.


    Core 501
    This supervisory core workshop is the first in a series of three which address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. This first workshop establishes an organizational framework for the management of a human services agency. It teaches strategies to assure that agencies are structured and organized to promote an effective, purpose focused and values driven, family centered practice. It also helps participants identify organizational barriers to effective practice and teaches strategies to overcome them to be used by managers at all levels in the organization.

    Succession Planning
    Insuring that there is a steady flow of well-trained, experienced people to fill your key leadership positions is one of the most effective and proactive steps that can be taken to prepare for the future. Systematic succession planning saves the cost and time of personnel searches, as well as enhances employee retention, improves employee morale, and creates a diverse talent pool within an organization.
    Attend this one-day workshop to understand the basics of succession planning and learn the steps necessary to identify and prepare high-potential candidates for key positions.

    *Overview of Mental Health is a prerequisite.

    This is an advanced workshop for staff who have direct contact with the general public, particularly those we serve with mental health issues. It builds on the principles covered in the two day core workshop, Overview of Mental Health, which is a prerequisite. Objectives include: developing better skills in interviewing, dealing with and directing clients who may have some form of mental illness, a history of anger issues, or limited cognitive abilities. It will include some theory, but the focus will be on the application of principles through practical exercises and student participation. Participants are invited to bring examples of difficult clients to use as practice models.



    MANAGING A DIVERSE STAFF
    Your employees are different.....but different is not bad. Different is not deficient. Different is a quality you can capitalize on. Different means diversity and diversity can set your group apart from others. This course will look at the concept of functional diversity and how it can enhance the performance of your organization. Functional diversity gives your team the advantage. Learn how to manage this valuable concept.

    PROBLEM SOLVING: How We Can Better Serve Families
    How we solve problems is often an exercise in the management of resources, time, people, and our own stress. Good problem solving techniques require focus and structure. We sometimes lose sight of the influence that we really have on family outcomes and the importance of using good problem solving strategies to influence those outcomes. During this session, participants explore problem solving techniques, when to use each technique, and link the importance of how we solve problems and make decisions to the success of client outcomes. Participants also learn how to transfer these skills to other problems.


    EMPLOYEE APPRAISAL SYSTEMS AND PROCESS

    Effective organizational management emphasizes employee performance appraisal that is on-going, consistent, objective, and an equitable means of helping each employee adjust to the organizational environment. The effective manager recognizes that the purpose of employee appraisal, counseling, and discipline is to provide the employee with an understanding of what he/she is doing well and what needs improvement as well as that which is unacceptable. Effective management includes employee discipline provided with warning and immediacy so that each employee can have a reasonable opportunity to correct unacceptable performance and behavior patterns in the work setting and to benefit from feedback on this performance.

    BUILDING BLOCKS OF A WINNING TEAM
    Organizations of all types are finding it difficult to do all that needs to be done. This is why teams can be so important. Simply put, a team can accomplish more than all of the members singly. As we strive to provide better service to families, we need to find ways for our organization to work smarter. Teams are one way. This is a proven method for developing and keeping teams on track and getting the highest performance from them. You will learn the four stages of team building, methods for developing a trusting environment, problems solving, enhancing performance, and steps to motivate teams. This program is highly interactive with group projects. Come prepared to be involved!

    DEVELOPING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE ACCOUNTABILITY
    How do we actually develop performance accountability, particularly when coming from a civil service system? Discover an effective approach of measuring an individual's performance and developing employee accountability. In this workshop you will learn to create a solid base for enhancing performance by stimulating employee productivity and documenting the results. What is holding your employees back? We will work to discover the ways internal and external factors effect performance and what you can do to mitigate the negative impact of these factors and enhance the positive ones.

    Managing In Union and Non-Union Environments 
    Managing Conflict in an organization is one of the most important skills for a manager to develop. Conflicts arise between individuals, teams, departments, and technology. Management and labor, whether unionized or not, are often at odds. Management seems to pay for the right to make unilateral decisions by having to continually defend against implementation grievances. Management acts and the union reacts. In such an environment a manager’s survival depends on the ability to negotiate successfully and to motivate employees to want to do the job. The focus of this seminar is to sharpen those skills.

    Core 504 - Supervising and Managing Group Performance Description
    This module identifies barriers to productivity at the unit level in an agency and explores a variety of interventions that assure productive contributions from every work unit in the agency. It also presents strategies to build work groups into self-developing teams, focused on achieving a shared purpose. Participants will learn to identify basic characteristics and components of productive work groups, the stages of group development and the goals at each stage. They will learn to match each stage with appropriate leader behaviors that sustain leader development and increase productivity and also identify ways that reorganization, a change in group membership, or the performance of difficult tasks can be used as opportunities to increase contributions to achieving the agency's mission.

    Mentoring
    There is a new process for developing people evolving in many organizations. Although the concept has been around for years, the process used by today’s organizations is turning into a very effective tool for recruiting and retaining valuable employees.  Mentoring is a process of two people working together to gain and enrich each other from the experience. The goal of an organization should no longer be to simply train an employee for a job, but to offer the guidance and counsel that is needed to develop the person’s abilities to the fullest. This program will help you develop a mentoring program that will allow the people to grow while enhancing the effectiveness of the organization.

    Leadership Rules of Engagement Description
    Leadership is not about egos. It's about helping develop the people of the organization. It's about bringing the team together to perform effectively. Leadership is about integrity and helping people succeed. It is about making the organization better today than it was yesterday. Leadership is not about "me;" it's about "we". This program will provide the skills to help improve the performance of the organization at all levels. It will provide an effective process for dealing with conflict within the workplace and you will learn how to solve performance issues using a simple three step process.

    Transition To Management
    Description
    Don’t you wish that new promotion came with an instruction manual? Well now it does. This program will provide the skills needed to make an easy transition to supervision and management. It will equip you with the beginning knowledge that new supervisors need to be effective even on their first day. It will also show you that the skills needed to be an effective manager are not those that made you a terrific worker but an entirely new skill set. Follow this blueprint for success and you will be off on the right track.

    Legal Issues In Adult Protective Services
    This CORE workshop will address the legal issues that impact adult services practice. The use of federal, state, and civil laws regarding the rights of adults, guardianship, protective payee, power of attorney, and conservatorship to assist adult clients will be examined as will the use of the law for protective services in cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Ohio’s competency criteria, probate process, and the importance of documentation will be covered along with the role of the court system and the worker’s involvement with it. Legal issues related to exploitation, fraud, confidentiality, and worker liability will be address, as well as, legal considerations surrounding the case record and dictation.

    Do You Want To Cuss It Or Discuss It?
     
