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Emotional Wellness & Elevated Engagement Cohort
Start Date:
Wednesday, September 2, 2026 at 3:00-4:30 PM EST.
Duration:
3 weeks
Format:
Interactive, small-group training
Week 1
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.
Description
Direct Service staff often work in situations that can change quickly and feel unpredictable while supporting people in the community.
This session provides practical strategies to identify and assess risk, maintain both personal and consumer safety, and make informed, real-time decisions.
Participants will explore how history—especially the institutionalization of people with mental health disabilities—and ongoing issues like ableism can shape current practices and decisions.
The session will also discuss how policies (such as required reporting), interactions with systems like law enforcement, and personal identities can affect both staff and consumers. The goal is to help staff balance safety, dignity, respect, and independence while making informed choices in real-world situations.
Objectives
- Understand how history, bias, policies, and systems impact decision-making and outcomes.
- Make informed decisions that balance safety with dignity of risk and consumer choice.
- Recognize safety risks and use situational awareness to respond in changing environments.
Registration
Week 2
Wednesday, September 9th, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.
Description
Independent Living (IL) teams often encounter situations involving strong emotions, frustration, or conflict. This session introduces practical de-escalation strategies that promote dignity, respect, and safety for everyone involved. Participants will develop skills to stay calm, respond effectively, build trust, and reduce the risk of harm in challenging interactions.
Objectives
- Recognize early warning signs of escalation in consumer interactions.
- Apply de-escalation strategies through real-world scenarios.
- Identify when and how to disengage safely or seek additional support based on the situation and individual staff needs.
Registration
Week 3
Tuesday, May 12th, 2026, at 3:00 PM EST.
Description
Work in Independent Living can be meaningful, but it can also be emotionally challenging. Staff may experience stress, frustration, and grief while supporting consumers and navigating complex systems. This session focuses on recognizing emotional impact, building resilience, and using practical self-care strategies to help staff continue their work in a healthy and sustainable way.
Objectives
- Recognize signs of stress, burnout, and secondary trauma in themselves and others, and identify healthy ways to process grief, loss, and strong emotions in a professional setting.
- Apply practical self-care strategies and set boundaries that support well-being during daily work, including building peer support and advocating for personal needs.
- Identify strategies for emotional well-being while working within challenging systems, including knowing when and how to seek support both within and outside the workplace.