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Human Services Network of Colorado

Upcoming events

    • 09/19/2023
    • 09/28/2023
    • 4 sessions
    • Zoom webinar
    • 14
    Registration is closed

    This evidence-based approach has consistently shown positive outcomes in dealing with resistance and defensiveness. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. It has been successfully used with populations where resistance is prevalent, including adults and adolescents who deal with legal problems, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

    Motivational Interviewing provides a “tool box” of techniques and strategies which will help you to be more effective in working with clients who bring a wide range of challenges. This is a four-day online training with a four-hour session each day.

     Attendees will: 

    Understand the basic principles and skills of Motivational Interviewing

    Experience a collaborative versus an authoritarian communication style and see how you can effectively decrease defensiveness in clients​;​

    Learn and practice resistance skills​;

    Learn and practice directive skills that help move a client towards positive behavior change​;​

    Be able to elicit commitment language from a client that is correlated to positive outcomes​;​

    Explore proven implementation strategies that help improve your Motivational Interviewing skills in the field​.

    _____

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CA
    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.

    Eligible for 16 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 09/29/2023
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 43
    Register

    Do you work with clients with a history of exposure to longstanding traumatic experiences? Do you work with clients who are experiencing psychological, social, behavioral, spiritual, and/or physical distress after exposure to traumatic events that went against their values and morals?

    Complex trauma encompasses the struggles associated with adapting to or surviving multiple, often interrelated forms of traumatic experiences. Moral injury, a form of complex trauma, entails the damage done to a person’s conscience or moral compass when they have been exposed to events that went against their personal moral beliefs, values, or ethical codes of conduct.

    Persons with complex trauma and moral injury experience a loss of connection with themselves, their bodies, and others as they process what has happened to them or others. Trauma-informed clinical approaches equip behavioral health service providers with strategies and tools to better engage those affected by complex trauma and moral injury. This workshop will focus on understanding how a person who has experienced complex trauma or moral injury responds to and deciphers information and can be triggered, as well as evidence-based practices that initiate and support relational and psychological healing.

    Learning Objectives: Participants in this workshop will be able to:

    • Explore the differences and similarities between PTSD, complex trauma, and moral injury
    • Define the development of personal morals, values, ethical codes of conduct
    • Describe those environments and professions where a person is likely to sustain complex trauma and/or moral injury
    • Describe the disruptions to the brain and body when adversely impacted by exposure to complex trauma or moral injury
    • Articulate at least three evidence-based treatment and practices useful for trauma-informed, trauma-sensitive care

    Presenter: Dr. Mita Johnson

    Dr. Johnson has degrees in biology, counseling and counselor education and supervision. She has been a counselor for 30 years, consultant for 20 years, clinical supervisor for 15 years and higher learning educator for 10 years. She holds several credentials including licensed professional counselor, licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed addiction counselor, master addiction counselor, and certified telemental health professional. Dr. Johnson is a core faculty member at Walden University’s School of Counseling MS program. She teaches, trains, and speaks nationally and internationally on numerous topics including ethics, diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and substance use disorders. Dr. Johnson is the President-Elect and Ethics Chair of NAADAC. She is passionate about understanding how psychopharmaceuticals and illicit substances influence the body systemically.

    Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 10/05/2023
    • 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 39
    Register

    A lot of practitioners are familiar with the basic MI Skills and comfortable with using the OARS Skills. Are you interested in going to the next level with your MI Practice and gaining more confidence around the strategic use of MI?

    Motivational Interviewing can achieve powerful results in a very short amount of time when a practitioner knows the MAP of CHANGE and understands how to use MI skills strategically, so when to use which skill set for maximizing the client’s momentum towards positive change.

    During this training you will:

      • Understand and be able to utilize the Map of Change
      • Review the different Skill Sets in MI and their STRATEGIC use
      • Practice MI Strategy with client examples
      • Learn how to assess for success in your MI practice

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CAC III, ADS

    Avani is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Certified Addiction Counselor, a Somatic Psychotherapist, an Acupuncture Detoxification Specialist, and a Motivational Interviewing Trainer (MINT), who specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program, an innovative, grassroots substance abuse prevention and intervention program that teaches teens to become leaders around healthier lifestyles and positive peer culture. In addition to teaching the Natural Highs program at several high schools in Boulder and at Naropa University, Avani works as a psychotherapist with teens, families and adults with issues around substance abuse, addiction and trauma using approaches such as Somatic Psychotherapy, Brainspotting and Systemic Constellationwork. She is a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and trains Motivational Interviewing for criminal justice, mental health, health care, and substance abuse professionals.