    Do you find yourself encountering more and more people who are difficult to deal with? Some are overbearing, uncompromising, resentful, uncooperative or pushy. Weather you are dealing with angry clients or overworked office staff or co-workers, each conflict situation will challenge your skills and patience. In most cases you have two choices; you can cuss it or discuss it.
    This program provides the skills needed to handle difficult people and conflict. The "Behavior Cycle" is covered and allows a different approach to handling people who are not so nice in the workplace. It will provide simple techniques for resolving conflict in a positive manner.


    Negotiating Skills For Win-Win Outcomes With Consumers and Co-Workers


    Making Changes:  Emotional Control and Self Discipline

    Have you ever gone to workshops or training programs and never implemented the ideas? Does your temper ever get you in trouble? When was the last time you promised yourself you’d break a habit (perhaps at New Years) - and you did?

    This workshop will help you deal with negative emotions and provide techniques to change bad habits. Participants will learn strategies to handle crises and reduce stress; deal with issues requiring self-discipline (overcoming procrastination, breaking non-productive habits); and remain calm when dealing with anger (in self and in others).

    Core 502 - Managing Work Through Other People
    This is the second in a series of four workshops that address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. (They do not need to be taken in order.) This workshop focuses on the people who make up the organization. Content areas include: identifying and understanding supervisory roles and styles; uses and abuses of power; factors which contribute to individual employee motivation and job performance; pro-active strategies for motivation and reinforcing staff to perform assigned tasks; conflict resolution; choosing the most effective management style for the solution; using power to affect change and conflict resolution.

    Purposeful Interviewing
    Effective interviewing is at the heart of every successful human services’ intervention. This three-day core curriculum is designed to equip OWF/TANF staff with the fundamental skills and knowledge to conduct an outcome-based interview. This curriculum will also address issues that may arise while interviewing specialized populations such as those involved with substance abuse or the mental health system.

    Family and Relationship Violence
    As we become more aware of family and relationship violence issues with our clients, questions develop such as: What are the defining characteristics of Family Violence? Why does it occur? Why do they stay in the relationship? And why do they continue to batter even after serious negative consequences? Whether the client situation includes child abuse, sibling abuse, relationship/date abuse, spousal abuse, parent or elder abuse, these questions continue to arise. This session will help you learn the answers to these questions along with how to identify that someone is being abused, how to assess the severity and level of risk within their life situation, safety planning and how to intervene. Strategies to maintain the professional’s safety during intervention will also be addressed..

    Everything Your Pharmacist Needs You To Know and Your Doctor Didn't Tell You 
    Why do these drugs work? Why can’t we take some drugs when we are taking others? Why do I have to keep taking these drugs even after I feel better? Why did my sister get pregnant while taking birth control pills (and also some other meds)? Why hasn’t this Prozac I just started worked? Why do I still feel fine after I quit taking the Prozac this week - maybe I don’t really need it? What is a half life? How come I was prescribed 20 mgs and my friend got 200 and they are both for blood pressure? Should I take more? What’s grapefruit got to do with anything? Aren’t herbs just as good? Get these and other questions answered in this terrifically informative workshop. Bring any additional questions you have to the class and we’ll try to get them all answered.

    Seven Deadly Sins of Management 
    Management personnel (e.g. supervisors, administrators, deputy directors, and directors) who attend this training will learn:1) the differences between de-motivating and motivating employees, the relative importance, what de-motivates employees, and how to avoid de-motivates behaviors; 2) the "Trust Factor," what is it and how to make progress toward it: 3) accountability, what it is and what it isn’t, and how to behave as a business, not as a "social service" employer; 4) staff development, the factors which develop unsatisfactory employees, which develop mediocre employees, and which develop employees striving for improvement; 5) the differences between ineffective "problem resolution" and "results oriented problem resolution," and how to problem solve for results; 6) best practices and other "bandwagons," avoiding and making the most of; and 7) why management is not the Land of Milk & Honey. We promise that you will take away a wealth of information and ways to improve your management of employees.

    Preventing Workplace Violence -
    How safe are you at work? Statistics show that in today's current climate, one in four workers will be attacked, harassed or threatened on the job, yet workplace violence is preventable. Because episodes of violence are hard to predict, it is advisable for all workers to possess skills in detecting potentially disruptive situations and defusing them. This seminar will present both organizational and individual strategies that can be implemented in social service settings to curtail violent episodes. The Violence Cycle, when and how to interrupt it, will be discussed. Come prepared to tell your own "war stories" and increase the skills and knowledge you need to keep yourself and others safe at work.

    Understanding Economic Diversity -
    At times it may appear that the poor are invested in staying poor. It seems their decisions; judgments and attitudes serve to keep them stuck in poverty. This seminar addresses the norms, traditions, behaviors, values and survival skills employed by various economic groups and explains how the impact of generations in these groups affects behavior and thinking. Perhaps not every poor person is enthused about joining the middle class. (We know we would all like to be part of the wealthy class, or would we?) Come and find out why. We will take this information a step further as we look at ways to capitalize on economic norms to help the unemployed find jobs.

    Social Work Values, Ethics and Confidentiality -
    As workers in the State/County Human Services arena, we are bound by legal and professional standards and laws. Upholding these in the midst of complex cases involving conflicting values is challenging, to say the least. We will review the laws governing us on the job and identify issues we have to deal with that may bring us into conflict with these laws and standards. This workshop will explore various ethical dilemmas and discuss the concepts of confidentiality, negligence and professional misconduct, as well as other issues including privileged communication and risk management. Participants are encouraged to bring examples of ethical dilemmas to the class for discussion.


    Was It Something I Said? - 

    How well do you communicate? The fact is most organizations struggle with communications. It is the most requested topic for training. This a highly interactive and effective approach to improving communications. Learn how to become a better listener, avoid conflict and how to get your message across the many barriers to communications we encounter each day. No matter what message you want to convey, this program will help you learn to increase you communication effectiveness.


    Finding Your Way Through the Maze of Change:  For Managers and Supervisors -

    Change is a fact of life and will occur whether we move with it or not – like it or not. Change does not come with a blue-print so each of us ends up finding our own way through change. We want to reduce the stress of change through a better understanding of change and loss and our role in it.

    This workshop will equip you with coping techniques for helping yourself and others adapt to change, deal with change resistance (in ourselves and our staff), support upper management decisions to staff (even when we don’t agree) and succeed during times of personal and organizational change. We will identify the ways (words and actions) we may inadvertently increase staff resistance and their consequences. We will learn ways of better seeing the ‘big picture’ and resolving the conflict between individual fairness and broader organizational implications. This in turn will help us in understanding the importance of supporting those administrative decisions, especially those we may not agree with.


    Beyond An Overview:  Doing Our Work With Those Having Mental Challenges -

    Prerequisite:   Overview of Mental Health
    This is an advanced workshop for staff who have direct contact with the general public, particularly those we serve with mental health issues.  It builds on the principle cover in the two day core workshop, Overview of Mental Health, which is a prerequisite.   Objectives include:  developing better skills in interviewing, dealing with and directing clients who may have some form of mental illness, a history of anger issues, or limited cognitive abilities.   It will include some theory, but the focus will be on the application of principles through practical exercises and student participation.  Participants are invited to bring examples of difficult clients to use as practice models.


