Mobilizing Communities to Disrupt Sexual Exploitation and Sex Trafficking in Canada - #NotInMyCity

In collaboration with national and international thought leaders, #NotInMyCity has developed a short, interactive e-learning course to prevent sex trafficking and exploitation.

This 30-minute course will provide a solid foundation of understanding on the issue of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in Canada. This course heavily focuses on sex trafficking, as it is the most prevalent form of trafficking in Canada.

You will learn about:

• What human trafficking is

• Human trafficking and the law in Canada 

• A description of child exploitation 

• How and where human trafficking happens

• Common indicators of human trafficking

• How you can help and take action

To register: NotInMyCity - MCDSESTC

Enhance Emergency Sexual Assault Services FREE - Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services

This program is designed for professionals working in the criminal justice system with people who have been recently sexually assaulted (e.g. healthcare, counselling, and law enforcement professionals).

The intent of this program is to increase comfort and knowledge with supporting people who have been recently sexual assaulted, providing comprehensive trauma informed services in any setting, standardizing terminology and interventions implications of injuries, and collecting or preserving evidence. This program is a total of 4.5 hours in length but it is online and can be completed on your own time. This program is currently offered at no cost and consists of eight modules, each approximately 1/2 hour in length with a short quiz to follow. You can complete the quizzes as many times as you like. There is also a pdf manual you can print – it is approximately 70 pages and follows along with all the modules.

The modules include the following:

• Sexual assault issues and risks, trauma informed services and EESAS overview

• Psychological considerations and consequences

• Triage and drug facilitated sexual assault considerations

• Consent, sexual assault history and interview techniques

• Injury assessment and BALD STEP guide to physical findings

• Body examination and evidence collection

• Genital examination and evidence collection

• Treatment, discharge considerations and follow up

Ideally you will complete all eight modules to help understand the role of various professionals and the entire spectrum of services the person who has been sexually assaulted experiences. The goal is to facilitate comprehensive understanding of all the phases of sexual assault care between professionals, which is not achieved if selectively taking modules. Once you have completed all desired modules, you will be asked to complete the information in a short survey link. A certificate will be mailed to you when this information is received.

To register: AASAS - EESAS

Violence in the Workplace: Awareness – Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety

A short online module to learn about violence in the workplace.

Workplace violence is a serious issue that affects all business sectors and occupations and the safety and security of every employee and employer. This course is offered free of charge by CCOHS to promote the awareness of this very important issue.

Topics include:

• What is workplace violence?

• Behaviours associated with workplace violence

• Sources of violent behaviour in the workplace

• Workplace violence prevention legislation

Upon completion of this course you will know:

• Who is affected by workplace violence

• Workplace violence is an important workplace issue

• The broad definition of workplace violence with respect to the types of behaviours and the source of the behaviour

• The legal obligation of employers have to protect employees from workplace violence

Average time to complete this course is about 15-20 minutes.

Target Audience

• Committee members, managers, supervisors and workers

• Facility managers, human resources managers, senior managers and others with health and safety responsibilities

To register: CCOHS - VWA

Creating Safe and Inclusive Housing Solutions for 2SLGBTQ+ Youth – Homelessness Learning Hub

Explore building inclusive services and supporting transitions to safe, stable and long-term housing for 2SLGBTQ+ youth.

In this training, participants will explore the challenges faced by 2SLGBTQ+ youth navigating homelessness and housing insecurity. These young people encounter unique obstacles throughout their housing journeys, significantly influenced by their identities and circumstances. Discrimination within the housing system, coupled with a lack of tailored services creates significant barriers to safe and affirming housing and services.

The training incorporates active learning to help reinforce key concepts and encourage knowledge retention. Through videos, scenarios, practice exercises and quizzes, participants will learn about the specific realities and experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ youth seeking stable housing.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Identify specific barriers 2SLGBTQ+ youth face in accessing housing

• Understand the role of supportive relationships in enhancing housing stability

• Develop strategies for creating inclusive housing solutions.

Drawing on research findings and practice examples, participants will explore innovative approaches to promote housing stability. Designed for housing service providers, healthcare professionals working with homeless youth, and community service workers, this course aims to deepen understanding and improve practices.

Enrol in this on-demand training today to become a stronger advocate for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and learn how to promote safe, stable and long-term housing and services.

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub – CSIHS2SLGBTQ+Y

Upstream Canada - Homelessness Learning Hub

The training provides an introduction to the Upstream Canada model, a prevention-focused initiative aimed at preventing youth homelessness and school disengagement through early identification.

