Healing After Abuse and Neglect - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course, we talk with the late Dr. Karyn Purvis, author of The Connected Child: Bring Hope and Healing to Your Adoptive Family, and the founder and Director of the TCU Institute of Child Development, about how to help children from hard places heal.

*This course was recorded with the late great Dr. Karyn Purvis in 2015. While it does not meet our current sound quality or replacement after 5 year standards, we include this course for those who value the importance of being instructed by Dr. Purvis herself.

This course covers the following topics:

• Why is parenting abused children different from traditional parenting?

• What are the 3 most important things you should do during the first 6 months home with a newly adopted child?

• How can we discipline our children while still remaining connected and create attachment?

• How can we help a child who has tantrums whenever he hears the word “no,” or is told he can’t do something?

• How long should parents stay home (if possible) after adoption?

• How can parents be proactive with children who have experienced abuse and neglect in order to help them and to improve behavior?

• Parenting kids adopted from foster care and internationally can be hard on the marriage and especially when one of the parents is the one getting educated on the type of parenting these kids need and the other one has not “bought into” it yet. How to help both parents get on the same page.

• How should parents handle criticism (implied or direct) about their parenting style when they are trying to follow the empower to connect style?

• What are some practical tools for encouraging attachment?

To register: Creating a Family - HAAN

First Six Months with a Baby Exposed to Opiates - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

What do you need to know about fostering/adopting a child that may have prenatal exposure to opiates?

In this course, we talk with Dr. Robin Gurwitch, a faculty member in the Duke University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Center for Child and Family Health. Her research focuses on improving the outcomes and increasing resilience in children who have experienced trauma, including prenatal exposure.

This course covers the following topics:

• List common opioids that a baby can be born dependent on.

• List 3 symptoms of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

• Explain 3 techniques for soothing a baby with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

To register: Creating a Family - FSMBEO

Connected Parenting: Understanding TBRI®️ (Trust-Based Relational Intervention) - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course, we interview Lisa and Emmelie  about connected parenting and understanding how to use TBRI®️ with your family.

The next step in understanding Trust-Based Relational Intervention®️ is the new book, The Connected Parent, by Dr. Karyn Purvis and Lisa Qualls, with great assistance from Emmelie Pickett.

This course covers the following learning objectives:

• Understanding the foundations of attachment.

• List ways to implement Trust-Based Relational Intervention®️.

• Understand how to cope with chronic fear in your children.

• Describe how to discipline the TBRI®️ way.

• Understanding how sensory issues can be confused with attachment issues.

To register: Creating a Family - CPUTBRI

Coming to Terms with Infertility Grief Before You Foster or Adopt - Creating a Family Adoption and Foster Care Education

In this course, we will cover how to move from infertility treatment to adoption and how to say goodbye to the child you were trying so hard to conceive.

The instructor will be Carole LieberWilkins, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who has specialized in reproductive medicine, adoption, and family-building options since 1986, and is the co-author of the book, Let’s Talk About Egg Donation. Carole serves on the Advisory Board of the US Donor Conceived Council and is an active American Society of Reproductive Medicine Mental Health Professional Group member. She is also a mom through adoption and egg donation.

This course covers the following topics:

• Explain two differences between genetic parenting and adoptive parenting.

• Explain how to say goodbye to the child you never had.

• List two things to consider before deciding to stay in fertility treatment while trying to adopt.

• List two ways to find a mental health provider specializing in infertility.

To register: Creating a Family - CTIGBYFA

How To Calm Your Child's Stress Response and Emotions – Complex Trauma Resources

Join Dr. Chuck Geddes as he shares how to calm your child's stress and emotional response system.

2 Course Hours (work at your own pace)

Practical skills and tools you'll learn:

• Trauma-informed strategies to help kids heal

• How trauma changes the developmental trajectory of a child

• Why regular parenting strategies don’t work on kids with trauma

• Why your child retreats or explodes and how to calm their stress response system

• How to minimize power-struggles

• Cutting-edge perspectives on medication and trauma

• How to help your child become emotionally regulated

• Practical strategies on the 5-steps of how to emotionally connect with your child. 

• Real parenting questions answered during a live Q&A with Dr. Chuck

To register: Complex Trauma Resources - HCCSRE

Giving and Receiving Healing – Complex Trauma Resources

For caregivers to learn how to provide healing environments for children with trauma. 

Foster parents and other caregivers give from the bottom of their hearts. Often this isn't enough. Complex trauma changes the child’s brain and nervous system (and thus all development). These kids don't respond well to typical parenting.

How do we create an environment of nurturing experiences for these children to heal? Can we move beyond "managing" the challenging emotions and behaviours to “see” and respond to the underlying needs? YES, WE CAN!

7 Course Hours (work at your own pace)

Practical skills and tools you'll learn:

• Why is Complex Trauma Important?

• Module 1: What Are Our Children Carrying?

• Module 2: Body and Stress

• Module 3: Managing Emotions and Stress

• Module 4: Attachment and Relationships

• Module 5: Identity Development

• Module 6: Reframing Challenging Behaviours

• Module 7: Caregiver Wellness

To register: Complex Trauma Resources - GRH

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

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

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