    Fire Safety -
    Fire kills more Americans than all natural disasters combined.  According to the United States, each year more than 5,000 people die in fires and another 25,000 people are injured.  One of the most at-risk groups are senior citizens.  This workshop explores what we can do to lessen the possibility of fires occurring in homes and focuses particularly on special safety considerations for our senior population.


    Cultural Awareness -
    In our work in today’s world, it is mandatory that we consider culture if we are to be effective. This core workshop focuses on developing an understanding of culture and its role in interpersonal relationships. To do this, we will explore how one’s own culture affects our interpersonal relationships. Through this, we will examine multi-cultural competencies necessary for forming healthy interpersonal relationships. It is through these relationships that we do our work.


    Facilitating Group Problem Solving -

    This one-day workshop will help participants identify and practice those skills which optimize group participation in meetings; enhance brainstorming and problem solving techniques; and deal with common problem solving meeting situations. As we come to appreciate the concepts of consensus decision making and synergy, we’ll examine the essential factors that enhance or hinder group decision making. We will discuss ways to effectively manage disruptive group member roles: ramblers, "rather nots," dominators, whisperers, non-responsives, assignment missers, etc. We will look at the importance of planning and managing problem solving meetings to overcome common meeting management problems as well as understanding the essential factors that enhance or hinder group decision making.

    Productive Memory and Reading Skills -
    The need to increase reading and comprehensive abilities grows greater as information becomes available at faster and faster rates. With the avalanche of paper, the proliferation of e-mail messages, and the sheer volume of important information, it’s not surprising that important details get forgotten.

    This one-day workshop is designed to provide practical ways of scanning and reading for the purpose of maximum comprehension. We will do this by looking at the most common reading problems and ways of overcoming them in the morning. Then we will explore ways to improve concentration. Moving on to memory in the afternoon, we’ll look at its function and the three stages of memory. We will practice memory exercises and recall tests to help you develop effective retention and recall.

    Overview of Mental Health -
    We have developed a Core Curriculum for the OWF/TANF worker who must work with those who have mental health issues. Sure, we refer those we can easily identify to mental health centers, but what about the ones who aren’t too ill to work? It has been said that the CDJFS worker is often the first to identify mental illness. Mental illness and/or a DSM-IV diagnosis does not remove a person from the workforce. We have people with mental health problems in all sorts of jobs from Congress to the street sweeper. We still have to work with those not severe enough for SSI. This workshop will teach you about the possible problems you may encounter and how to use that information in finding appropriate settings for them to work. This course has been designed around responses from actual OWF workers around the state.

    Core 501  -
    The first in a series of five workshops that address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. This workshop establishes an organizational framework for the management of a human services agency. It teaches strategies to assure that agencies are structured and organized to promote effective, purpose-focused and value-driven, family-centered practice. It also helps participants identify organizational barriers to effective practice and teaches strategies to overcome them.

    Motivating Without Money -
    How far does money go in motivating an employee? It doesn’t really matter any more because tight economic times means it is just not there to pass around. Organizations don’t have the surplus resources for monetary rewards, yet they need motivated employees now more than ever. So how do you energize a workforce without the traditional "carrot"? This workshop is designed to give you the specific techniques, tool and insights to make your employees more involved and productive

    TRANSITION TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY 
    This workshop is designed to give workers the skills and knowledge necessary to recognize their client’s job retention skills and to affect strategies that will help move them from dependence on the system to a level of self-sufficiency that empowers them into productive citizenship by:

    • Engaging individuals/families in being responsible for their own employment successes
    • Identifying barriers to achieving self-sufficiency
    • Developing strategies to help consumers reach their identified work goals
    • Understanding how previous experiences may affect their responses in new work settings 
    • Assisting customers with job retention and creating their own personal work successes
    • Assisting customers in long-term citizenship and promotion of family stability through employment and use of community resources.

     

    SO YOU WANT TO BE A SUPERVISOR 
    Good preparation is a key element of any plan, particularly a plan that includes getting promoted to a supervisory position. This two-day workshop helps prepare you to assume the responsibilities of supervision by providing tips on how to develop a "promotable image," and equips you with an understanding of the basics of supervision. Join us if you are thinking of applying for promotion within the next year. Learn about supervisory responsibilities including goal, purpose, and vision setting; performance management; team building; problem solving; and conflict resolution.

     

    THE EFFECTS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT ON ADULT DEVELOPMENT

    As we work with our client population we often find that they do not behave as we expect. Many times this is due to their history that they may or may not have revealed to us. This workshop is designed to show the worker some other ways of viewing their client’s behavior and to provide clues to use in further assessing their client’s functioning. Participants will be involved in an overview of normal physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development and, then, the effects that abuse and neglect have on this development and the later functioning of adults in society.

     

    ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES PRACTICE 
    This two day CORE Workshop will include an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the adult services worker and social work principles. Other topics for discussion will be values and attitudes, developing cultural and generational awareness, and recognition and referral for adult abuse, neglect and exploitation. Risk assessment and emergency/crisis intervention will be discussed. Approaches for maximizing independent functioning of adults will be covered. Strategies for collaborating with other agencies in case plan development and provision of services will be reviewed.
     


    CHANGING AS OUR WORLD CHANGES 

    Change occurs when we encounter a situation that doesn’t fit our current way of doing things. When we encounter change, we may either resist it or decide to "change with change". When we "change with change" we allow ourselves opportunities for self-improvement and renewal.  This session describes how we adjust our thinking and actions in both positive and negative ways when faced with change. The program guides participants through effective strategies for adapting to change and encourages positive responses to change when it occurs in either our professional or personal lives.



    Core 501 - Managing Within a Human Services Agency
    For Supervisors and Managers Only

    The first in a series of five workshops that address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. This workshop establishes an organizational framework for the management of a human services agency. It teaches strategies to assure that agencies are structured and organized to promote effective, purpose-focused and value-driven, family-centered practice. It also helps participants identify organizational barriers to effective practice and teaches strategies to overcome them.

     

    WORKING WITH THE ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT CLIENT  
    Job and Family Services workers are presented with the challenge of working with many clients who are developmentally still adolescents although their age would make you think otherwise. This training will explore this complex developmental period and its milestones. Strategies for interviewing, developing working relationships, and fostering self-sufficiency will be covered. Problems common to this age such as drug abuse, violence, pregnancy and suicide will also be addressed.

     

    GOING BEYOND CUSTOMER SERVICE 
    We’ve all heard about customer service but what does it really mean to us personally and as an organization? How can we make a difference individually and as a team? What do our customers expect and how can I exceed this? Are there barriers to providing good customer service both internally and externally and how can I overcome them? Learn the answers to these and other issues as we explore our perceptions and strategize ways to succeed in going beyond customer service.

