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.
Read our complete list of available trainings and workshops!
IDN is Now Offering STARS Credit and Other CEUs for our Training!
IDN IS A WV STARS TRAINING PROVIDER
Through WV STARS (State Training and Registry System), early care and education practitioners are required to receive a continuum of specialized training for certification and career mobility purposes. In order to provide CEUs through STARS, organizations must complete an extensive approval process. Inspiring Dreams Network is now an official STARS entity. We are able to provide continuing education units through www.wvstars.og platform. We have already had 4 trainings approved and awarded credits to several childcare and early education professionals. IDN will continue to seek approval and award STARS credit for our ongoing, qualified training. If your organization needs specific training for your staff, reach out to us.
IDN IS PARTNERING WITH MUSHTAC TO OFFER CEUs
Inspiring Dreams Network is pleased to partner with the Marshall University School Health Technical Assistance Center (MUSCTAC) to offer continuing education units (CEUs) for Licensed Professional Counselors, Alcohol and Drug Counselor (ADC) and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC). Thanks to partners like Marshall, we are able to bring you the training you need to keep your certification current. Reach out to us if you want to partner with IDN and MUSHTAC to provide training for your organization.
NURSING & COLLEGE GRADUATE CREDIT OFFERED
IDN also partnerned with Brenda Issacs and Kanawha County Schools to provide nursing CEUs and Concord College to offer 3 hours college credit for our August Youth Mental Health First Aid Training in Greenbrier County. We excited to continue this for future training opportunities.
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT 30 minutes or less
We are excited to offer a new opportunity for our partners... mini info sessions or COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHTS that feature people, programs, and resources to improve youth development in WV. Anyone is welcome to tune in, including youth, families, and the adults who serve youth. Our goal is to support our network to build stronger, more connected communities that engage and inspire youth to reach their potential.
There are so many great programs and resources offered in our service area, but we often don't know how or who to connect with to learn more about them. Our new Community Spotlight series will feature people, programs, and resources you can engage with to better support WV youth. These will be brief and offered through Zoom, usually 30 minutes or less, and offered as Lunch and Learns so you can receive our update while you grab your lunch. Our goal is to record each spotlight and share on our website so our partners can easily access our featured spotlights.
Contact drbarbbrady@inspiringdreamsnetwork.org if you wish to be featured on our Community spotlight.
ACES TRAINING SERIES
The youth you work with may struggle with trauma effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACES). We invite you to learn about ACES, the impact 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 is intended to help caregivers and adults who serve youth better understand the impact of ACES and to learn some best practices strategies to help youth and families overcome and prevent the future occurrence of ACES, changing lives in a positive direction.
ACES 101: Understanding Childhood Trauma and Its Impact
TRAINING OBJECTIVES:
1. Become familiar with the 10 types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) to establish a common language for traumatic childhood experiences​
2. Review how trauma affects brain architecture, behavior, and traits.​
3. Understand the connection between one’s ACE Score and health risk factors​
4. Consider implications for educator and youth development role and next steps
ACES 102: Overcoming Adverse Childhood Experiences
Training Objectives:
1. To review the basic concepts of ACES.​
2. ​To learn ways to overcome ACEs.​
3. To understand variables related to resilience; protective factors; and Safe, Stable and Nurturing Relationships and Environments.
4. To gain an understanding of Trauma Informed Care
ACES 103: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences
Training Objectives:
1. To review the basic concepts of ACES.
2. ​To understand the role of Trauma Informed Care in healing and preventing ACES​
3. To identify how individuals, families, providers, schools and the community can prevent ACES.​
4. To understand seven positive experiences for healing from and preventing and ACES
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS and RESILIENCE 90 minute - 2 hours
Supportive, caring relationships are critical building blocks for healthy youth development and the heart of what youth need to learn, grow, and thrive. Relationships provide an environment of trust, positive reinforcement, good modeling, and constructive feedback for social-emotional and intellectual growth. This presentation covers research best practices in establishing healthy adult/youth relationships and the role of adult mentors/coaches in helping youth identify and connect with protective factors and build resilience. (This workshop can be broken down into 2 smaller units as per below or delivered in one setting)
Part I - (45- 60 minutes) Objectives
1. To share research about healthy adult/youth relationship outcomes
2. To identify and discuss key elements of healthy adult/youth relationships
3. To understand nonjudgement listening and effective feedback practices that form healthy adult/youth connections​
Part II - (45- 60 minutes) Objectives
4. To review the 7 keys to building resilience
5. To identify 7 positive experiences that help youth thrive and have positive outcomes
6. To understand protective factors and the mentor’s role with connecting youth
CONNECTIONS MATTER 2, 4 or 6 hour Trainings
MENTAL HEALTH 101: Understanding and Taking Charge of Mental Health 60 minutes
What does good mental health look like? Since the Covid pandemic, there has been an increased emphasis on improving mental health; but what exactly does that mean? This training will discuss the components of mental health, what interferes with good mental health, and what we can do to take charge of and improve of our mental health. This training can be used to help adults assess and take steps to improve their own mental health, as well as, learn how to engage in conversations with youth to help them understand and improve mental health. Additionally, this training identifies some basic coping skills, resiliency traits, and habits that lead to positive mental health outcomes.
