Check out our Training and Workshops that IDN offers!
If you are a youth serving organization and wish to request a training contact drbarbbrady@inspiringdreamsnetwork.org
To help us plan future training needs, please complete our Training Needs Survey.
MENTAL HEALTH 101: UNDERSTANDING AND
TAKING CHARGE OF MENTAL HEALTH
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Date: January 27, 2026 | 11:00am-12:30pm
Trainer: Dr. Barb Brady
Location: Zoom
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Description: This training supports youth-serving
adults in leading safe, nonthreatening discussions to help youth understand the
components of mental health based on the CDC and WHO definitions. This training
empowers adults to discuss what good mental health looks like and what we can do
to take charge of and improve mental health. Additionally, participants will be able to
access their own mental health and employ strategies to enhance their own
wellbeing, capacity to overcome life stresses, and better prepare themselves to
engage with others in healthier ways that contribute to positive mental health. This
training provides mental health resources to improve mental health and identifies
some basic coping skills, resiliency traits, and habits that anyone can develop to
lead to positive mental health outcomes.
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Objectives:
Review the WHO and CDC definitions of mental health
Understand the components of good mental health
Access one’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to mental health
Identify best-practice strategies to improve mental health, including building
resiliency, coping skills, and self-care practices
*STARS credit, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Addictions CEUs
offered! If you wish to receive STARS credit, please register on the STARS
Portal www.wvstars.org
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IDN is partnering with Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance
Center (MUSHTAC) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for Alcohol and
Drug Counselor (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC).
FEBRUARY ACEs TRAINING SERIES
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ACEs 101: Understanding ACEs
Date: February 4, 2026 | 2:00-3:30pm
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ACEs 102: Preventing ACEs
Date: February 11, 2026 | 2:00-3:30pm
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ACEs 103: Overcoming ACEs
Date: February 18, 2026 | 2:00-3:30pm
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Trainers: Corey Beahm & John Barton
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Location: Zoom
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Description: The youth you work with may struggle with the traumatic effects of
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). We invite you to learn about ACEs and
the impact ACEs have on brain development and behavior. ACEs often interfere with
school success and can negatively impact participation in activities, events,
school, relationships, overall wellness, and life outcomes. This ACEs training series
in intended to help caregivers and adults who serve youth better understand the
impact of ACEs and to learn some best-practice strategies to help youth and
families overcome and prevent the future occurrence of ACEs, changing lives in a
positive direction. This training series is brought to you through funding provided by
the Milan Puskar Foundation, Benedum, and TGKVF.
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*STARS credit, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Addictions CEUs
offered! If you wish to receive STARS credit, please register on the STARS
Portal www.wvstars.org
​
IDN is partnering with Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance
Center (MUSHTAC) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for Alcohol and
Drug Counselor (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC).
LEAN ON ME: SUPPORTIVE PRACTICES FOR
FAMILIES TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT
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Date: February 20, 2026 | 11:00am-1:00pm
Trainer: Paula Kerner
Location: Zoom
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Description: This is a follow-up to Mandated Reporting to help families with
supportive practices. Parenting is hard and imperfect. Everyone needs help
sometimes. LEAN on Me WV is an initiative to promote child well-being by
supporting families with listening, empathy, affirmation, and nonjudgment. The goal
of LEAN on Me is to promote community responsibility to support families, rather
than solely report families to CPS. All of us can use the LEAN on Me approach to
support families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Techniques practiced in this
training will better equip providers including school personnel in making the decision
of what resources are needed and if mandatory reporting is utilized.
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Objectives:
Discerning needs vs. neglect
Building Protective factors
Child Protective Services – processes, capabilities, and difficulties
Bias in decision making
Community resources
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*STARS credit and Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) CEUs offered! If
you wish to receive STARS credit, please register on the STARS Portal
MANDATED REPORTING
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Date: March 17, 2026 | 1:00pm-4:00pm
Trainer: Sara Robinson & Leslie Slaughter
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Description: Unfortunately, those of us who work with children run into situations where we
observe or hear from children about varying forms of neglect and abuse. As a child-serving
adult, we are mandated reporters and must determine if what a child is sharing merits a report to DHHR or requires support and intervention with the family. Prevent Child Abuse West Virginia has updated their “Making a Difference: Mandate to Report, Responsibility to Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect” Curriculum. The updated curriculum incorporates additional
information regarding distinguishing between poverty and neglect, addressing bias for mandated reporters, and ways to offer support to families in addition to how to make a report to the CPS hotline. The “Making a Difference” curriculum helps mandated reporters and those who work with children and families:
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Understand when you are legally required to call CPS, including when it is
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more appropriate to refer for community-based services
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Reduce bias in the decision-making process
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Foster a greater understanding of the impact of trauma, Adverse Childhood
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Experiences (ACEs), and Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs)
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Foster a greater understanding of protective factors and supports you can
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refer families to in lieu of making a report to CPS.
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This training is open to anyone who is a mandated reporter.
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*STARS credit, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Addictions CEUs
offered! If you wish to receive STARS credit, please register on the STARS Portal
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*Pending Addictions CEUs*
If you are a youth serving organization and wish to request a training contact drbarbbrady@inspiringdreamsnetwork.org