    MOTIVATING WITHOUT MONEY: For Supervisors and Managers 
    How far does money go in motivating an employee? It doesn’t really matter any more because tight economic times means it is just not there to pass around. Organizations don’t have the surplus resources for monetary rewards, yet they need motivated employees now more than ever. So how do you energize a workforce without the traditional "carrot"? This workshop is designed to give you the specific techniques, tool and insights to make your employees more involved and productive

    CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM SOLVING & DECISION MAKING: 
    for Managers and Supervisors
    For Supervisors and Managers Only

     

    Child Development and Delays   
    Job and Family Services consumers present with a variety of barriers to employment, including problems related to parenting and child rearing.  this training will provide workers with an overview of normal child development from birth through adolescents, highlighting critical developmental milestones, needs and issues.  Identification of significant developmental disabilities will be discussed. Strategies for helping parents understand age appropriate needs and behaviors, along with ways to deal with problem behaviors will be presented.

     

    Career Management   
    Career management is the process of identifying the factors important to professional success, permitting those factors to work for you, and preparing yourself for the professional opportunities that come your way. As a result of attending this workshop, participants will be able to identify why some professionals successfully move along the professional career track while others stall on the track, or even derail. Assumptions of the trainer related to career management are that luck, opportunity, visibility, acquaintance, education, competence, and a multitude of other factors figure into career success and that most of these factors are controllable. According to the trainer, one useful method to control these factors is to determine a strategy for professional self-creation and develop a professional development plan.  As a result of attending this workshop, participants will understand how to set short-term career objectives, develop a professional development plan consistent with their long-term goals, assess their professional strengths and non-strengths, and identify their personal and interpersonal style. Participants also will discuss how feeling like a professional imposter can impede enjoyment of well-deserved success and will explore some of the factors that contribute to this feeling as well as how to overcome them.

     

    Working with Adults with Perceptual and Physical Impairments 
    Individuals with perceptual or physical impairments frequently experience difficulty dealing with their social as well as their physical environment. Embarrassing and frustrating situations often result in social withdrawal and depression. The purpose of this workshop is to help social service providers better understand the nature of these impairments so that they can communicate more effectively with clients and help them learn practical techniques to adapt to their environment. New materials and resources designed to compensate for a particular disability will also be presented.

     

    Dealing With Emergencies  
    How would you respond in an emergency? What would you do if a co-worker or family member suddenly became ill or injured Do you have the skill to provide support to victims of illness or injury until emergency personnel arrive? In the event of an emergency, seconds can mean the difference between life and death. This program will give you a variety of skills that will allow you to respond quickly and effectively in times of emergencies. Learn how to care for a heart attack or stroke victim. Understand how to control bleeding and prevent shock. Become certified in CPR. Develop many other skills needed in emergencies. This course provides hands-on skill development and practice. Wear clothes suitable for movement; casual is suggested.

     

    Was It Something I Said?   
    How well do you communicate? The fact is most organizations struggle with communications. It is the most requested topic for training. This a highly interactive and effective approach to improving communications. Learn how to become a better listener, avoid conflict and how to get your message across the many barriers to communications we encounter each day. No matter what message you want to convey, this program will help you learn to increase you communication effectiveness.

     

    Building Trust, Credibility and Cooperation   
    Would your relationships with clients be more productive if they were "mutually trusting?" Trust is the cornerstone of successful client relationships. It is the intangible ingredient on which the foundation of effective relationships is built. The absence of trust causes suspicion, fear, resistance and negativity.
    This one-day workshop will help you develop a working knowledge of the principles of trust: how it is maintained, how it is broken down and ways to rebuild it. By learning the signs and symptoms of mistrust you will be able to assess what may be lacking in your client (and peers) relationships, and discover ways of increasing trust with your clients.

     

    Dealing with the Mess of Stress  
    Stress is a leading cause of illness today. Unchecked, stress can make you ineffective both at work and in your personal life. This program will provide simple, yet effective, methods to reduce your stress level. You will feel better, rest better, and be more productive. Learn how to reduce and prevent stress from controlling your life in this workshop that has been described as "looking at stress in a new way unlike any they have seen before."

     

    Survival Skills for Support Staff     
    Do you find your roles and responsibilities changing? Are you being asked to do more things than ever before, and to do them better, faster and more efficiently? Demands are constantly increasing and support staff are being called upon to wear many hats, juggle multiple priorities, do work for multiple bosses, and deal smilingly with all types of co-workers, customers, and bosses. Take a stress-break from the daily routine and learn the survival skills necessary to make it in today’s workplaces.

     

    Productive Reading and Memory Skills 
    The need to increase reading and comprehensive abilities grows greater as information becomes available at faster and faster rates. With the avalanche of paper, the proliferation of e-mail messages, and the sheer volume of important information, it’s not surprising that important details get forgotten.
    This one-day workshop is designed to provide practical ways of scanning and reading for the purpose of maximum comprehension. We will do this by looking at the most common reading problems and ways of overcoming them. Then we will explore ways to improve concentration. Moving on to memory, we’ll look at its function and the three stages of memory. We will practice memory exercises and recall tests to help you develop effective retention and recall.

     

    Separation and Loss in Adult Protective Service 
    This two-day CORE workshop will focus on the dynamics of separation and loss in adulthood. The potential trauma of loss and separation, including precipitation of psychological crisis, depression, and disruption of family relationships will be discussed. Physical, emotional and behavioral indicators of loss and grieving will be reviewed. The nature of losses due to death, relocation or placement, serious illness or disability, and increased dependence on care givers will be examined. Minimizing the crisis of separation and loss by providing strategies for support and empowerment of clients will be stressed.

    Getting Your Performance Evaluation  
    That dreaded time - the performance evaluation interview. We've all been through it - the assessment, for good or bad, that becomes part of our work history. This workshop will help you move from fear of this interview and process to a place of energy, thus using performance information in a positive way.  This session will help you step back and get some perspective on your strengths as well as on how you receive feedback and your role in the performance evaluation process. It will also help you view criticism as limited to specific behaviors, not as an attack on you as a person. Thus you will be able to participate more in the process and receive performance feedback without defensiveness or counterattack.

     

    Transfer of Learning  
    This is the third series of four workshops that address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. (The workshops do not need to be taken in order. It is not necessary to have taken 501 or others in the series to enroll.)  This workshop explores the diverse learning styles, needs and resulting behaviors of family-serving professionals in a learning environment. It examines ways for supervisors to assess critical learning needs of staff and how to match these needs with appropriate training curricula to improve the overall competence of the workforce. It also helps participants identify factors before, during, and after training that affect transfer of what is learned on the job. Participants will be able to use this information to develop individualized learning plans for staff. This information will also lead to improved abilities of these supervisors to deliver on the job training to their staff.

