Continuing Education

Families First offers continuing education workshops for professionals. Credit may be available for counselors, nurses, teachers or other professionals depending on the topic of the workshop.

Previous Workshops:

• Working Effectively With Parents
  Presented by John Sommers-Flanagan Ph.D.
  When: Friday, December 2
  Time: 8:30am to 4pm (7:30am - 8:15am registration)
  Where: University Center 3rd Floor Meeting Room
  Professional Cost: $125 (includes book and 6 CEU's)
  *** $115 if you register by November 18th!***
  Student Cost: $30 (does not include book)
  CEU's: 6 Continuing Education Units are available upon
  completion of this workshop
  
  
  
  This workshop will provide three levels of information and skill development for professionals who work with parents. First, general principles for working effectively with parents will be reviewed. Second, specific strategies for connecting with and influencing parents will be discussed and demonstrated. Third, participants will learn specific techniques for parenting more effectively. These techniques can be taught directly to parents. This workshop will help you become more effective and confident when interacting with parents.
  
  Workshop Outline
  I. A Way of Being with Parents
  II. Preparing Yourself for Working with Parents
  III. What Parents Want: A Model for Understanding Adult Influence
  IV. Collaborative Problem Formulation with Parents
  V. Creating and Providing Advice and Guidance to Parents
  VI. Practical Techniques for Dealing with Parenting
  Challenges
  a. Relationship-Based Parenting Interventions
  b. Indirect and Problem-Solving (Solution-Focused) Interventions
  c. Direct Power Interventions That are Child-Friendly
  VII. Dealing with Special Parenting Situations and Issues
  VIII. Concluding Comments and Closing
  
  To register or for more information please call 406.721.7690.

• Raising Peacemakers:
  A continuing education event that focused on providing tools to youth for peaceful problem solving skills using two proven curriculums: "Stop, think, & Try a Better Way" The Kelso's Choice curriculum & "Steps to Respect", The bullying prevention program.
  
  "Stop, Think, & Try a Better Way" Using the Kelso's Choice Curriculum to Resolve Conflict
  Presented by Diane Hipp, C.P.S., co-creator of Kelso's Choice Curriculum
  This training focused on Kelso's Choice conflict management for children. Unlike some programs which tout peer mediators who are trained to intervene as conflict managers, Kelso’s Choice assumes that all young people are capable of becoming peacemakers. Developed in 1992 and revised in 2007, the program reflects a proven way to:
  
  
  • Empower young people with the ability to determine their own behavior
  • Reduce tattling through a proactive, preventative approach
  • Systematize expectations of student behavior
  • Provide a cognitive structure for discriminating between “small” problems
  • Increase feelings of personal competence
  • Develop an important linkage between home and school
  • Giving young people an important conflict resolution tool
    
    
  
  Diane Hipp, C.P.S., is a Certified Prevention Specialist and a certified School Counselor with over twenty years of experience in substance abuse prevention. Her arenas of work have included elementary and secondary prevention education, parenting education, prevention curriculum development, and community substance abuse prevention program management. Diane has provided extensive training and technical assistance to schools and community coalitions in strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based substance abuse prevention. Translating research into practice, she has guided diverse communities in capacity building, community mobilizing, strategic planning and evaluation of prevention initiatives.
  
  "Steps to Respect", the Bullying Prevention Program
  Presented by: Amy Foster Wolferman, M. Ed & Marcy Otten, M. Ed
  The research-based "STEPS TO RESPECT" program teaches elementary students to recognize, refuse, and report bullying, be assertive, and build friendships. In fact, a recent study found that the program led to a 31 percent decline in bullying and a 70 percent cut in destructive bystander behavior.
  STEPS TO RESPECT lessons can help kids feel safe and supported by the adults around them so that they can build stronger bonds to school and focus on academic achievement. And the program supports your staff too, with school wide policies and training. Now everyone can work together to build a safe environment free from bullying.
  
  
• Leading Interactive Parenting Groups
  Presented by Linda Braun, Founder of Families First-Boston
  This training focused on both the knowledge base required of group leaders and some of the skills required to communicate information successfully to parents as adult learners.
  
  Linda spent her entire career in the field of education: special education, early childhood education, teacher education and parenting education. She spent 15 years developing and running the non-profit Families First-Boston (our model/sister organization.)
  
  
• Enhancing Couple Harmony: Teachable Moments for Service Providers
  Presented by Jana Staton PhD, LCPC
  The basic concepts for strengthening relationships and reducing conflict in the couples you work with (and your own!) Jana Staton, PhD, LCPC, brought her toolkit of strategies for ‘teachable moments” for attendees to use with their own clients. These relationship education strategies, not therapy, are helpful for everyone to know.
  
  
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
  Presenters included Dr. Jim Reynolds, Peggy Moses, Dr. William Cook, and Doug Cochran-Roberts
  
  
• Raising Someone Else's Children: Unique Challenges and How to Help Relative Caregivers