Institute Workshops

June 3, 2021

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. - Morning Workshop Sessions

Resiliency Interventions for Queer Youth of Color 

Ali Guajardo and Isabella Restrepo

Utilizing an intersectional framework, this workshop explores trauma-informed approaches to working with LGBTQ+ BIPOC. Facilitators will explore the criminalization of racialized queer youth to understand the ways that overlapping systems of oppression impact their lives. Facilitators will also offer resilience building interventions based on neuropsychology’s “the person-brain model.” 

 

Impact of Poverty on Brain Development and the Effectiveness of Telehealth in Low Income Populations

Pablo Velez , Sara Torten

Research indicates that low socioeconomic status has been linked to structural changes in the brain with poorer neurocognitive functions across numerous domains, including language, self-regulation, memory, and social and emotional processing. Learn about the effects of poverty on the developing brain and what factors mediate the relationship between poverty and brain structures. The current pandemic has placed new stressors and barriers on families living in poverty and their ability to access early intervention programs. The use of telehealth in early intervention is an emerging response to the "stay at home" directive from the government. We will explore evidence-based practices that increase access to technology and support family centered telehealth intervention. Take away strategies that can be used in early intervention to support the development of children living in poverty, as well as strategies that can be used when providing early intervention using telehealth.

 

Applying Principles of Innovation and Collaboration to Wraparound Work

Lauren Crutsinger, Briana Downey, Ariana Ibarra 

This workshop explores the ways a standard Wraparound model can be creatively flexed to meet individual county needs, as well as the logistical considerations that promote integrated interagency collaboration. Information about an innovative “Expedited Wraparound” partnership between Sonoma County and Seneca Family of Agencies--which provides brief but intensive stabilization services for youth coming to or leaving the county shelter--will be presented, and lessons learned from this collaboration will be shared.

 

The Impact of Microaggressions and Racialized Attitudes: Racism Among Groups of Color

Dr. Jamille Harrell-Sims

In today’s negative racial climate, there is much discussion on racial hatred, but none on antiblack racism perpetuated by other groups of color. The purpose of this workshop is to explore and discuss antiblack racism and colorism as a practice among other people of color. We will discuss the history, terms, and language used to hand down these antiblack practices and re-evaluate our beliefs, how we see the world and what influences racialized attitudes regarding colorism. The proposed outcome is self-awareness, research, and an awareness of how racism has permeated the world and the self through cultural practices, cultural appropriation and media narratives.

 

Mastering Financial Wellness: Personal Finance Skills for You and Your Clients

Heidi Glunz

Mastering Financial Wellness will teach you the skills you need to manage your money, so you can own your life. The foundation of mastering personal finance is having a budget AND a budgeting system. This course walks you through setting up your first budget, the steps needed to maintain it every month, and provides tips on teaching these skills to others. The course also discusses the importance of giving, saving, and spending with intention.

 

The 6 Reasons You're Stuck: Making Progress with Families

Zach Stones

We all work with families that don’t seem to be making progress despite our best efforts. This workshop will explore six commonly overlooked reasons that the families we work with get stuck. Come and learn about the dangers of “bad guying”, information black holes and much more. 

 

An Introductory Overview of the WisdomPath Way Reparative Parenting Approach

Kate Messina

The WPW RP Approach is an innovative parent-child coaching model for parents raising children affected by early exposure to trauma. The WPW RP Approach provides parents with knowledge and skill to effectively develop a Family Coaching Plan to help children get "unstuck" and heal, recover and mature.

 

Connecting in a Time of Social Distancing

Dana Wyss

From the author of the picture book phenomenon The Invisible String, which has sold nearly half a million copies to date, comes the perfect companion workbook with more than 50 creative therapeutic art and writing activities--plus 12 bonus reflection cards in the back--that build healthy relationships and help heal the wounds of trauma.

 

Destination Family Relationship Development Matching (RDM): Finding Permanency for Youth

Sandra Sertyn, Heather Bollier Yetter

Relationship Development Matching is the promising practice conceived and implemented by the Destination Family Youth Permanency Team. It has proven to be a replicable program that dramatically increases the permanency outcome of special needs youth in Sacramento County.