     

    Older Adults with Alcohol and Other Addictions 
    This workshop will provide an overview of the issues related to older adults and their use of alcohol and other drugs of abuse (AOD). Participants will leave the workshop with an increased understanding of the special concerns of older adults with abuse/addiction problems and the concerns of those who work with them and their families. Topics covered include the changing scope of the problem, assessment of alcohol and other drug problems in older adults, intervention and treatment strategies for this population. Participants will be able to identify: three symptoms of AOD abuse in older adults, three intervention challenges specific to working with older adults, and three treatment issues.



    The Father's Role in Child Development 

    This workshop examines both the direct and indirect effects of the paternal role on child development from infancy through adolescence. Drawing on the latest research, this workshop will examine the development of the father-infant attachment, the nature of paternal relationships with preschoolers, and how the influence of positive parental involvement with the school age child influences such areas as cognitive development, academic performance, and the empathy development. Characteristics of the adolescent’s relationship with his/her father will be discussed, including time spent together, closeness, communication, power and conflict. Participants will gain a greater understanding of the importance of fathers to be positively engaged and emotionally responsive with their children.

     

    Taking Control and Checking For Holes in Our Safety Net  
    Frustrated when folks you work with don't do what we tell them - even when it is for their own good or when it is to achieve a mutually agreed upon goal? Find yourself about to lose control? Does your lack of control get you into tight places?
    This one-day seminar will help you to understand issues of control with your clients, your peers, your supervisors and yourself. We will discuss the need and value of control in our lives as well as in those of our consumers and peers. We'll look at how control works and how to know when it won't and when we need some control from outside ourselves. We'll help figure out when it is better for our own sanity to let go of our illusions of control in our job and other aspects of our lives. We'll examine our own safety net of coping strategies and where to make repairs.

     

    Adult Protective Services Case Management and Planning 
    This core workshop will provide training and practice in the knowledge and skills essential for effective case management, case planning and procedure using casework as the primary service intervention. Methods for systematic case assessment, prioritizing, goal setting and review will be covered as well as methods for engaging clients and working with hostility and resistance. Approaches for enhancing interviewing skills will be examined along with techniques for case recording and documentation. The role of the case worker as both helper and authority will be considered.

     

    Positive Action Equals Positive Results  
    The objective of this workshop is to create relevant change in the lives of participants by teaching positive thinking concepts. Customer service techniques are also a part of this training because it is essential for individuals to maintain their own "wellness" while helping others. Positive People create a more energized, cooperative, and cohesive work environment. These individuals uniquely enhance our communities as well. Most important, participants learn how POSITIVE ACTION = POSITIVE RESULTS every time.

    Positive Action Equals Positive Results is a highly interactive workshop that involves self-assessment exercises and group activities. Participants learn tips on how to change negative attitudes into positive ones that will increase productivity. Be a Positive Person: By Thinking Positively booklets are available.

     

    Professional Is As Professional Does 
    Remember when your mother told the female members of your family that "pretty is as pretty does"? The same adage applies when assigning the title of "professional" to any person. This seminar discusses the development of attitudes, image, self-concept and behavior that reflect professionalism. Learn language, dress, judgment and conduct strategies to enhance your professional image, improve your workplace impact, and transform you into a fine model for clients and coworkers to emulate.

     

    Burning Out or Rusting Out 
    Many of us have difficulty overcoming the thought that we have more work to do than the time to get it done. This difficulty can actually be a symptom of either career burn-out or career rust-out. When we are burned-out or rusted-out, we find ourselves doing a certain amount of meaningless hopping from one task to another, responding to interruptions with difficulty, complaining that we are stressed-out, and having trouble finding closure on any particular task.  Burn-out gradually depletes our effectiveness on the job and exhausts our physical, mental, and emotional resources. We wear ourselves out by excessively striving to reach unrealistic expectations imposed by ourselves, our workplace, or our society.  Those of us who experience boredom with routine responsibilities, under stimulation, and frustration are probably rusted-out. We have outgrown our positions in our organizations. This does not necessarily mean that we are not busy, but, we lack intellectual challenge. Career rust-out can cause great employees to corrode and become less valuable in their contributions to the organization.
    Successfully confronting either of these difficulties means first, identifying whether we are experiencing burn-out or rust-out, and then, developing strategies to remedy the stress-related career crises. We can re-start our professional careers and salvage our contributions to the organization by using the right career development tools. With the proper tune-up, employees can re-start their energies and beat career burn-out and rust-out.

     

    Enhancing Self-Esteem and Job Performance   
    Our self-esteem affects virtually every aspect of our lives, including our job performance. As we identify the attitudes associated with having a high self-esteem, we will identify aspects of life management and see how they effect self-esteem and job performance. This workshop will challenge participants to evaluate what "work" actually means to them and how to make almost any task more enjoyable. To do this, we will learn to recognize cognitive errors, the most common internalized negative messages, and techniques of self-sabotage at work. Then we’ll review the basic sources of self-esteem and steps to enhance it. We’ll look at the nature of the fear of success and the fear of failure and impediments we have to job success and job satisfaction so we can develop an attitude for success. This session will also identify how our reactions, based on our self-esteem, can positively or negatively affect productivity at work. Techniques to enhance self-esteem and promote empowerment in ourselves and others will be explored. We will use visualization for the purpose of goal-setting as we learn how to develop and complete a contract for self-improvement.

     

    Effective Performance Feedback Skills for Supervisors 
    This workshop is designed for any supervisor who feels uncomfortable or unsure about delivering performance appraisals. Innovative approaches to evaluation will be discussed, in addition to pre-appraisal planning and ongoing performance tracking strategies. You will leave this workshop with the knowledge necessary to create and maintain a meaningful, systematic approach to performance improvement through monthly performance tracking conferences. You will be able to effectively communicate performance expectations through the use developmental feedback; give task-specific directions; and know how to diagnose performance discrepancies

     

    Show Me the Money 
    Estimates suggest that the average family spends $500-$1,500 per month more than it earns. This course gives both a philosophical and a practical look at family finances. It deals with financial attitudes, problems, and solutions for families. The workshop includes activities that will help participants see the personal historical basis for the attitudes they have about money and spending. It involves looking at their current financial situation in a non-threatening way, discovering habits and attitudes, and implementing changes to help achieve financial independence. Practical aspects of the training include short-term and long-term planning, spending estimates, and money saving strategies in everyday living.

     

    Impact of Witnessing Parental Violence on Children 
    Children who observe parental violence can experience traumatic reactions which affects their psychological, cognitive and social adjustment. Violence within the family changes the family system and the impact can last for several generations. This workshop will address the risk factors for children exposed to domestic violence; how to interview children who witness parental violence; assessment and intervention strategies and the impact of the father’s marital violence on the development of aggressiveness in male children.

