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• Addiction Treatment and Co-occurring Disorder

  • When
    09/24/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Spaces left
    44
  • Registered
    6 registrants

  Register

  Have you recognized mental illness and substance abuse in working with participants?  Perhaps you weren't sure which symptom needed which approach. Learning more and developing resources and partners to address co-occurring disorders can help you provide more efficient, targeted services and referrals, and help your participants feel better.

  For those who seek to enhance their ability and understanding of Addictions and Co-occurring Disorder; this workshop will present a solid foundation for recognizing substance abuse as well as understanding and working with these issues. "Co-occurring Disorder" is descriptive of people who struggle with both a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. It is often difficult to tease out a co-occurring disorder, especially when the person is in acute phases of instability.

  There are numerous issues we will discuss related to the struggle of managing this disorder. Stigma and stability issues consistent with the individuals specific combination of disorders, support access, legal, medical health, and cultural uniqueness create a complexity for the care providers approach and management of services for these clients. We will discuss basic strategies, and practical guidelines for providing early intervention, stability and integrated services for Co-occurring Disorder clients.

  Participants will leave with:

  • The ability to identify symptoms of substance abuse and mental health disorders;
    
  • A working definition of the “co-occurring disorder” and a look at the stigma attached to that definition;
    
  • An understanding of the most common difficulties (and clues) in recognizing co-occurring disorders
    
  • Practical strategies in managing co-occurring clients, including; basic CBT skills, Medication compliance concerns, high risk stability, sobriety management, and multiple systems coordination;
    
  • An understanding of the stability concerns with co-occurring disorder clients; and
    
  • Approaches to practical and culturally sensitive assessment.
    

  
  

  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.

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• Advanced MI Training to address Trauma in Clients and prevent Vicarious Trauma in Professionals

  • When
    09/30/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Spaces left
    22
  • Registered
    8 registrants

  Register

  Trauma is increasingly recognized as a driving factor for causing major mental health and addiction symptoms and can create challenges and obstacles in our work with clients. There is also a growing awareness that professionals get impacted with secondary trauma which can lead to serious symptoms and burnout. A lot of agencies are struggling to help their staff in dealing with trauma in their clients and to help their staff in preventing burnout.

  
  

  Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based practice that is proven to support positive change for clients, but it is also an excellent skillset to prevent secondary trauma and burnout for the practitioner by changing the dynamics of not taking on the tension from our work.

  
  

  After this training you will:

  • Be able to understand and identify secondary trauma symptoms
  • Understand the neuroscience of trauma & PTSD
  • Learn how to turn trauma into resilience
  • Gain confidence in working with clients experiencing trauma

  
  

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

  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 3 hours Certificate of Completion

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• The Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence

  • When
    10/03/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Spaces left
    55
  • Registered
    5 registrants

  Register

  

  Intimate Partner Violence is a silent epidemic and statistics suggest that it is more prevalent year after year. Working with individuals who currently are experiencing or have experienced intimate partner violence carries with it its own unique set of challenges and very few human services professionals receive direct training on this topic. As a result, Human Services Professionals are forced to meet these unique challenges without the tools that can help them be successful.
  

  When a victim is experiencing Intimate Partner Violence or recovering from their experience they are in a vulnerable state and critical decision-making point in their life. The awareness gained through this training will allow you to have compassionate and meaningful interactions with victims which can ultimately make the difference between making a positive or negative impact in the individuals' journey.

  This training offers an opportunity for human service professionals to acquire a more in-depth awareness of the dynamics of intimate partner violence. This will provide a better understanding of the lived experience of the victims and techniques and resources to support them. The workshop will also help identify self-care strategies to cope with the vicarious trauma human services professionals experience in dealing with intimate partner violence suffered by their clients.

  Learning Objectives

  • Understand the prevalence of and statistics about intimate Partner Violence
  • Define intimate partner violence and describe its common dynamics.
  • Recognize signs of Intimate Partner Violence
  • Identify the different ways that victims respond to and cope with intimate Partner Violence
  • Better understand the victim’s experience in IPV
  • Understand the elements of a safety plan and its importance when working with victims of intimate partner violence.
  • Understand the reasons a victim may choose to stay in a violent relationship.
  • Identify local and national resources that may benefit victims.
  • Take away concrete tools to support victims of IPV.

   Presenter: Marisol Velez Murray is the director of Marisol Homes, an extended stay shelter for single and expectant mothers and their children. Marisol is a licensed professional counselor. She specializes in populations that have experienced intimate partner violence, Latinx immigrant population, and complex trauma. She has extensive experience in mental health crisis stabilization and response and has worked in a variety of positions with individuals across the lifespan.