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Objectives:
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Discuss the WHO and CDC definitions of mental health in simple terms so youth can understand what good mental health looks like
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Be able to access one’s strengths and weaknesses in relation to mental health, including personal triggers and risk factors that contribute to poor mental
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Identify some basic coping skills and self-care strategies to support improved mental health
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Learn how to use IDN Mental Health Posters to engage youth in conversations to understand and improve mental health
SUCCESS COACHING AND MENTORING 2hr overview or 2 Day Interactive Training
Research indicates that students who feel connected to at least one adult in school are less likely to drop out of school, demonstrate severe problem behaviors, or engage in criminal activities and dangerous social activities, such as drug and alcohol use.” Dynarski, M. et.al., Journal of Special Education Leadership, March 2016.
Training Descriptions: ​​
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Success Coaching is a strategy using comprehensive intervention techniques including deep engagement in order to connect with at-risk-youth and help them become successful socially and academically
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Mentoring is a strategy to using intermittent connections for accountability, support, and guidance of at-risk youth; mentoring takes place after Success Coaching
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At-risk-youth describes students who have poor attendance in school, have failing grades, engage in attention-seeking or inappropriate behavior, and may believe they are so far behind that they will never catch up; therefore, they create protective barriers such as denial, deflection, and blame.
OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAINING:
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To create and implement methods and strategies of a comprehensive intervention system including, but not limited to the following:
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analyzing student data
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identifying and prioritizing long and short-term goals for students
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establishing an organized and respectful environment for students
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To understand and implement methods and strategies of deep engagement to ensure students are successful in the following:
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self-awareness
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academics
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building resilience
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building protective factors
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accountability
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To provide positive, yet constructive, feedback to students that will help them
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Identify their (student’s) strengths and weaknesses
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learn problem solving and goal setting skills
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celebrate successes, large and small, for better self esteem
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To implement a systematic and continuous monitoring system with students and their family to include, but not be limited to, the following:
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connect with students and check in with them often
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connect with family when time is right
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connect student and family with needed community services
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teach problem solving and goal setting
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If you are a youth serving organization and wish to request
a training contact drbarbbrady@inspiringdreamsnetwork.org
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (YMHFA)
Identify. Understand. Respond.
If your organization works with youth, this is a must-do training for your volunteers and staff. Since the pandemic the number of youth considered at-risk has more than doubled. This training helps adults working with youth be able to distinguish between typical adolescent behavior and at-risk behaviors and teaches best practices for supporting these youth.
Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)is an interactive, skills-based training course that teaches participants about common adolescent mental health issues and teaches a five-step process on how to identify, understand and respond to these youth (Age 12 - 23) issues. Participants are able to practice using the skills to build confidence in supporting youth. Those who successfully complete the course earn a Mental Health First Aider Certificate. Nursing CEUs and Graduate credit is offered as an option. IDN can work with other organizations to provide CEUs.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: Recognize, Responds, REACT 2 hour Trainings
Suicide is a complex, multi-faceted event that requires a comprehensive, collaborative approach for both prevention and intervention efforts. This session will provide a responsive model for families and youth serving adults on suicide prevention, including how to have a safe and meaningful conversation about suicide, as well as action steps to take in a suicidal crisis.
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Participants will be introduced to the significance and prevalence of suicide.
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Participants will learn risk and protective factors associated with suicide.
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Participants will learn the general gatekeeper model of how to recognize and respond to individuals with suicidal risk.
DISPELLING THE MYTHS OF AUTISM 1 hour Training
Who should attend?
Staff and volunteers who serve youth, parents, grandparents, caregivers, school staff, and others… if you’re struggling to understand how to best support YOUTH WITH AUTISM, this training is for YOU!!!​
SUPPORTING YOUTH IN BUILDING FINANCIAL LITERACY SKILLS
Why is this important?
In today's turbulent financial times, it is more important than ever to build strong financial literacy skills. Often financial literacy is never discussed with youth, and they are left to make good financial decisions on their own. As youth advocates, adults often have opportunities to engage with youth and families to support them in building good financial literacy skills. Come learn from an expert how to engage with youth and families to discuss these important skills and help youth begin planning for a successful financial future. Information learned can be shared in mini-info sessions or in natural conversations with the youth and families you serve.
Workshop Goals: Participants will:
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learn the four pillars of financial health
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identify the cause and effect relationship of financial stress on one’s physical and mental health
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learn strategies and examples of how to present financial health education topics to everyone from preschoolers to young adults
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learn how to extend the learning to engage families to grow their own financial well-being
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discover what Chase Bank offers related to financial health education topics, workshops, and resources
PREPARING STUDENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SUMMER
Summer can be a difficult and challenging time for youth, or it can be filled with fun, inspiration and growth. Parents, community mentors, and youth leaders can play a key role in supporting student success this summer. Join us to learn best practices and resources you can share with the youth and families you serve.
Workshop Goals:
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To review best practice summer activities for youth (Grades PK - 12)
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To share resources that are fun, safe, and engaging for summer learning and growth
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To discuss and share online safety resources
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To encourage participant sharing of best practices and resources
OTHER TRAININGS OFFERED
Anger Management
Coping Skills and Self Care
Healthy Conflict Resolution
Volunteer Ethics and Best Practices for Mentoring and Coaching Youth
Personalized Education Plans to Support Middle and High School
Supporting Cultural Competence and Diversity
Building a Collaborative Understanding Across Disciplines
Trauma Informed Care
Life Skills Development
Using the IDN Volunteer & Student Resource Portals (under development)
If you are a youth serving organization and wish to request
a training contact drbarbbrady@inspiringdreamsnetwork.org