     

    High Performance Attitudes for Workers  
    Got any attitudes in your organization? Sure you do! Both good and bad attitudes are all around us. This program will benefit organizations and individuals who want to improve their attitudes. It focuses on developing high performance people while teaching you to improve the attitudes of others. That’s right, you can change attitudes and we will show you the proven process that has worked for many.


    De-escalating the Angry Person

    With the more stringent requirements and consequences of "welfare reform", it is more than likely that workers will come in contact with angry, potentially aggressive or assaultive individuals on their jobs. In this workshop participants will learn the hierarchy of behaviors an d emotions that a person displays at various levels, as well as the importance of body language and other non-verbal communication. The emphasis will be on learning ways to avoid potentially dangerous situations by planning ahead and anticipating behaviors.

     

    Interpersonal Helping Skills
    This workshop assists participants in defining their role as professional helpers who enable clients to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency; addresses the importance of collaborative worker-client relationship; stresses the need to individualize approaches based on client's needs; and gives basic interviewing and relationship-building skills.


    Culture and Diversity
    This workshop focuses on developing an awareness of the impact of culture and diversity on personal and professional relationships.   It is designed to provide the basis of a culturally-competent journey beginning with self-awareness and moving to the application of culturally-competent tools in human services practice.


    Customer Service Teams
     


    Case Management I
    This workshop introduces the fundamentals of case planning; presents a cohesive case planning model; focuses on working jointly with clients to identify strengths, needs and barriers to self-sufficiency; and applies concepts to the development of the plan.


    Case Management II 
    This workshop adds greater depth to individualized family assessments for effective plan development.  It also addresses the case planning steps of monitoring, reassessment and redefining goals and objectives.  Employment services, issues relating to job preparation and job retention are covered.


    Culturally Sensitive Interviewing Skills
    "I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."  This quote symbolizes the dilemma seen in the interviewing process - especially when we introduce diversity into the discussion.  this workshop will address the importance of non-verbal communication, mixed messages, active listening and building rapport with difficult.  We will do this by focusing on how the differences between the interviewer and the interviewee can impact the outcome.


    Organizing and Clearing The Clutter
    Imagine how productive people would be professionally and personally if they could find things fast...Decide in a flash where stuff should go...and keep on top of appointments and assignments.  Being organized is not a personality trait, it's a skill and state of mind anybody can master.  Participants will learn how to manage paper, tasks and workspace using simple "tools" and new "tricks".


    How to Stay Motivated
    This program is not just a presentation.  It is a system of concepts, ideas, beliefs, behaviors, values, attitudes and strategies that  work.  Dr. Lawson has designed a step-by-step process that can be put to use by any individual.  An important aspect of this program lies in the fact that the information is transferable to clients of social and workforce investment services.

    Overview of Chemical Dependency 
    Clients who are chemically dependent or who abuse chemicals may possess significant barriers to self sufficiency.  This workshop will provide workers with a basic understanding of a variety of barriers present in chemically dependent clients.  We will identify the causality of addiction based on a variety of models.  Addiction risk factors, the process of addiction based on the disease model, defense mechanisms, addiction screening, treatment concepts, and relapse factors will be presented.  We will review types, effects, and hazards of a variety of drugs.  Workers will have an opportunity to examine their own beliefs and judgments about chemical dependency as a barrier to self-sufficiency.


    De-Escalating the Angry Person
    With the more stringent requirements and consequences of "welfare reform," it is more than likely that workers will come in contact with angry, potentially aggressive or assaultive individuals on the their jobs.  In this workshop participants will learn the hierarchy of behaviors and emotions that a person displays at various levels of agitation and the appropriate verbal intervention for each level, as well as the importance of body language and other non-verbal communication.  The emphasis will be on learning ways to avoid potentially dangerous situations by planning ahead and anticipating behaviors.


    Time and Stress Management
    Through exercises, participants will learn how to organize for increased performance and reduced stress, understand their stressors, manage stress, minimize time wasters, prioritize their workload, time-block and increase telephone efficiency.   Topics to be covered include: how do you know when you're stressed?; causes of stress; physical, emotional and cognitive results of stress and methods for managing stress.  This course was specifically designed for DJFS employees.


    Working Under Pressure with Flexibility and Adaptability
    This one-day workshop is for anyone working under pressure or experiencing stress that results from:

    • Encountering change on a daily basis which requires constant flexibility and adaptability

     


    Street Drugs

    This workshop will present information regarding commonly used street drugs, the people who use them, and ways to respond to users when he/she is high. Drugs covered will include: crack, cocaine, narcotics, stimulants, solvents, barbiturates, legal substances, etc. Topics of discussion include:

    The effect of street drugs on those who use them
    Lifestyles of drug users
    Indicators that can help a worker recognize drug use
    Methods of responding to users
    Cultural considerations

     

    Soaring With Eagles When You're Surrounded by Turkeys
    Frustrated because you are doing "it" right and all those around you don’t seem to be? Think everything would be better if they would? Are "they" holding you back? This program provides key insights on how to be a top employee anyway. Not everyone in your organization is as excited about their job as you. So how do you excel in a negative environment with little support from those around you? Learn how to take responsibility for your own success while contributing to the success of the organization despite the things you can’t control.

     

    OVERVIEW OF FAMILY VIOLENCE - DAY 1
    This is part of a two-day course that may be taken as individual days. Day 1 is the prerequisite of Day 2 which will be offered here on November 30th. It is recommended that you sign up for both days at the same time. 6 contact hours will be given for the second day as well. This workshop is designed to provide participants with increased awareness about the problem of family violence and how violence against women is a barrier to self-sufficiency as well as to meet the legal mandate for training on domestic violence. Participants will also gain an understanding of the scope of the problem; be able to identify women who may be living in violent relationships; understand the types of family violence as well as the various forms of abuse; recognize the importance of inquiry into the extent of the violence to determine the severity and the frequency of the abuse; know the legal definition of domestic violence and the dynamics of family violence; learn to develop a safety plan for women and children; learn how to interview a woman from a strengths-based approach; and understand how culture influences violence against women.

     

    Managing Change
    Change occurs when an organization encounters a situation or information that does not fit the organizations current way of doing things. When employees at all levels encounter change and don't know what to expect, anxiety levels rise. Consequently, they become anxious and resist the change. When change is allowed to "just happen," workers view change as something to be feared. They no longer know how to act and react, which leaves them lost and with some sense of organizational instability that will remain until they are able to adjust their thinking and actions to accommodate the change. In this class you will learn ways to make this accommodation so that the organization can regain or even exceed its prior effectiveness and momentum while still being able to keep your sanity.
     