Participants will learn how community-based organizations and schools can provide young people and their families and natural supports with individualized, culturally appropriate wraparound support.

The Upstream Canada model is built on the principles of strengthening community partnerships and fostering collaboration to address the risks associated with youth homelessness and school disengagement. As an early intervention, the Upstream Canada model also supports the broader goal of building capacity to prevent and end youth homelessness.

What You Can Expect:

• Learn about early intervention using an evidence-informed assessment tool.

• Explore methods for fostering collaborative partnerships within the community.

• Discover the guiding principles and practices behind successful early intervention initiatives.

Who is this course for?

• Community providers and educators – you want to enhance your understanding of interventions focused on preventing youth homelessness and school disengagement.

• Funders and policymakers – you want to know how community partners, the education sector and governments can work together to address youth homelessness in schools.

This training includes:

• 6 Interactive lessons

• 1 Case study to illustrate practices

• Self-assessment, feedback and reflection activities

• Course certificate upon completion

Participants typically complete this self-paced course in about 2 to 3 hours.

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub - UC

Introduction to Shelter Diversion – Homelessness Learning Hub

Build skills and strategies to quickly divert individuals from shelters into safe housing alternatives.  

In response to the growing homelessness crisis, there have been urgent calls to build more shelters. Yet, emergency shelters offer only a temporary solution for people experiencing homelessness. Overcrowding, limited supports, and a lack of culturally responsive services often trap people in homelessness, leading to long-term housing instability. Shelter diversion aims to help individuals and families quickly find safe housing alternatives, reducing their need for shelter services and preventing chronic homelessness.

What You Can Expect:

• Integrate Shelter Diversion with Community Homelessness Strategies: You’ll learn essential shelter diversion practices and service delivery approaches to enable individuals and families to avoid entry to shelter.

• Level Up Your Shelter Diversion Program: You’ll explore timely, solutions-focused interventions and flexible, holistic supports to get results that are effective and sustainable.

• Hands-on, Problem Based Learning: You’ll gain insights from shelter diversion programs across Canada which will help guide implementation in your community.

Who Should Take This Training?

• Community service providers – you want to learn from real examples and gain insights to start or strengthen shelter diversion in your community.

• Funders and policymakers – you want to learn how shelter diversion offers a cost-effective approach to decrease shelter stays and reduce the strain on homeless services.

This training includes:

• 4 Interactive lessons

• 3 case examples to illustrate practices

• Self-assessment, feedback and reflection

• Course certificate upon completion

Participants typically complete this self-paced course in about 3 hours.

To register: HomelessnessLearningHub – ISD

Introduction to Eviction Prevention - Homelessness Learning Hub FREE

An effective response to evictions is a critical part of broader homelessness prevention efforts that enhance the stability and well-being of people who are at risk of losing their housing. 

The training addresses an urgent need, given the rise of evictions and their significant impact on individuals, families, and communities, including as a pathway into homelessness. 

Eviction prevention aims to keep individuals and families at risk of eviction in their homes. The intervention involves stabilizing tenancies and finding sustainable solutions for individuals and families.

What You Can Expect:

• Integrate Eviction Prevention with Community Homelessness Prevention Plans: You’ll learn the fundamentals of eviction prevention and its key components, including legal, financial, and social support mechanisms for those threatened by eviction. 

• Start or Strengthen an Eviction Prevention Program: You’ll gain a better understanding of the eviction process and explore essential practices to empower tenants, provide short-term financial assistance, and access legal supports and advocate for tenants’ rights.

• Hands-on, Problem Based Learning: You’ll gain insights from eviction prevention programs in Canada which will help guide implementation in your community.

Who Should Take This Training?

• Community service providers – you want to learn from real examples and gain insights to start or strengthen shelter diversion in your community.

• Funders and policymakers – you want to learn how eviction prevention offers a cost-effective approach to decrease shelter stays and reduce the strain on homeless services.

This training includes:

• 4 Interactive lessons

• 3 Practice vignettes

• Self-assessment, feedback and reflection

• Course certificate upon completion

Participants typically complete this self-paced course in about 3 hours.

To register: HomelessnessLearningHub - IEP

Self-Care Essentials for Health and Well-Being – Homelessness Learning Hub

Essential self-care training for housing, support and community workers in the homelessness sector.