    • 10/10/2023
    • 10/11/2023
    • 2 sessions
    • Zoom webinar
    • 53
    Register

    Inspired by his over 20 years working with the trauma-informed care paradigm which resulted in his acclaimed books, Matt Bennett is excited to partner with The Network to present Connecting Paradigms: Positioning Trauma-Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing & other Best Practices for Improved Client Outcomes. Harm reduction, Motivational Interviewing (MI), trauma-informed care, and other best practices provide tools and approaches that assist us in helping those we serve. While these paradigms increased capacity to meet the ever-changing needs of clients, less attention has been paid to bringing these together in a coherent model designed to improve quality and client outcomes.

    This reality led Matt to write Connecting Paradigms: A trauma-informed & neurobiological framework for Motivational Interviewing Implementation (2017) and, the follow-ups, Talking about Trauma & Change (2018), Heart Rate Variability: Using biometrics to improve outcomes in trauma-informed organizations (2020). Together, these books provide an innovative approach to helping those struggling with past trauma to make critical life changes and heal from trauma. Connecting Paradigms presents an integrated model, combining research in neurobiology, trauma, behavioral change, harm reduction, and Motivational Interviewing into a practical skillset easily implemented across a variety of settings and professional backgrounds.

    This workshop introduces the core concepts presented in the books in a practical way that allows for immediate implementation. A quick-paced and dynamic training, participants learn MI skills in the context of trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and the Spirit of MI. Many of our clients face critical changes if they are to reach the health outcomes we hope for them. The training gives providers the approaches needed to maximize their time and work with clients.

    Learning Objectives

    1. Understand how trauma, neurobiology, and epigenetics inform interventions and communications.
    2. Apply the Connecting Paradigms model for client interventions and program development.
    3. Utilize harm reduction, stages of change, mindfulness, Motivational Interviewing, and other best practices together to improve outcomes.
    4. Conceptualize what developments in neurobiology and epigenetics tell us about healing from trauma and behavioral change.
    5. Develop skills to integrate trauma-informed Motivational Interviewing into your work with clients.

    Eligible for 6 hours Certificate of Completion

    Matt Bennett is a relentless advocate for trauma-informed care and other interventions that help people and communities heal. His passion manifests in his books Connecting Paradigms, Talking about Trauma & Change, Heart Variability, and Trauma-Sensitive Early Education as well as his Trauma-Informed Lens and Heart Rate Variability Podcasts. Mr. Bennett combines his masters’ degrees in community psychology and executive development/nonprofit management and business administration with his practical experience as a therapist and leader to develop research-based solutions to improve the health of individuals, staff, organizations, and systems.

    As a sought-after trainer, Mr. Bennett utilizes a participant-centered approach, which includes interactions and adult learning activities to maximize learning, retention, and application. Mr. Bennett’s presentations are a dynamic dance of innovative research, practical applications, and a passion for the art and science of helping others.

       
    • 10/18/2023
    • 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 50
    Register

    This interactive workshop on the basics of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is a dynamic and engaging learning experience designed to foster a deeper understanding of key DEI concepts. In this workshop, participants will embark on a journey to explore the critical aspects of diversity, equity, and inclusion, while also addressing important topics such as accessibility, bias, empathy, and dignity.

    Through a combination of informative presentation, group discussion, and interactive activities, participants will gain practical knowledge and skills to promote a more inclusive and equitable environment in their personal and professional lives. Breakout sessions will encourage participants to connect with one another, share their experiences, and collaborate on solutions, making it a truly immersive and enriching learning experience.

    Objectives:

    • Enhance Understanding: The first objective of this workshop is to deepen participants' understanding of the core principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, participants will gain insight into the significance of these concepts and how they intersect with accessibility, bias, empathy, and dignity.
    • Identify Personal Biases: Our second objective is to help participants recognize their own biases and unconscious prejudices. By engaging in self-reflection exercises and open dialogues, attendees will develop the ability to identify and challenge their biases, a crucial step towards creating more inclusive environments.
    • Foster Empathy and Connection: The third objective is to foster empathy and encourage meaningful connections among participants. Through breakout sessions and group activities, attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences, learn from one another, and collectively brainstorm strategies for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities and workplaces. Building empathy and connections will be key to ensuring lasting positive change.

