Providing Training for Family Preservation, Family Reunification and Evidence Based Child Welfare Programs

The Institute for Family Development offers the following workshops for practitioners. Please contact our Training Division to learn more about scheduling any of our workshops at your agency.

HOMEBUILDERS^® Core Curriculum (4 Days)

This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the program philosophy, program structure and the treatment practice that are fundamental to delivering high quality Homebuilders Family Preservation and Reunification Services.

Motivational Interviewing (2 Days)

This training is based on the internationally recognized work of Drs. William Miller and Stephen Rollnick. Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a client-centered approach to helping clients' better understand and resolve their ambivalence about change. Using Prochaska and DiClemente's "stages of change" to assess client readiness for change, MI offers effective strategies to use within each stage of change to help overcome client resistance, resolve ambivalence, and ultimately/ideally move the client to action. Originally developed to motivate clients with addictive behavior, MI is now also used to facilitate many different kinds of behavioral change for parents and teens including:

Engaging clients in services and reducing no-shows
Providing adequate supervision of children
Learning and using appropriate methods of discipline
Willingness to access and utilize treatment for substance abuse/misuse, sexual abuse, mental health and other concerns
Increasing school attendance
Following service plans, terms of probation, etc.
Complying with parental rules and limits
Working collaboratively with other service providers

Relapse Prevention (1 Day)

This workshop provides an introduction to the evidence-based strategies for addressing and preventing relapse of addictive and other behavioral problems. Based on the work on Alan Marlatt, Ph.D., Michler Bishop, Ph.D. and others, the strategies utilize cognitive/behavioral principles and are congruent with the "Wheel of Change" framework and Motivational Interviewing. Although focused on the principles related to substance use/abuse, the strategies presented also apply well to other types of behavioral and cognitive changes. Participants will receive a variety of tools to use with clients to help them assess their risks, develop individually tailored plans, and implement skills for a more successful future.

Implementing Cognitive and Behavioral Strategies with Clients and Teaching Skills
to Families

(3 Days ~ Delivered as a 3 day workshop, or individual workshops)

This workshop provides more in depth instruction and practice of key cognitive and behavioral intervention strategies. The goal of the training is to help practitioners develop individually tailored and effective cognitive and behavioral interventions that go beyond behavior and chore charts. Participants will practice using Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), reframing and other cognitive strategies and learn to identify common cognitive distortions and how to address these in their work with families. Behavioral strategies addressed and practiced during the workshop include conducting a Functional Behavioral Analysis and developing interventions based on the analysis. Participants will learn to use Positive Behavior Support strategies and to develop both antecedent and consequence based interventions. Participants will learn and practice using the "teaching interaction" to role play and practice a number of skills to teach parents and children (e.g. praise, following instructions etc)

Improving Decision Making Through Critical Thinking (2 Days)

"Critical thinking" refers to the active process of trying to minimize the influence of preconceptions and biases while rationally evaluating evidence, making decisions based on the evidence, and considering alternative explanations. The process of critical thinking involves the careful examination of assumptions, beliefs, evidence, and information that can improve assessments, service/treatment planning, interventions, and ongoing evaluation of clinical and casework practice. This workshop introduces a "critical thinking framework" and specific strategies and tools to encourage critical thinking and improved decision making throughout child welfare practice. This workshop is designed for child welfare/mental health practitioners, supervisors and administrators who make critical decisions regarding children, youth and families.

Working with Families with Domestic Violence (2 days)

This workshop for home-based practitioners and supervisors is based on the curriculum developed by the Institute staff and national experts in the field of domestic violence. The goal of the workshop is to provide participants with a framework for defining and understanding domestic violence, and the tools and skills for assessing domestic violence and developing intervention strategies.

Training for Practitioners