  Eligible for 3 hours Certificate of Completion

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• Motivational Interviewing - Oct 7,9,14,16

  • Start
    10/07/2025
  •  
  • End
    10/16/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom webinar
  • Spaces left
    2
  • Registered
    29 registrants

  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. You must be on-camera during the event to receive a certificate of completion.

   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, CAS 
  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 MINT Certificate of Completion, valid worldwide.

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• Streamline your Intake Process with AI

  • When
    10/22/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Registered
    1 registrant

  Register

  This workshop is designed specifically for case managers, program staff, and frontline professionals working in Community Action and related human services fields. It introduces practical, real-world applications of artificial intelligence (AI) that can help reduce administrative burden, improve client engagement, and streamline daily tasks.

  We’ll start by breaking down what AI actually is and the various options that you have at your fingertips. From there, we’ll walk through examples of how tools like ChatGPT and other AI systems can be used in your daily work life. This can range from enhanced referrals and outreach to report summaries and service plans. We’ll also address common concerns around data privacy, bias, and transparency, so staff can make informed decisions about when and how to use these tools.

  This is a hands-on session where attendees will see live AI demos tailored to the case management context. No coding, no theory, just real tools that can be used right now to save time and improve outcomes.

  Key Learning Takeaways

  By the end of the session, participants will:

  • Understand how AI can reduce paperwork and streamline common tasks like documentation, intake, and scheduling
  • Gain exposure to user-friendly tools (like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude and Copilot) that are already being used in other sectors
  • Learn how to identify use cases for AI within their own programs and services
  • Receive a curated resource list for further exploration, including free AI tools and privacy guidelines
  • Leave with a better sense of how to work with AI instead of feeling overwhelmed or replaced by it

  Some possible uses for AI in Human Services Provision

  • Mental health: AI tools can provide virtual therapy and chatbots, aiding in early detection and offering 24/7 support.
  • Elder care: AI can assist with health monitoring, fall detection, and companionship for seniors living independently.
  • Child welfare: AI systems can help prioritize cases based on risk, support investigators, and combat child exploitation online.
  • Welfare services: AI helps automate eligibility screenings and detect fraud, improving the efficiency of delivering benefits.
  • Food security: Using AI to analyze data and predict food insecurity, allowing for proactive outreach to those in need

  PRESENTER  

  Benjamin Richmond is a dedicated nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience advancing mission-driven initiatives and strengthening community-based organizations. Originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and now based in Westminster, Colorado, he has played a key role in developing successful programs and expanding the reach of The Center for Applied Management Practices, Inc., where his work in consulting and software services has empowered nonprofits to improve operations, strategy, and impact.

  
  

  Benjamin is known for his collaborative leadership style, and his ability to turn complex challenges into sustainable solutions. A lifelong learner and advocate for innovation in the nonprofit sector, Benjamin also brings a creative spirit to his personal life, enjoying theatre, comics, board games, and other arts experiences with family and friends. His passion for service, systems thinking, and inclusive community-building continues to drive his professional journey.

  Attendees qualify for Two-Hour Certificate of Completion (COC)

  Event Co-Sponsor

  
  

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• Taming the Dragon: Transforming Community Challenges into Fundable Solutions

  • When
    10/28/2025
  •  
    10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Registered
    Be the first

  Register

  Join us for an engaging virtual workshop that transforms the way you think about program planning and funding proposals. Through interacting with an animated story of a village recovering from dragon damage, you'll discover how to create compelling narratives that connect community needs to measurable outcomes using the Results Oriented Management and Accountability (ROMA) logic model framework.

  This workshop is designed to help nonprofit staff move beyond simply identifying problems to developing systematic approaches that demonstrate clear pathways from resources to community impact. You'll learn how strategic program frameworks serve as visual roadmaps that clarify the "if-then" connections between investments and expected results, making your funding proposals more compelling to potential supporters. By the end of this session, you'll have practical tools for assessing the gap between "what exists" and "what should be" in your community, plus the skills to craft frameworks that align your programs with funder priorities while providing clear measures for success.

  During this workshop you will:

  • Create frameworks that connect resources, activities, and expected outcomes using the ROMA model, moving beyond simply identifying problems to mapping systematic solutions.
  • Develop skills in assessing the gap between "what exists" and "what should be" in your community, then translate those insights into clear pathways from inputs to community impact.
  • Learn how well-crafted strategic frameworks demonstrate clear "if-then" connections between investments and results, making your proposals more attractive to potential funders.
  • Gain hands-on experience creating your own strategic framework based on the workshop's fictional scenario, plus tools you can immediately apply to your nonprofit's specific community needs and programming challenges.