     

    Teaming:  Internal and External Collaboration
    This workshop will prepare workers to participate on collaborate teams both inside and outside their agency. As county agencies move into more accountability of individual employees for the way work is conducted, the use of collaborative teams becomes an important administrative tool. Providing employees with the skills to perform effectively in such teams is an important addition to their professional development as well as the success of their clients

     

    Wellness and You
    Each of us has the potential to lead fulfilling, healthy lives - and much of our personal wellness lies in our own hands. This one day workshop presents the elements of wellness and provides an opportunity for a self-assessment. How do you go about making changes toward wellness? A model of stages of change toward wellness will be presented, and participants will learn how to make a personal plan for positive change. Everyone will learn how to elicit the relaxation response, a foundation tool in stress management and wellness, through simple breathing and relaxation exercises.

     


    Managing Change, Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace

    Everyone finds themselves in a leadership role at one time or another. This workshop will help individuals recognize the essential leadership characteristics that build bridges to better relationships within a group or organization. Participants of this workshop will learn the five basic stages of the creative process and convergent and divergent problem solving approaches. Techniques will be presented on how to effectively utilize the problem-solving model in team collaboration and how to motivate others to think in an innovative fashion.

     

    Overview of Mental Health
    We have developed a Core Curriculum for the OWF/TANF worker who must work with those who have mental health issues. Sure, we refer those we can easily identify to mental health centers, but what about the ones who aren’t too ill to work? It has been said that the CDJFS worker is often the first to identify mental illness. Mental illness and/or a DSM-IV diagnosis does not remove a person from the workforce. We have people with mental health problems in all sorts of jobs from Congress to the street sweeper. We still have to work with those not severe enough for SSI. This workshop will teach you about the possible problems you may encounter and how to use that information in finding appropriate settings for them to work. This course has been designed around responses from actual OWF workers around the state.



    Difficult Customers
    Do you sometimes wonder why you are getting angry at a client? Do you ever have the clients that push your buttons? Wish you had fewer buttons to be pushed? When those difficult clients come in that lie, are constantly irate, have an "attitude," mess with the stuff on your desk, bring their little kids when they know it will take a while, or as good as accuse you of lying to them, how do you maintain your objectivity and be the helping professional you want to be? After all, we’re human too. Learn how to put your personal issues aside and understand the client in a way that will lead to better results.

     

    Recharging for Welfare Reform
    Does burnout ring too true for you? Too much change to integrate? Feel exhausted when you come into work? Spend the day examining why you are in this line of work and get excited about doing it again. Motivation is not just for others, but for us, too. What are some ways we can deal with the stress we are under in an effective and positive way? If your morale affects me, then am I vested in your attitude toward your work? How can we help each other keep going when the going gets tough? Find out the answers to these and other stressful issues in this day of training.

     

    Women's Issues in Diversity
    So many times women deal with issues that affect their work, home, relationships and personal life. If not addressed these issues can lead to illness, depression and resentment of those around them. In this workshop participants will look at issues like self-esteem, assertiveness; diversity as it relates to gender, age and race, "Superwoman syndrome" and leadership styles. By understanding yourself you can change your outlook on life and achieve your goals.

     

    Adult Services
    This two day CORE Workshop will include an overview of the roles and responsibilities of the adult services worker and social work principles. Other topics for discussion will be values and attitudes, developing cultural and generational awareness, and recognition and referral for adult abuse, neglect and exploitation. Risk assessment and emergency/crisis intervention will be discussed. Approaches for maximizing independent functioning of adults will be covered. Strategies for collaborating with other agencies in case plan development and provision of services will be reviewed.

     

    Managing Within a Human Services System
    The first in a series of four workshops that addresses the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. This workshop establishes an organizational framework for the management of a human services agency. It teaches strategies to assure that agencies are structured and organized to promote effective, purpose focused and value driven, family centered practice. It also helps participants identify organizational barriers to effective practice and teaches strategies to overcome them.

     

    Building Client Self-Esteem
    High self-esteem is an important characteristic shared by people who achieve success in their jobs, their relationships and their lives. This workshop will provide an understanding of: the importance of self-esteem in the human growth process; the factors that influence self-esteem; the effects of low self-esteem on performance; the relationship between self-esteem and values and the difference between real limits and self-limiting beliefs. Tools to assess self-esteem will also be provided, along with techniques to increase the self-esteem in yourself and build self-esteem in clients.

     

    The Tangled Web of Communication
    Do you get what you want from how you communicate? The communication web that we weave can sometimes get us stuck. Often we use learned language skills that are specific to our environment (jargon, body language, accents) in encounters with others that may not be from the same environment. The purpose of this workshop is to explore how we communicate and how we unconsciously put up barriers to this communication. Through experiential exercise we will learn what our own unique style of communication is and alternatives to that style that may be more effective. We will also explore how body language is an important component of communication and examine the barriers we have created that might interfere with our professional and personal communication. The goal is to build on where you are now and offer alternatives that may be more effective.

     

    Black/White Racism
    The purpose of this workshop is to heighten individual awareness and provoke insight into the racism that exists in each of us. Before any of us can be truly effective in a global effort to curtail racism, we must first look within ourselves. Einstein said "The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." We must examine our own confusion about race and its implications in our lives. We must become cognizant of discrepancies between our own thinking, values and behaviors. All attendees in this course are asked to be voluntary enrollees who come prepared to speak directly to the issue with the intention of first seeking to understand and then to be understood.

     

    How to Stay Motivated
    This program is not just a presentation.  It is a system of concept, ideas, beliefs, values, attitudes and strategies that work.  Dr. Lawson has designed a step-by-step process that can be put to use by any individual.  An important aspect of this program lies in the fact that the information is transferable to clients of social and workforce investment services.

     

    Wellness and the Human Spirit 
    In an effort to meet a client's social and emotional needs, the spiritual dimension of the person can be overlooked by those in the helping professions.  This dimension can be a very important component in one's well being.  This workshop is designed to allow each participant to reflect upon his/her spirituality while learning to respond empathetically to clients concerned to clients concerned with this aspect of their lives. We will use the concept of spiritual path as it is woven into the 12-step programs.

     

    Crisis Intervention:  Families Under Stress
    Every human being will experience a life event or situation of such significant magnitude that it holds the potential of bringing about change and imbalance in the family system. This workshop incorporates time-limited and brief intervention techniques to assist families under stress. Participants will learn brief treatment skills which will enable them to intervene effectively during a crisis situation. A special emphasis will be placed on incorporating a strength based perspective and a family life cycle model to assist families experiencing a crisis. Crisis in marriage, divorce, parenting, family and work life as well as crisis associated with family violence and substance abuse will also be discussed.

     

    Customers, Clients, Consumers...Serving Them Best
    Through hands on practice, participants will learn to increase customer interaction skills including:

    How to respond to customers; how to deal with complaints, how to handle angry or frustrated customers; what to say, how to say it, and what to do.

    Other topics to be covered include:

    Who is the customer; what is good customer service; attitude- the good, the bad, and the ugly, active, accurate, total listening.