Topics include mindfulness, stress relief, self-compassion, habits, boundaries and life satisfaction. Those who care for others, often give little attention to care for themselves. This training is about the importance of self-care and how to get started with a personalized self-care practice. You will learn a variety of techniques and strategies for overall well-being. The training starts with self-care for physical health: sleep, nutrition, activity and stress relief. Other lessons focus on emotional and psychological well-being. There are many opportunities to learn new strategies and practice techniques with hands-on activities. The training includes resources to support continued learning and practice activities for relaxation, deep breathing, self-compassion, healthy boundaries and resilience. Whether you are just getting started or you want to re-invigorate your self-care routine, this training will give you the tools you need. 

What you’ll learn:

• Explore common ideas about self-care 

• Set personalized goals for self-care 

• Explore the benefit of improving self-awareness 

• Establish and maintain healthy habits 

• Set boundaries for healthy relationships 

• Use techniques to increase self-compassion 

• Learn ways to increase resilience and life satisfaction

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub - SCEHWB

Harm Reduction for the Homelessness Sector – Homelessness Learning Hub

Self-paced training on harm reduction and substance use for service providers in the housing and homelessness sector.

This training explores harm reduction as an evidence-based approach to minimizing the risks associated with substance use. Harm reduction involves a broad range of strategies applicable in the housing and homeless-serving sectors. This course highlights the importance of addressing stigma and unconscious bias related to substance use and homelessness. Harm reduction plays a crucial role in strategies to end homelessness.

Included in the Training:

• Goals and benefits of harm reduction

• Principles of harm reduction

• Policies and practices for emergency shelters and housing programs

• Equity-based approaches for working with individuals who use substances and those experiencing homelessness

• Challenges in implementing harm reduction

While harm reduction is often associated with specific interventions like needle exchange and supervised consumption, it encompasses many practical strategies applicable across various roles. This training is designed to support frontline service providers in the homeless-serving sector by equipping them with knowledge and practical resources. It prepares staff to work with individuals who use substances through a rights-based and equity-oriented approach, offering practical resources, strategies, and techniques suitable for outreach, shelters, and housing programs.

To register: Homelessness Learning Hub – HRHS

Harm Reduction and Naloxone Access Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

A one hour session that discusses the opioid epidemic as it relates to Indigenous communities, as well as how to access and safely use naloxone.

The opioid crisis in Indigenous communities across Canada is a complex and urgent issue that requires comprehensive and culturally relevant solutions. Addressing this crisis involves acknowledging historical injustices, improving access to healthcare, and supporting community-driven initiatives.

Communities accessing naloxone has been identified as a barrier that needs to be addressed. Health directors, health and social professionals, and leaders working in or supporting various services and programs must be educated on obtaining naloxone to make it available to community members. This is a virtual program provided in one session (1 hour). These webinars are sponsored by Emergent BioSolutions, the manufacturer of Naloxone nasal spray.

Upon program completion, learners will have gained knowledge related to:

• Understand the opioid crises in Canada and Indigenous communities.

• Review of harm reduction and safe use of naloxone.

• How to communicate and support staff and community members in accessing naloxone. 

Audience:

• Health Directors

• Health and social professional and leaders working in or supporting various community services and programs

• Provinces included are Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, and Labrador. 

This program can be delivered in-person upon request.

To register: Naloxone Course

Creating Diversity, Sensitivity, and Inclusion in your Workplace: A Roadmap for Real Change - Charity Village

This introductory course will help organizations design their roadmap for their DEI journey and to bring about real change.

It is important that nonprofit and charitable organizations have strategies in place to support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in their service delivery and in their workplace. The issues around DEI can be multifaceted and complex. Sometimes, it can feel difficult to know where to start or which actions will have the most impact.

This course will empower professionals and leaders of non-profit and charitable organizations to:

• Conduct an internal culture survey

• Address DEI gaps and vulnerabilities

• Build awareness

• Implement best practices

To register: Charity Village - CDSIWRRC

Decolonizing, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion – Homelessness Learning Hub

The training is designed to provide participants with a solid understanding of decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion (DEDI) within the homeless-serving sector. The course aims to align participants’ understanding with their organization’s goals and purpose, ensuring a consistent approach to these critical topics.

What to Expect:

1. Shared Understanding: Gain a consistent understanding of decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion in alignment with organizational goals and purpose. (Note: Please view the webinar on Decolonization before starting this series).

2. Impact Awareness: Understand how anti-Black racism and colonization impact those with lived experience of homelessness and their supporting organizations.