  PRESENTERS

  

  Joanne McLain facilitates stories through writing, art, curriculum design, coaching and counseling, working with people to help them gain skills to create the life they want to live. She is a financial therapist and she designs and facilitates curriculum for online, in person, and blended courses. Her experience includes six years with a rural Department of Human Services, where she was the Deputy Director and managed family programs including services for families involved in child welfare, adult protection, and all benefits programs. She has been a behavioral health counselor in a variety of settings, including community mental health centers, private practice, nursing homes, a volunteer fire department, emergency rooms, and inpatient units. Joanne has a Master’s Degree in Psychology, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Licensed Addictions Counselor and an Accredited Financial Counselor. She also earned a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Innovation from the University of Colorado Denver.

  Frederick Richmond is the founder and President of The Center for Applied Management Practices, Inc., (CAMP). Since its founding in 1996, CAMP has worked with health and human service organizations in all matters of planning, program development, evaluation and research. He was part of the team that created the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) first in Pennsylvania which expanded to the national program known today and was Pennsylvania’s first Kids Count Director. He is the author of two books; Introduction to Results Oriented Management and Accountability and The Accountable Case Manager and was a member of the team that developed the eLogic Model®, a web based software application used in nonprofit and local government human services agencies. He spends his time between residences in Denver and Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

  Eligible for two-hour Certificate of Completion (COC)

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• Verbal De-Escalation

  • When
    11/03/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Spaces left
    50
  • Registered
    Be the first

  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 5 hours Certificate of Completion
  

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• Direct Service Provider Series 2025

  • Start
    11/05/2025
  •  
  • End
    12/03/2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Zoom Webinar
  • Spaces left
    42
  • Registered
    8 registrants

  Register

  

  Join our live, virtual sessions and learn practical therapeutic theory and approaches that you can implement immediately to provide effective and efficient direct care services. Theory and techniques have been successfully modified to fit helping relationships that are not primarily therapeutic in nature. The goal of each workshop is to enhance knowledge, skill and confidence in providing effective, efficient, client-centered care.

  Topics include Direct Professional Success, Self Care, Healing (Trauma) Informed Approaches, Boundaries, and De-Escalation. Please see the learning objectives below for more information. Attendants are encouraged to define their own learning objectives, as well, for example, “I want to … feel better/have more energy at the end of the day… jump to solutions less & allow participants to work harder…use more empathy.”

  This series of four intensive workshops will be conducted in October and November (specific dates TBD). All are four-hour webinars. The goal of each session is to enhance knowledge, skill and confidence in providing effective client-centered care.

  16 hours of intensive personal online training with 6 hours of supplemental virtual training for a total of 22 hours training.

  Learning Objectives

  • Define my Success
  • Understand Self Care
  • Review Best Practices in Case Management/Navigation
  • Understand the Process of Change
  • Learn about the Care Cycle (Intake through Discharge)
  • Learn about Therapeutic Communication
  • Understand Crisis Management
  • Learn about the Care/Treatment Cycle (Intake through Discharge)
  • Apply MI and Other Skills in Work with Clients (Intake through Discharge)
  • Apply Information and Skills to Case Scenarios
  • Plan to Implement Information & Skills on the job

  Supplemental Online Trainings cover the following topics:

  1. Helper as a Person (50 minutes)
  2. Therapeutic Communication (40 minutes)
  3. Multiculturalism (1 hour 10 minutes)
  4. HIPAA (45 minutes)
  5. Mandatory Reporting (45 minutes)
  6. Stages of Change (40 minutes)
  7. Harm Reduction (30 minutes)
  8. Service Planning/Monitoring (40 minutes)
  9. Approaches to Difficult Situations (30 minutes)

  Optional Coaching Sessions - Dates TBD - 9–10:30am 

  Put theory and approaches into direct practice with Coaching. Join others who want to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency by applying Trauma (Healing) Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing & other approaches in this group setting. Melinda will facilitate discussion of relevant direct care topics and will follow your lead. Our goal is to celebrate successes and problem solve struggles with participant scenarios. Available to DSP attendees for an additional fee of  $50 per session or $160 for all four. Registration for coaching opens after DSP ends on June 29.

  Direct Service Provider Certificate: Aspire Training will provide a 22 hours Certificate of Completion for the Direct Service Provider Certification Program, documenting all hours of both in-person and online trainings.

  

  Presenter: Melinda Marasch, LCSW

  Aspire Training & Consulting

  It is my honor to do exciting work with the amazing, compassionate people in the nonprofit world! It has been my life’s passion to help others, first as a psycho-therapist and now as a consultant. I specialize in clinical supervision in the form of training (in-person and online), as well as individual and group sessions. We serve licensed and unlicensed individuals, as well as programs and organizations. I have expertise in many areas, including HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, mental illnesses and much more. I also provide coaching to clients who are motivated to maximize their assets.

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