    This course was specifically designed for JFS employees; with clients, and our jobs in mind.

     

    Resolving Conflict and Confronting Differences of Opinion
    Having a time resolving conflict when you disagree with another? How do you confront others while minimizing defensiveness or escalating the disagreement? How do you effectively handle manipulative responses? Are there some ways to help others resolve their conflicts without taking sides or getting caught in the middle? What are the positive outcomes of handling conflict well? Learn answers to all these questions and develop techniques that really work (when they are used) in this very valuable day of training.

     

    Running the APS Race
    As the elderly population is growing, so too are the reports of elder abuse and neglect. With the increase in reporting, the APS worker is most often required to hit the ground running: quickly develop a short-term working relationship with the client and provide the necessary services promptly and completely.  This session identifies what is required of the worker to get in and get out of a case quickly while at the same time provide quality care. Participants will learn how to transition through a process of brief time-limited service provision that focuses on rapport-building, problem resolution, protection, and establishing self-sufficiency. Participants will discuss how to rapidly establish a positive working relationship, deal with initial resistances to service-delivery, and carry-out a three-stage brief-services process.

     

    Hitting the Ground Running With Your Client
    Whether the client presents one or multiple problems and issues, the worker is expected to provide services that are time-limited and results-oriented. The day-long session reviews the skills required to provide focused and solution-oriented services that emphasize self-sufficiency, personal responsibility and employment.  Through discussion and practice, participants learn how to provide services that resolve client problems and help the client achieve positive change in a short period of time. The session emphasizes a short-term collaborative style of service provision that helps the worker clarify problems and issues, access and mobilize the client’s strengths, build upon the client’s existing coping strategies, and utilize available community resources and support systems to address the identified problems and issues.



    Safety Awareness and Self Protection
    This workshop will include an overview of the issue of vulnerability for all of us in our personal lives and on the job. We will focus on the four As of self-protection: Awareness, Assessment, Anticipation, and Action concerning self, environment, client and agency. Also discussed will be confrontation/assertiveness training, the continuum of assaults and defenses, and self-protection, in addition to physical intervention strategies. There will be active participation and practicing of techniques. Participants are urged to dress comfortably. (No one gets thrown but you will practice - not too strenuously.)



    Overview of Family Violence - Day 2
    This is part of a two-day course that may be taken as independent days.  Day One is a prerequisite for Day 2.  Day One was offered most recently on February 22 and many times previously.   Six contact hours will be given for each day.  This class is designed to meet the requirements of OAC 5101:2-33-60.  This workshop is designed to provide participants with increased awareness about the problem of family violence and how violence against women is a barrier to self-sufficiency. Participants also will gain an understanding of the scope of the problem; be able to identify women who may be living in violent relationships; understand the types of family violence as well as the various forms of abuse; recognize the importance of inquiry into the extent of the violence to determine the severity and the frequency of the abuse; know the legal definition of domestic violence and the dynamics of family violence; learn to develop a safety plan for women and children; learn how to interview a women from a strength based approach; and understand how culture influences violence against women.

     

    Positive Leadership
    During this two-day course, participants will be provided with information, techniques and methods for maintaining a positive work environment through the establishment of effective working and personal relationships. Participants will be presented with new ways of thinking about leadership styles and practices. Methods to engage positive leadership practices through the use of trust, empowerment, competitiveness and personal responsibility will be discussed. The course content will allow for the demonstration of how positive leadership can have an effect on one’s ability to manage employee, client and personal relationships.

     

    Managing Difficult People Constructively
    Disagreement among people in relationships, groups and organizations is normal. Unfortunately some people are difficult to deal with. This increases the possibility of conflict and ultimately impacts relationships and performance. This program will provide a simple concept for dealing with conflict and difficult people in a constructive manner.

     

    Taking Control and Checking For Holes In Our Safety Net
    Frustrated when folks you work with don't do what we tell them - even when it is for their own good or to achieve a mutually agreed upon goal? Find yourself about to lose control? Does your lack of control get you into tight places?  This one-day seminar will help you to understand issues of control with your clients, your peers, your supervisors and yourself. We will discuss the need and value of control in our lives as well as in those of our consumers and peers. We'll look at how control works and how to know when it won't and when we need some control from outside ourselves. We'll help figure out when it is better for our own sanity to let go of our illusions of control in our job and other aspects of our lives. We'll examine our own safety net of coping strategies and where to make repairs.

     

    Professional Image:  Why Have It?  Do I Have It?  How Can I Get It? 
    This day of training is designed to build a more productive and cohesive workplace, as well as improve the public’s perception of your agency. Participants will discover the importance of maintaining a professional and positive self-image, while demonstrating professional interactions through self-awareness exercises. Not only will we receive training tips on how to dress and communicate professionally, but also we will discuss the best way to lead by setting a positive, professional example. We will be clear about how "walking the walk" is more important than "talking the talk."

    Core 503 - Transfer of Learning
    This is the third series of four workshops that address the fundamental concepts and skills needed to function effectively as a supervisor. (They do not need to be taken in order.)

    This workshop explores the diverse learning styles, needs and resulting behaviors of family serving professionals in a learning environment. It examines ways for supervisors to assess critical learning needs of staff and match these needs with appropriate training curricula to improve the overall competence of the workforce. It also helps participants identify factors before, during, and after training that affect transfer of what is learned to the job. Participants will be able to use this information to develop individualized learning plans for staff. This information will also lead to improved abilities of these supervisors to deliver on the job training to their staff.

     

    Adult Development and the Aging Process
    This core workshop covers the stages of adult development including psychological changes and traditional issues, adjustment to the aging process, the effects of separation and loss, and the impact of death and dying experiences. Physiological, cognitive and sensory changes and their impact on functioning and lifestyle will be examined. This workshop will emphasize "normal" aging, as well as the effects of adverse circumstances (mental illness, childhood trauma, abuse, etc.) on an adult’s development. Case studies will be used to demonstrate intervention methods.

     

    Building Client Self-Esteem
    High self-esteem is an important characteristic shared by people who achieve success in their jobs, their relationships and their lives. This workshop will provide an understanding of: the importance of self-esteem in the human growth process; the factors that influence self-esteem; the effects of low self-esteem on performance; the relationship between self-esteem and values and the difference between real limits and self-limiting beliefs. Tools to assess self-esteem will also be provided, along with techniques to increase the self-esteem in yourself and build self-esteem in clients. 

     

    Dynamics of Interpersonal Communication

    One of the key traits of exceptional workers centers on their ability to communicate effectively. This workshop will include content that addresses the elements of communication; barriers to effective communication; the top 3 ways in which we communicate; listening skills, and why people fail to communicate well. Strategies will be offered to assist the learner to negotiate with others on an ongoing basis, demonstrate assertiveness, gain cooperation, and listen to insure that they first understand before seeking to be understood.