    Presenter: Sydney Jackson-Clockston Presenter: Sydney Jackson-Clockston, MTM

    Sydney founded Citrine Unlimited LLC in 2020 as a tool to empower and mobilize clients. She is committed to creating a transformative experience through her dynamic, engaging presentations. Sydney is an accessibility advocate, mental health normalizer, and a 2022 Good Business Colorado Award winner. She just published My Own Worst Enemy: Understanding and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome. Sydney is also a member of Consultants For Good, Good Business Colorado, Woman in Sustainability, Posner Center of International Development, and Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce

    Eligible for 1.5 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 10/23/2023
    • 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 35
    Register

    Working with adults and juveniles who have committed sexually based offenses requires an understanding of how Colorado classifies, supervises, and treats such clients, based on the Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Standards. This training will provide an overview of best practices in providing therapy to, and working with, this population. Additional relevant information for human service providers will also be presented, including the legal definition of sex offender, the sex offense-specific evaluation requirements, sex offender registry requirements, risk factors, and working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) or Community Supervision Team (CST). 

    1.     Participants will have basic knowledge of SOMB Standards, and the differences between working with adults and juveniles. 

    2.     While there is no simple answer to the question of why people engage in sexual offending behavior, research suggests a number of factors related to the etiology and typology regarding individuals who commit sexual offenses. An overview will be provided about these topics, so participants can recognize there is no “one size fits all” in working with this population.  

    3.     Participants will learn how the sex offense specific evaluation is conducted and used as a source of information to guide treatment planning.  

    4.     Participants will have a basic understanding of what sex offense specific treatment requires, including the client taking responsibility for the sexual offending behavior, developing victim empathy, learning how to utilize appropriate social skills, and managing the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors which lead to the sexual offending. The importance of victim and community safety will be highlighted. Treatment-related topics such as assessing risk, addressing safety concerns, and working as part of a team will also be introduced.  

    5.     There will be several case presentations, so participants will apply this knowledge about sex offense specific treatment to particular cases, utilizing a discussion format.  

    Presenter: Ashley Charbonneau, LCSW, LAC

    I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Addiction Counselor, and Colorado Sex Offender Management Board (SOMB) Full Operating Treatment Provider and Evaluator. I started Enso Counseling in 2016. I specialize in providing individual therapy to address substance abuse, healthy relationships, unhealthy sexual behavior, and trauma. Read more about Ashley HERE.

    Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 10/26/2023
    • 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 32
    Register

    De-escalation of disruptive behavior has become an essential skill, pertinent to all staff providing human services. The need for safe, effective techniques to manage the disruptive client is no longer limited to those who work with severe mental illness in residential or hospital settings.

    To add to the problem, the current de-institutionalization trend has injected thousands of individuals who once were treated on an inpatient basis, into a society which is not quite sure how to manage their behavior. Outpatient mental health facilities are being asked to service clients who formerly had inpatient care. Frequently, staff at a community-based treatment centers do not have the training or experience to manage the aggressive behaviors of clients who were once institutionalized.

    This training provides attendees with a safe, non-harmful techniques, designed to aid human service professionals in the management of disruptive clients. Strategies and specific skills for dealing with clients in varying stages of escalation will be presented and discussed. Non-restraining physical protective maneuvers will be reviewed, demonstrated and discussed. Principles of debriefing and using teaching moments will also be addressed.

    ___________

    De-escalation will be presented in three phases:

    • Phase 1 Avoiding escalation through Self Care and Awareness;
    • Phase 2 Anatomy of crisis development and de-escalating skill sets; and
    • Phase 3 Exit maneuvers and debriefing skills.

    By the end of the webinar, learners will be able to:

    • Recognize the importance of self-care in how it relates to escalating/de-escalating any situation;
    • Apply de-escalation techniques effective in approaching and reducing the • tension of an agitated person;
    • Understand the impact of their reactions on the agitated person;
    • Utilize tools to control their anxieties during interventions toward maintaining the best possible professional attitude; and

    • Describe nonverbal, para-verbal and verbal skills to maintain the best possible care and welfare, as well as safety and security, for all involved.