3. Ally Responsibility: Learn your role and responsibility in promoting decolonization, equity, diversity, and inclusion as allies.

4. Practical Application: Apply this knowledge to homelessness to foster a deeper appreciation of the complexity of this work.

The training will be of interest to anyone working in the homeless-serving sector who is committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all. Enroll for free to deepen your understanding and enhance your capacity to contribute meaningfully to decolonizing efforts and promoting equity and diversity in your organization

To register: HomelessnessLearningHub – DEDI

Métis People and Health Course - First Nations, Inuit, & Métis Program

A course for anyone interested in learning more about Métis people and health.

This course was developed in the spirit of collaboration and partnership between the Métis Nation of Alberta (MNA) and the SE Health First Nations, Inuit and Métis Program. Funding for this course was provided by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.  It is our collective hope that you will find the learnings from this course useful in your work and interactions with Métis people.

The Métis People and Health course is available publicly to all interested learners at no cost.  It has been developed based upon one module in a larger course called Métis Cancer Care, also developed with the MNA.  This larger course is available to all health care providers working with Métis, First Nations or Inuit people through our online learning platform @YourSide Colleague

The Métis People and Health course is focused on Métis people in Alberta and will help you to better understand the following:

• Métis as a distinct culture and identity

• Métis in terms of historical and intergenerational trauma and social determinants of health

• Importance of using culturally safe strategies in talking with Métis clients

• Recognize the structure of the Métis Nation of Alberta and its role in supporting health and wellness

• Recognizing the health status of Métis as distinct from other Indigenous groups

Audience:

• This course is intended for anyone interested in learning more about Métis people and health.

• It may be particularly useful for Nurses (LPNs, RPNs, RNs, NPs) working in or with Métis people in Alberta and across Canada,   

• It will also be useful to new and seasoned nurses looking to support their professional development. As well as nursing students nearing graduation and interested in working in Métis people.

• It is recommended for health professionals to take the full Metis Cancer Course on @YourSide Colleague if they are looking to inform their work with Métis in a cancer context including the challenges experienced in by Métis people during their cancer journey.

This is a self-directed learning course  approximately 1 hour in length on our LMS system.

Health Care Providers:  Access an account on @YourSide Colleague at no cost. Visit https://fnim.learn.sehc.com/login and click the sign-up link.

To register: People and Health

Using Positive Childhood Experiences to Help Our Children Heal - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course we will cover how to use positive childhood experiences to help lessen the lifelong effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and build resilience.

The instructor will be Dr. Robert Sege, the founder and director of the HOPE National Resource Center at Tufts Medical Center. He holds a MD degree from Harvard Medical School and a PhD degree in biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This course covers the following learning objectives:

• List the four building blocks for positive childhood experiences.

• List two examples for each PCE building block.

• Explain the ages when children are most receptive to the impact of positive childhood experiences.

To register: Creating a Family - PCEHOCH

Navigating Conversations About Body Image With Your Teen - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course we will cover body image and weight for today's teens.

The instructor will be Dr. Charlotte Markey, a professor of psychology and chair of the Health Sciences Department at Rutgers University, and a research scientist who has published over 100 scholarly articles and chapters about mental health issues. She has been conducting research on eating behavior and body image for over 25 years. Dr. Markey is the author of The Body Image Book for Girls, Being You: The Body Image Book for Boys, and most recently, Adultish: The Body Image Book for Life.

This course covers the following learning objectives:

• Identify 3 risk factors for teens that may develop an eating disorder.

• Explain how different genders struggle with body image.

• List 3 protective factors parents can add to a child's life that they see struggling with body image.

• Understand the impact of social media and mainstream media on body image and identity development.

To register: Creating a Family - NCBIWYT

Maintaining Connection with an Angry Kid - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course we will cover a trauma informed approach to anger managment.

The instructor will be Jessica Sinarski, a certified adoption therapist and author of the picture books, Riley the Brave, and the Your Magic Backpack series. She serves on the editorial board for The Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma and on the board of directors at Cardinal McCloskey Community Services, the largest Head Start provider in the Bronx, NY. 

This course covers the following learning objectives:

• Understand how trauma impacts a child's ability to regulate their emotions.

• List 4 steps to manage natural feelings of anger.

• Describe 3 proactive ways parents and caregivers can help teach their children to regulate their emotions and deal with anger.