 

1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. - Afternoon Workshop Sessions

Understanding Early Childhood Mental Health Needs in the Context of Relationships

Mike Sherman

This workshop provides a foundational understanding of the important relational factors during prenatal and perinatal periods in healthy neurological development. We will discuss research on the impact of nurturing and attuned early relationships on healthy life-long functioning. We will also learn the impact of childhood adversity and the transgenerational transmission of toxic stress to increase access to care, address medical necessity, and view birth-to-5 consumers through a dynamic relational perspective.

 

Contagion: Prevention Against Toxic Practices While Re-inspiring the Working Dead

Misty Kerrigan, Dawne Shaw

On average, there is a 2 year burnout rate in our field. This leads to staff turnover--or worse, toxic staff who contaminate the work culture. When staff experience burnout, it affects all aspects of their life and those around them, including the populations they serve. However, burnout, vicarious trauma and a toxic staff can all be alleviated. Join us and learn skills and tools to prevent, intervene and counteract the contagions impacting our work culture.

 

Reeling It In: Getting Back to Fidelity

Rebekah Cox

Drift happens. In the deep sea of Wraparound and Child and Family Team practice, it’s easy to float along, feeling that we are making progress. But without checking our guiding compass, how will we know we are on course? Even small navigation errors can have a big impact on our final destination. Get refreshed. Get Rejuvenated. Get back on course.

 

An Interactive Introduction to Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) Tapping

Suzanne Alfandari

Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) have been shown to help reduce stress, symptoms of anxiety, physical and emotional pain, depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms. EFT Tapping is easy to learn and implement, and can reduce stress for each team member, bringing increased collaboration and creativity to the team as a whole.

 

The Power of Mindfulness During Challenging Times

Beth Cohen

Many social services professionals report that being in service to others often takes priority over meeting one’s own needs.  Significant rewards and costs come with this work.  Data show that social service professionals have a higher incidence of traumatic stress compared to the general population, as a result of chronic exposure to human suffering.  The pandemic has only increased public need, in addition to employees having increased work and personal stress. Uncertainty and unpredictability have created significant emotional turbulence and existential concern. Self-care is vital during this time.

Participants will learn:

  • Neuroscientific implications of acute and chronic stress 
  • Science-based understanding of the practice of mindfulness 
  • Building tools for emotional immunity and well-being
  • Guided mindfulness exercises and resilience-building

 

The Facilitation Game Show: Advancing Skills for the Team Planning Processes in CFTM, and Other Teaming Models

Jarred Vermillion

Team thinking is one of the most powerful tools that may be leveraged in supporting the lives of children, parents and families. This workshop will focus on the skills and knowledge a team facilitator must have to move a team from introduction to innovation.

 

Father’s Matter – Understanding and Unpacking Implicit and Systemic Bias

Kelly Beck

This virtual training session is provided by two experts in the field of father representation, engagement and support. They seek to create an environment that challenges the many beliefs, misconceptions and biases about fathers to move toward a more inclusive and respectful interaction and collaboration. The session begins with a short video highlighting how the child welfare system and professionals working within it can project a limited understanding of the father and his family, which is typically based upon incomplete or inaccurate information. This will be followed by an overview of fathers’ rights and how they are often overlooked.

 

Compassion Fatigue

Beverly Kyer

This workshop will address the self-care needs of professionals working with children, youth and adults impacted by traumatic life events. We will discuss the notion of compassion fatigue and call attention to the personal and professional challenges we are facing now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Direct care staff and management are encouraged to understand their vulnerabilities and recognize their colleagues’ and their own warning signs of secondary and vicarious stress. This includes having authentic, supportive and motivating conversations with staff and with ourselves about compassion fatigue. Participants will also walk through Beverly's three R's (release, reboot, recharge).

 

Elevating Family Voices: Family Youth and Advocacy Fireside Chat

Ebony Chambers, Roger De Leon

Join the Family Panel participants and peers from across the state as we debrief what we learned from the panel and discuss ways we can further our involvement in advocacy and elevate family and youth voices. This interactive workshop will be an informal community-led discussion on the successes, challenges and next steps in peer advocacy.