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On-site Individualized Professional Development



IHSA offers onsite and virtual trainings individualized to each agency's needs.  

Step 1: Decide which training topic(s) and the mode of training:

  • LIVE VIRTUAL VIA ZOOM
  • IN-PERSON @ YOUR AGENCY
  • CUSTOM

Step 2: Compete the form to the right -OR- Contact Cathy Welsh (cwelsh@ilheadstart.org) or call 217-381-5007 / 217-241-3511 to secure your training topic and training date.

Step 3: IHSA will conrm your date and time with the training consultant. Once your date and time with the trainer is conrmed.

TRAINING FEE STRUCTURE: (ON SITE & VIRTUAL LIVE)

  • Onsite or Virtual; For onsite training travel is added to the cost
  • Length of training(s) varies - see training description for length of training
  • In-Person & Virtual Live can accommodate between 10 — 500 staff at the same price
  • Agency Members cost per training: cost varies; contact IHSA for details.

Please contact Cathy Welsh - cwelsh@ilheadstart.org or 217-381-5007  for price & details.


CONTACT IHSA FOR YOUR NEXT IN SERVICE TRAINING!


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BECOMING A MORE TRAUMA-INFORMED ORGANIZATION: CREATING CONDITIONS, CONNECTION & COMMUNITY IN YOUR HEAD START/EARLY HEAD START AGENCY (2 HRS)

Day after day, we work with children, families, and staff who have experienced trauma, yet we often do not know how to respond to their needs. As a result, as Head Start / Early Head Start agencies, we need to expand our work to become trauma-informed and resilient organizations''. This training participants will:

  • Unpack key concepts of becoming trauma informed organizations and explore what this really means for initiatives, organizations and agencies serving our communities.
  • Explore how the culture of an organization can care for and support staff while also creating safe, supportive environments for families and children through trauma-informed policies and practices.

Walk away with tools for assessing and integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures and practices, and a deeper understanding of how trauma-informed care leads to more sustainable, resilient organizations.


BELONGING: MAKING EQUITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY THE FOREFRONT OF YOUR HEAD START AGENCY CULTURE (2 HRS)

Head Start was founded with the mission to empower marginalized Americans by partnering with families to prepare their children for success in school and life. Prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our programs and throughout our practices and relationships is essential to keeping the Head Start promise. 

In light of ongoing protests and calls for action against systemic racism, Head Start agencies may need to re-think and re-vamp their individual mission and culture to improve formal diversity and inclusion initiatives. This extremely important training participants that will:

  • Learn about the four components of DEI which include improving engagement, counteracting unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion at work, and fostering an inclusive climate.
  • Explore further these four important components that ensure equity, inclusion and diversity which are the forefront of your workforce culture.

The BRAIN ARCHITECTURE GAME (2 HRS)

The Brain Architecture Game is an experiential learning tool that builds understanding of the powerful role of experiences on early childhood brain development – what promotes it, what derails it, and what are the consequences for society.   Participants in the Brain Architecture Game will: 

  • explore how the first five years of life are critical in building brain development for the rest of our life. 
  • earn about the powerful role of relationships and the impact of toxic stress on brain development
  • build a representation of a child’s brain based on the scenarios provided

The workshop is an experience for HS/EHS staff across departments to have a constructive and respectful dialogue about brain development and how different experiences shape the brain. Programming staff will bring interdisciplinary perspectives to the game, and will recognize the applications of the information learned in their roles as professionals.


FINDING YOUR WHY AND BRINGING IT INTO YOUR LIFE! (2 HR)

This training is inspired by Simon Sinek’s ground-breaking TED talk, which is the third most viewed talk of all time and based on his best-selling book, Find Your Why: A Practical Guide for Discovering Purpose for You and Your Team. This very interactive workshop is designed to walk you and your team, step-by-step, through the process to:

  • Find your WHY,
  • Articulate your WHY and
  • Pinpoint the life experiences that shaped who you are

When we clearly understand our own WHY, we can gain a greater sense of purpose and are able to contribute the best of who we are. When we are at our best, doing work that matters to us, the natural result is greater fulllment. This is not only good for us, but also contributes to the vision, mission and the long-term progress of your Head Start program.


Head Start 101

This training is a comprehensive exploration of the Head Start program. Participants grasp the essence of Head Start's mission and impact. Develop a comprehensive understanding of the historical background, fundamental principles, operations, legislation, and critical importance of the Early Learning Outcome Framework and the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework in the Head Start program. This training is designed to cater to a diverse audience providing participants with a solid foundation. Through a blend of interactive workshop, participants will emerge with a strong foundation to contribute positively to the early care and education and well-being of young children and families in the HS/EHS community.


MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID FOR ADULTS (BLENDED)

LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS, FAMILY  AND NEIGHBORS 

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among adults. 

This is a blended training – Learners complete a 2-hour, self-paced online course, and participate in a 4.5- to 5.5-hour, Instructor-led training. This Instructor-led Training can be: » A video conference or » An in-person class.

You’ll build skills and confidence you need to reach out and provide initial support to those who are struggling. You’ll also learn how to help connect them to appropriate support. 

AFTER THE COURSE, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO:

  • Recognize common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges. 
  • Recognize common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges. 
  • Understand how to interact with a person in crisis.
  •  Know how to connect a person with help.
  • Use self-care tools and techniques.

POVERTY SIMULATION (3 HRS)

A facilitated two-hour immersive experience designed to create awareness among participants of life at the bottom rung of the economic ladder. Participants are assigned to families who do their best to survive week-to-week over a simulated one-month period. 

The simulation presents participants with real-life scenarios and challenges faced by people living in poverty. The exercise is immediately followed by a group debrief, during which participants reflect on the experience, discuss insights, and consider next steps.  


SPARK YOUR MOTIVATION AND TAKE ACTION..NO MATTER HOW STUCK YOU ARE! (2 HRS)

We are each moving forward but we are moving forward very differently as our individual lives and experiences have been drastically changed in the last year and a half due to COVID-19 pandemic. Due to these circumstances, many of us are facing lost inner energy and that special power and passion we used to have inside.

When we are missing that feeling, that spark – there is a atness to our state of being that can quickly take over our power of positive thinking, leaving us unmotivated, tired, stressed, and burned out. Too many times, we underestimate our own power and lose motivation whenever life feels tough and out of control. Life, however, IS within your control. To stay motivated and carry on with life, you need to nd your drive. During this training, your staff:

  • will learn a framework to build their own Motivation Engine to include a motivation checklist guide
  • establishing personal SmartGoals that will immediately spark motivation, renew passion, inspiration AND get life moving in the right direction again!

TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF: SELF-CARE IS NOT SELFISH (2HRS)

Taking care of other people is at the core of our work. It can be exhausting and demanding, and this is even truer during stressful times like the current pandemic. Despite the misleading title, self-care isn’t at all about selshness. Self care is essential so we are able to keep meeting our personal and professional responsibilities. this training will:

address the concepts and impact of compassion fatigue, stress and burnout.
explore skills and strategies for effective time management that will provide best
practices for prioritizing tasks, overcoming procrastination, improving your concentration, and dealing with frequent distractions which all lead to additional stress,
pressure and burnout. Provide concrete steps for developing a professional self-care plan and your team will be armed with a toolbox of ideas to promote their wellness and self-care.


Don't see a topic/content you are interested in? Customize/Build Your Own - IHSA can develop a unique PD event. Price to be determined on content. Contact Cathy Welsh, cwelsh@ilheadstart.org.