To register: Creating a Family - MCAK

How to Avoid Triggering and Being Triggered by Our Kids - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

This course will cover why triggers happen and how to respond to them.

Do your child's reactions seem bigger than they should be to everyday events? Are your reactions sometimes a bit too big? What causes us to get triggered by our kids or to trigger them? In this course, talk with Dr. Tripp Ake, a licensed psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field of child trauma treatment. He is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University Medical Center and the program director for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network.

This course covers the following learning objectives:

•       Identify the cause of triggering as the result of trauma.

•       Explain the difference between being triggered and being annoyed.

•       Give an example of how a child's behavior can trigger a trauma response in the child.

•       List two universal tips for improving a child's behavior.

To register: Creating a Family - HATBTOK

The Healing Brain: Supporting Children from Trauma to Resilience – Alberta Council of Women’s Shelters

Learn about early childhood brain development, the impacts of trauma, and how to support children who have been exposed to domestic violence.

The Healing Brain: Supporting Children from Trauma to Resilience is a module-based, online course that participants can work through at their own pace. The training will give participants a better understanding of early childhood brain development, the impacts of trauma on children, and how to nurture resilience in children who have been exposed to domestic violence. Each module is directly linked to one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, to inform the ways service providers work with children through a lens of reconciliation.

Why take this training?

The brain is a complex organ which actually doesn’t finish developing until a person is in their twenties. It shouldn’t be a surprise then, that the first five years of a child’s life can have a big impact on outcomes later in life. This means that supporting healthy early childhood brain development in a playroom environment is a very important role. In this course, you will learn how children’s brains develop, how adverse experiences and toxic stress can derail healthy brain development, and how you can nurture children’s development.

Across Alberta last year, 2,389 children were admitted to ACWS member shelters. For children, exposure to domestic violence can be as harmful as directly experiencing acts of violence. Working with children who have been exposed to domestic violence is one of the major prevention tactics that can be used to interrupt the cycle of violence from continuing into future generations.

To register: ACWS – THBSCTR

Skills for Safer Living – CMHA-Alberta and the Center for Suicide Prevention

Skills for Safer Living (SfSL) is a four-week group program for youth ages 12-24 who have suicide ideation and their caregivers. 

Skills for Safer Living (SfSL) is a four-week psycho-educational group for youth aged 12-24 who have past or current experiences of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts. A concurrent group is available for the youth’s caregiver(s) to equip them with the knowledge and skills to support youth in navigating their suicidal thoughts.

SfSL aims to help participants build basic language, skills, and concepts to better understand thoughts about suicide while learning strategies to mitigate them and stay as safe as possible.

The program intends to provide safe and supportive spaces for youth and their caregivers to learn from each others’ similar experiences of a situation that can be isolating and scary, but not hopeless. This project is being funded by the Government of Alberta and FCSS Calgary.

Note: Skills for Safer Living sessions are currently paused and will resume in January 2025.

If you are interested in joining a group, fill in the Expression of Interest form.

Audience

Youth:

• Anyone aged 12-24 with current or past experiences of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts

• Interested in understanding thoughts and feelings that lead to thinking about suicide and how to make safer choices

Caregivers: Anyone aged 18+ who supports youth with experiences of suicide

Groups run in 4-week cycles.

• Participants meet weekly for a 90-minute session.

• Participants are split into two groups: one group for youth and one group for their caregiver(s).

• Youth and their caregiver(s) do not both need to participate in the program, but it is highly recommended.

• Depending on registrants, youth groups will be grouped based on age and experience of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

Training Page: CSP Workshop

Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment & Management (SPRAM) – Alberta Health Services

Learn how to assess and manage individuals at risk of suicide, from a healthcare provider perspective.

Suicide Prevention, Risk Assessment & Management (SPRAM) is an e-learning series that responds to the foundational learning needs of health care providers, particularly those working in Addiction and Mental Health (AMH). The content supports developing foundational competence in suicide prevention, risk assessment, and managing individuals at-risk for suicide. The learner can use this content in a manner that is relevant to their practice domain, and it is intended to complement rather than replace any existing suicide prevention training. SPRAM does not provide formal certification.

SPRAM consists of nine (9) e-Learning modules. The content has been developed using evidence-informed best practices and is organized sequentially to create a seamless, flowing learning experience; the modules must be taken in order.

SPRAM is considered an Accredited Self-Assessment Program (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the University of Calgary Office of Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Professional Development. It is duly accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation.

To register: AHS - SPRAM