Training and Education
This training and education hub was created to help Edmontonians come together to support one another in living happier, more meaningful lives. Whether you're caring for family, friends, coworkers, or even strangers, we all play a role in looking out for each other.
These courses are designed to support your growth—whether you're a peer, a service provider, or someone just trying to help. Topics include mental health and addictions, suicide prevention, peer support, poverty and housing, parenting, and more. All trainings emphasize approaches that are fair, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and rooted in community values. See a calendar view of upcoming locally offered training →
TIDeS™ Trauma-Informed De-escalation Strategies – Imagine Institute for Learning
Creating Safety and Connection in our Interactions: Learn how to de-escalate conflict and manage high intensity situations while maintaining a trauma-informed approach.
Creating Safety and Connection in our Interactions: Learn how to de-escalate conflict and manage high intensity situations while maintaining a trauma-informed approach.
This full-day training is designed to provide participants with critical skills in using trauma-informed de-escalation strategies. Research shows that trauma is highly prevalent in the general public and will likely play a role in interactions with an escalated individual. TIDeS™ not only considers the trauma of the escalated individual but also the person providing support.
Participants will take a deep dive into assessing their own attitudes, boundaries, communication styles, and debriefing strategies. There is a focus on prevention and long-term reduction of crisis situations. Intended for all areas of the community, this training provides a universal trauma-informed approach to de-escalation.
Learning Objectives:
Understand the basics of trauma-informed care and the principles of de-escalating a potential crisis.
Develop skills in assessing attitudes, setting boundaries, and communicating effectively.
Utilize trauma-informed de-escalation strategies to encourage safe connection.
Explore the application of strategies in different demographics using case studies.
Learn strategies for debriefing following a crisis.
For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF
To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions
Subsidies are available, please inquire for more information.
UPCOMING TRAINING DATES:
Indigenous Health and Wellness, Advocacy, and Allyship MOOC – Athabasca University
A free course to build understanding and champion Indigenous health equity in Canada.
A free course to build understanding and champion Indigenous health equity in Canada.
This MOOC is perfect for individuals looking to expand their understanding of Indigenous health issues and those committed to fostering allyship. Whether you are a student, healthcare professional, community worker, or simply passionate about making a difference, this course offers valuable insights for everyone.
Learning Objectives:
Enhance your knowledge: Gain a solid foundation in the historical, social, and cultural contexts of Indigenous health.
Build meaningful connections: Learn how to support Indigenous communities through informed and respectful allyship.
Develop practical skills: Acquire tools and strategies to advocate for health equity and social justice effectively.
To register: Athabasca University – IHWAA
Trauma-Informed Care e-Learning Series – Alberta Health Services
Self-study modules designed to educate you on how to be mindful of the impacts of trauma when interacting with others and providing care.
Self-study modules designed to educate you on how to be mindful of the impacts of trauma when interacting with others and providing care.
The TIC e-Learning Series consists of seven (7) foundational self-study modules, each of which can be completed in approximately 30 minutes or less. The modules have been designed for a broad audience, including those providing Addiction & Mental Health treatment services. The content has been developed using evidence-informed best practices and is organized sequentially to create a seamless, flowing learning experience; the modules should be taken in order.
To register:AHS Trauma Training Initiative
Brain Story Certification – Alberta Family Wellness Initiative
A comprehensive online course that provides knowledge around early brain development and how stress and trauma experienced in early life contribute to changes in the brain that can lead to physical and mental health issues later on.
A comprehensive online course that provides knowledge around early brain development and how stress and trauma experienced in early life contribute to changes in the brain that can lead to physical and mental health issues later on.
Lifelong health is determined by more than just our genes: experiences at sensitive periods of development change the brain in ways that increase or decrease risk for later physical and mental illness, including addiction. That finding is the premise of the Brain Story, which puts scientific concepts into a narrative that is salient to both expert and non-expert audiences. The Brain Story synthesizes decades of research and reflects a body of knowledge that experts agree is useful for policy-makers and citizens to understand.
The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI) has developed an online course to make Brain Story science available to professionals and the public. Brain Story Certification is designed for those seeking a deeper understanding of brain development and its consequences for lifelong health. The course is also designed for professionals seeking certification in a wide range of fields.
To register: Alberta Family Wellness Initiative- Training
Provincial Addiction & Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills (PACES) – Alberta Health Services
Learn how to support individuals struggling with addictions, mental health, and concurrent disorders.
Learn how to support individuals struggling with addictions, mental health, and concurrent disorders.
The Provincial Addiction & Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills (PACES) Learning Pathway advances learners from a basic understanding to a mastery of the competencies required to assess, treat, and support recovery from addictions, mental health or concurrent disorders.
