Keeping current with training requirements
Two years ago the training requirements related to Community Residential Services Businesses went into effect. By law, the settings include all developmental disabilities residential programs including: Supported Living, Group Homes and Group Training Homes, Children’s Licensed Staff Residential, Alternative Living, and Companion Homes.
Upcoming training opportunities
Train-the-trainer Calendar
Courses are available region-wide, monthly. Every other month the Residential 40-hour CORE and Train-the-trainer Continuing Education (CE) series interchange.
Residential 40 hour CORE training – Everett, WA
- Monday - Friday, November 5-9, 2018, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- Location: TBD
- Presenter: Karli Broglio
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Register by 10/31/2018 (Only a few more slots are available for this training)
CE Series – Spokane, WA
- December 10-14, 2018
- Monday: Beyond Mandated Reporting
- Tuesday: NEW Generations Training/Unconscious Bias
- Wednesday: How to Build a Curriculum/Technical support for trainers
- Thursday: Buzz for Adult Learning/Peer Coaching
- Friday: Peer Coaching
- Location: Hampton Inn and Suites (Board Room), 2010 S Assembly Rd. Spokane, WA 99224
- Presenter: Sarah Blanchette
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Register by 11/31/2018 (ONLY 12 slots will be opened for this training)
Technical Support Monthly Webinars
We completed five webinars and received positive provider feedback. The webinars offer:
- Answers to frequently asked questions
- Updates on new training requirements
- Training tips to help you be a better trainer
- Opportunities for live interaction with providers
Register for the next webinar scheduled Monday, October 30 2018, 1 – 3 p.m.
Continuing Education Opportunities
Training Opportunities for 2018
Nicolette Christians and Laura O’Rourke offer a 7 Module Series titled: “Supporting Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Home and Community”. Both Nicolette and Laura are experts in their field and offer a highly adaptable, comprehensive perspective on how to best support individuals with ASD. Each module provides 3 CEs credits (earn up to 21 Continuing Education Units).
Classes begin November, register early!
Training Opportunities for 2019
Starting in 2019, Community Residential Training Program will be offering free CE seminars and workshops. The events are open to trainers and direct support professionals together! These CE Seminars will sponsor a different community instructor. The information will provide essential skills, knowledge and strategies to best support individuals receiving services and staff. The first seminar will begin January 2019. DDA will be hosting Jeri Moomaw. The information will raise our awareness of sex trafficking in our communities and how to protect the people we support as well as staff. Stay tuned for times and location!
Our Team Is Growing - we have two new trainers!
Levi Luft and Reggie Adeogun are the newest members of the DDA Headquarters training unit and are part of the Community Residential Services team! Levi and Reggie will be an active part of our DDA Residential Services Provider community. They both are experienced trainers and have worked in our SOLA programs before joining our training team. Both are excited and working hard to learn all of our training curriculum. Reggie, Levi and Sarah Blanchette will be working hard to develop new training and bring innovative ideas to our Community Residential partners.
Avoiding the Energy Drain
Few trainers end a training day without falling over exhausted. For some of us, it’s a good kind of tired, like the feeling after working out at the gym or running a mile. If we are training more than one time per month we can face a crippling energy drain that impacts our families, friends and even our trainings.
Here are a few strategies to help you manage your energy better.
Training is a marathon, not a sprint
It is important to engage your trainees but it is okay to have a calm start. People need a chance to wake-up in the morning; consider starting introductions with a simple question that will draw people in. Allow people to volunteer their answers as opposed to going around the room. This allows introverts to think about their answers. Another idea is to start with a pre-questionnaire (don’t call it a quiz) or self-reflective activity at the beginning to give people a quiet moment before training begins. Then allow people to share a bit of their refection as a part of introductions.
Take-away: It is okay to pause and get to know your trainees before you launch into material. This will set the tone for the day, help you take a breath before you begin - sip your coffee as you listen to the people, not the tasks ahead of you.
Trainee breaks are not trainer breaks
10am is coming! You are waiting and hoping just like your trainees - you need a break, a cup of coffee and a chance to clear your head. But when you call break three people approach you with questions about the material, where you were trained, do you have a dog? All of sudden your break is gone! Trainee breaks are not your breaks. Interactive training is not only best practice but it gives trainers a much needed breather! When they are engaged in small groups, when a video is playing, this is your break. Also remember to take your lunch! Even if you take only 30 minutes, leave the training room when you can. That way when trainee breaks come you are refreshed and can answer their questions or set up the next activity.
Food = fuel
In order to be able to sustain your training and energy you need food. Feeding trainees in a healthy way will make sure you are also fed in a healthy way. In addition to partaking in the food offered to trainees, consider packing easy snacks like granola bars, water, string cheese, simple fruits. You need to make sure you have something to grab to keep going. The biggest mistake trainers make is forgetting to eat.
Sit while you train
Walking around the room creates great energy and momentum but sitting can also set a tone. Often I will sit on a tall stool in the classroom to indicate to a room that we need to have a more intense discussion, to turn over power to a small group presenting or to indicate that this activity is more casual and I don’t’ have all the answers. Plan sitting into your day. When a video is playing you do not need to be standing.
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