    _____________

    Presenter: Tracy L. Hutchinson, LPC, MAC, LAC 

    Tracy has been working in the field of Addictions and Mental Health for the past 40 years. Currently, through her Counseling and Consulting private practice, Tracy is a facilitator of professional growth and development for team building. See more information about Tracy HERE.


    Eligible for 6 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 10/31/2023
    • 11/09/2023
    • 4 sessions
    • Zoom webinar
    • 31
    Register

    This evidence-based approach has consistently shown positive outcomes in dealing with resistance and defensiveness. Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative conversation style for strengthening a person's own motivation and commitment to change. It has been successfully used with populations where resistance is prevalent, including adults and adolescents who deal with legal problems, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

    Motivational Interviewing provides a “tool box” of techniques and strategies which will help you to be more effective in working with clients who bring a wide range of challenges. This is a four-day online training with a four-hour session each day. A broadband Internet connection and working webcam are required for participation.

     Attendees will: 

    Understand the basic principles and skills of Motivational Interviewing

    Experience a collaborative versus an authoritarian communication style and see how you can effectively decrease defensiveness in clients​;​

    Learn and practice resistance skills​;

    Learn and practice directive skills that help move a client towards positive behavior change​;​

    Be able to elicit commitment language from a client that is correlated to positive outcomes​;​

    Explore proven implementation strategies that help improve your Motivational Interviewing skills in the field​.

    _____

    Presenter: Avani G. Dilger, MEd, MA, LPC, BC-DMT, CA
    Avani specializes in substance abuse prevention and treatment with adults, teens and their families. She is the founder and director of the “Natural Highs – Healthy Alternatives to Drugs & Alcohol” nonprofit program. Avani has been training professionals in in Motivational Interviewing and other evidence-based practices worldwide for over 20 years. Find out more about Avani HERE.

    Eligible for 16 hours Certificate of Completion

    • 11/15/2023
    • 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
    • Zoom Webinar
    • 48
    Register

    This workshop provides tools and techniques for supporting your clients in their journey toward self-sufficiency, It first-handedly illustrates the challenges when facing homeless. it then offers a roadmap to overcome those hurdles and build a successful life. 

    The Journey: Marsha’s story leading up to and through the journey of homelessness

    Life Happens
    • Becoming homeless
    • Recognition of success and building hope
    Life Challenges
    • Hurdle’s that a person experiencing homelessness can endure
    • Understanding the difficulties navigating systemic processes
    Building Resilience
    • How to move forward with the person you are supporting
    • Workable Support and Partnerships
    • Building a Light at the End of the tunnel
    • Community programs and partnerships that support life improvements
    • Avoid the “Cliff”
    • Reflection on the “Cliff effect” during transitional housing
    The Power of Advocacy
    • Understanding the Fight
    • Discuss The fight with vulnerability and shame of failure.
    • Giving to the Future
    • Reflection on the Understanding of the “Why” in giving back

    Continuing to Advocate - As if you are the recipient because you are!

    Eligible for a two-hour certificate of completion.

    Presenter: Marsha Brown, CORE Inspirate LLC

    Ms. Brown has a multifaceted career history that allows her to serve the community she lives in. She brings her sharpened skills and experience to help inspire and empower others. Ms. Brown has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. Her career has moved from Customer Service Manager over accounts like The Detroit Zoological Institute to NA Manager for TransUnion LLC., overseeing relationships with homeowners and FEMA guidelines. Ms. Brown’s diverse career path and "lived experience" has allowed her to build a wealth of knowledge- focusing on; advocacy for resilience, job creation; and enhancing self-sufficiency programs. Ms. Brown teaches others how to maximize best practices, advocacy, financial health, and home ownership. She served as a former Commissioner for DHA Board, an Alumni of Warren Village Transitional Housing and a seasoned Storyteller for the Close to Home Campaign to end homelessness.

Event Schedule

View the Network's projected training topics and other training information here. To view event information and fees (including member discounts) before registering, click Show details in the lower right -hand corner of each event description above.

 Cancellation Policy

  • Substitutions are welcome; please let us know in advance.
  • No-shows and cancellations 7 days or less prior to an event will be granted neither credit nor refund.
  • Up to 8 days prior to event:  25% refund will be issued in the form of a credit towards future registration.
  • Up to 15 days prior to event: 50% refund will be issued in the form of a credit towards future registration.
  • Up to 29 days prior to event: A full refund will be issued.
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