PACES provides accessible, self-paced, and personalized addiction and mental health education for all skill levels through e-learning modules, educational videos, simulated clinical scenarios, and virtual skill-building sessions.
The learning pathway consists of four learning phases, allowing individuals to develop their skills based on their unique needs.
Read The Provincial Addiction and Mental Health Curricula & Experiential Skills Learning Pathway.
PACES consists of both Accredited Self-Assessment Learning and Simulation Activities (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. Upon completion of each activity, the learner can request a CME certificate of participation. In addition, the PACES Beginning, Developing, and Advancing phases are duly accredited by the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation.
To register: AHS - PACES
Alberta Opioid Dependency Treatment Virtual Training (ODT) – Alberta Health Services
Learn how to support those struggling with opioid dependencies, from a healthcare provider perspective.
Learn how to support those struggling with opioid dependencies, from a healthcare provider perspective.
The Alberta Opioid Dependency Treatment (ODT) Virtual Training Program is a component of broader efforts to respond to the drug poisoning crisis in Alberta by improving the capacity of prescribers and allied health care providers involved in treating opioid use disorder.
Read The Alberta ODT Virtual Training Program Course Overview for module learning objectives and durations.
The training program is an Accredited Simulation Activity (Section 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and is approved by the University of Calgary Office of Continuing Medical Education and Professional Development.
To register: AHS – ODT Virtual
Trauma-Focused Skills (TF) Workshop Series – Alberta Health Services
A follow-up course to the e-learning series designed to help build practical and applied knowledge around working with trauma. Only available to AHS staff.
A follow-up course to the e-learning series designed to help build practical and applied knowledge around working with trauma.
The Trauma-Focused Skills Workshop Series consists of five (5) online workshops that are three hours long. Going beyond the knowledge gained within the TIC e-Learning series, the workshops will discuss creating safety, identifying stabilization skills and supporting strategies to enhance health care providers' knowledge and confidence while working with trauma survivors. The content has been organized sequentially to create a seamless, flowing learning experience; the workshops are to be taken in order, and all five must be completed to obtain a certificate of participation. The TIC e-Learning modules are a pre-requisite for the workshop series.
**This workshop series is not a replacement for trauma-specific treatment intervention training but covers the groundwork principles that underlie most trauma-specific interventions. It offers generalized training for health care providers to develop foundational skills in the areas of safety building and stabilization.**
Currently only available to AHS staff.
To register: AHS Trauma Training Initiative
Trauma-Informed Care: Transforming Practice Through Trauma-Informed Principles – Imagine Institute for Learning
Acknowledge the prevalence and impact of trauma and learn how to apply a trauma-informed lens to your work.
Join our two-day training to transform your practice with trauma-informed principles. Gain skills to provide services that prioritize emotional and physical safety, client choice, and collaboration.
Day two focuses on the well-being of caregivers in human services, addressing burnout and empathic strain from exposure to trauma. Explore the journey from vicarious trauma to resilience and post-traumatic growth, emphasizing the strength found in Adversity.
Learning Objectives
Define trauma and understand the different types of traumas.
Identify the signs and symptoms of trauma.
Understand the impacts and effects of trauma.
Explore the principles of trauma-informed approaches, including Awareness, Safety, Trustworthiness, Choice and Control, Collaboration and Connection, and Strength-Based Approach.
Explain the elements of vicarious trauma and how they have the potential to create an imbalance in our ability to sustain our work
Discover the transformation from vicarious trauma response to post-traumatic growth.
Discuss tools and wisdom related to emotional intelligence and resilience as ways of supporting strength-based relationships and individual and collective growth within the professional setting.
Explore the Indigenous theory of two-eyed seeing as a mindset and tool that can support healing and understanding related to vicarious trauma.
This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.
For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF
To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) - Imagine Institute for Learning
A 3-hour session designed to share strategies on how to both identify and support someone who may be at risk of suicide.
Imagine Institute for Learning is certified by the QPR Institute to provide suicide prevention training. QPR teaches the warning signs of a suicide crisis, how to offer hope through positive action and ultimately, how to assist in saving a life. The three basic steps for this training workshop include:
Question - the individual's desire or intent regarding suicide;
Persuade - the person to seek and accept help and support;
Refer - the person to the appropriate resources.
This initiative was created to talk openly about suicide and to reduce the stigma that is attached. The plan is to provide better awareness and knowledge to service providers, front-line workers and others so that they are trained to detect signs of suicidality and equipped to refer the appropriate assistance and supports.
This training is now available at no cost to Edmonton and area participants by using the discount code Living25.
For more information: Imagine Training Framework PDF
To register: Imagine Institute for Learning Upcoming Sessions