Motivational Interviewing for Welfare to Work Professionals

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based, participant-centered communication approach that helps individuals explore and strengthen their motivation for change. Designed for Welfare-to-Work frontline staff and supervisors, this interactive course provides practical strategies for building rapport, increasing engagement, reducing resistance, and supporting participant progress toward employment goals. Learners will learn how MI can be effectively integrated into employment services conversations while meeting program requirements and working within limited appointment times.

Through guided practice, role-plays, and realistic scenarios, participants will develop and apply core MI skills, including OARS (Open-ended Questions, Affirmations, Reflections, and Summaries), recognizing and strengthening change talk, addressing ambivalence, and facilitating collaborative goal setting.

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
• Describe the spirit and core principles of MI and explain why it matters in CalWORKs
• Demonstrate OARS skills in simulated client conversations
• Identify and elicit change talk (DARN-C) in employment conversations
• Apply strategies for navigating client resistance and ambivalence
• Use a four-step framework to set employment goals collaboratively
• Adapt MI techniques to CalWORKs time constraints and compliance requirements