Cultural Competency: A Three-part Series
A total of three training sessions have been developed to more deeply explore the array of diversity and culture present in the workplace and within the diverse populations served by various agencies. As participants examine their own cultural experiences through the use of Storytelling, they will encounter cultures and ideas that differ significantly from their own experiences. Participants will also encounter multiple similarities that may connect them with other cultures and help them in understanding the connections among staff at all levels, community members, and other key stakeholders.
This training will also help to reveal the complexity and interdependency of the various topics related to culture and identity and target cultural competency skills to help participants to become more culturally literate and informed about the communities they serve. These skills provide guidance for helping participants further their understanding and appreciation for the complex web of relationships between staff, clients, key stakeholders and various community settings
Session 1:
Introduction to Culture and Diversity in the Real World
Session 2:
Understanding Cultural Competence in the Workplace
Session 3:
Developing Strategies for Cultural Competent Practice
L.G.B.T.Q.Q.I-Cultural Competency Training:
Suitably tailored cultural awareness materials will be used throughout the LGBTQ Cultural Competency Training and the trainer(s) will provide a balance of structured input and discussion of best practices and scenarios relevant to the unique services provided by the staff. The trainers will utilize the dynamic art of storytelling to begin the story of bridging cultural gaps, and breaking down stereotypes that harm members and family members of the L.G.B.T.Q, community, which often lead to alienation and isolation. The trainers will also provide practical techniques to improve outreach and engagement efforts of the hard-to-reach clients, and their families, in the L.G.B.T.Q community. The format, content and approach for the L.G.B.T.Q-Cultural Competency Training will include a group format and discussion, including pertinent handouts and evidence based materials.
Leadership Training for Staff of Families at Risk: A One Day Training
A one day training has been developed to assist participants at becoming leaders in their agencies and communities. As participants begin to examine their own models and ideals of leadership, though the concept of storytelling, they will learn encounter circumstances and ideas that differ significantly from their own experiences. Participants will review different styles of leadership, and by examining their own strengths and weaknesses, determine what skills are needed to become a leader in their organization.
Participants will discover ways in which diverse staff may require a different approach to leadership and supervision.
Improving Child Welfare Services from the Initial Contact;Training for Administrative Staff
A one day training has been developed to deeply explore the skills and tools necessary for staff to engage clients from the very first contact. Participants will learn the importance of their role, as providing either a referral, conducting intake, or providing information to the client, either in the office or over the phone. Participants will learn how their role helps determine whether or not the client will become engaged, and whether services will be provided. This training will emphasize the vulnerability of many families navigating through the child welfare system, and/or seeking assistance from service providers, and how their first contact with the service provider can either be empowering or demoralizing. Participants will learn tools that will enable them to provide an empowering experience for clients to receive quality services. Participants will begin to examine their own experiences of seeking vital services, through storytelling, which will assist them with understanding the connections amongst staff and families, and how this understanding will help improve services.
Motivational Storytelling for Staff and Incarcerated Women Whose Children are In/Or At Risk of Entering the Child Welfare System: A SeriesA series has been developed for social workers and other staff in the jail/prison system to deeply explore and gain the necessary skills and tools to assist incarcerated women with overcoming obstacles and becoming present and more effective mothers of their children. Participants will develop these skills by first learning the power of telling and sharing their stories. They will hear the many strengths in other participant's stories. This will enable them to determine what they need more of in order to become more effective leaders, as well as conduits for advocacy and referrals for these mothers and their children who are at risk of entering the child welfare system, or are already in the child welfare system. As participants begin to examine their own life experiences, they will encounter stories of failures, obstacles, and successes that both differ, and are similar to their own stories. Through storytelling, participants will begin to learn the skills necessary for assisting incarcerated women as they navigate through the justice and social services systems. This will ultimately assist them in becoming self sufficient, and in allowing their families to thrive. Participants will connect with other employees who work with incarcerated women. They will foster connections amongst the staff and reveal the specific type of assistance necessary for these women to gain the parenting skills needed to keep their children out of the child welfare system, or to reunify with their children already in the child welfare system.
This series will teach participants to begin to identify ways in which storytelling assists participants to discover the strengths of the incarcerated women, which will enable them to overcome trauma, and ultimately foster better parenting. participants will recognize how to assist incarcerated women with the foundations of effective parenting, and becoming more present in the lives of their children.
Participants will learn advocacy skills, to assist the incarcerated women with obtaining access to services to improve the lives of their families, and the lives of other families in their communities. They will also begin to teach others how storytelling can be used as a tool to bridge different cultures in their communities, and strengthen families.
How to Become a More Effective Supervisor-A Retreat:
Do you dread weekly supervision with your staff? Does it seem that you go over the same items in your supervision, and never get to the new tasks? A two day retreat has been developed to provide support and skills to supervisors which will assist them in obtaining the maximum benefit from consistent supervision with their staff. Away from their usual surroundings, supervisors will learn to utilize storytelling to share their strengths and challenges of leadership, as well as hear the stories of their colleagues. The trainers will also introduce supervisors to a variety of culturally competent supervision methods, which will allow them to reach a diverse staff. They will also learn how to motivate their staff, and ensure supervision is mutually beneficial.The format, content and approach for the Supervisor's Retreat will include a group format and discussion, including pertinent handouts and evidence based materials. The Supervisor's Retreat is designed for new and seasoned supervisors.
Team Building Training for Agencies/Groups Serving Youth, Women/Men, And/Or Families At Risk: A Two Day Training
A two day training has been developed to deeply explore the skills and tools necessary to assist participants with understanding the importance of their role in their organization's team, as well as the importance and specific roles of the other team members. Participants will learn tools to become leaders, and how to brand and market their specific talent by learning to tell their unique story. This training will also assist participants with the identification of their specific talents which they bring to their agency, and how they can improve their working image/brand.
Participants will learn to identify talents by the sharing of their story, as well as recognize their role and leadership potential in their agency, and the importance of teams, and the accountability of each team members for optimal success.
