Workshops

Your Organized You is designed to help participants become more efficient and organized in their daily work. It explores how human psychology influences job performance, efficiency, and satisfaction. Participants will engage in activities to identify the factors that impact their productivity and will leave with practical tools to prioritize tasks, manage time, and enhance job skills. By the end of the workshop, each attendee will have developed a personalized plan for achieving their most organized and productive self. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Motivational Conversations is designed to introduce you to the principles and techniques of Motivational Interviewing (MI). During this session you will gain an appreciation for how MI can strengthen a person’s internal motivation to make sustainable changes, both in their personal and professional lives. You will learn to create an environment conducive to change by applying the philosophy and spirit of MI, which contrasts with traditional, confrontation-based approaches. The workshop will guide you through the transtheoretical model of behavior change, helping you assess a person’s readiness to change and use appropriate motivational strategies for each stage. Additionally, you will practice key MI micro skills— reflections, open-ended questions, summaries, affirmations, and information sharing— while learning to identify and reinforce change talk, a critical predictor of behavior change. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

RIGHT RESPONSE Recertification is a continuation of the de-escalation training program, RIGHT RESPONSE. It is designed for individuals who have already completed their certification and need to renew it. This workshop revisits the core principles of proactive, holistic, and immediately effective de-escalation approaches, ensuring participants are up-to-date on best practices for crisis intervention. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement and comfortable, stable, and safe footwear (please avoid open toe shoes or shoes with a raised heel). You will be practicing physical safety skills and we want everyone to feel and stay safe during the training. Participants must have a current RIGHT RESPONSE certificate or be within the 3-month grace period for an expired certificate to attend. This recertification is available at the Elements, Elements+, and Advance levels. For more information on eligibility, please contact the Service Alternatives Training Institute.. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

RIGHT RESPONSE Certification is a de-escalation training program designed to equip participants with proactive, holistic, and immediately effective strategies for addressing conflict and crisis. This certification workshop emphasizes preventing the need for physical intervention by focusing on self-care, de-escalation techniques, and managing stress. Participants will learn how to create proactive environments, respond to trauma, and use positive behavior support to guide individuals through challenging situations. The certification is offered at three levels – Elements, Elements+, and Advanced. Elements Certification is a one-day course, while Elements+ and Advanced are two-day courses that must be taken in sequence. We recommend that you wear comfortable clothing that allows for movement and comfortable, stable, and safe footwear (please avoid open toe shoes or shoes with a raised heel). You will be practicing physical safety skills and we want everyone to feel and stay safe during the training. This workshop is free for Service Alternatives employees, foster parents, and SA served clients. For more information on selecting the appropriate certification level, please contact the Service Alternatives Training Institute.. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Meet Your Brain: Appreciating and Navigating Neurodiversity is designed to expand your understanding of the human brain and its complex functions. In this session, you will explore the different types of brain cells and how their communication influences our behavior, thoughts, and emotions. You will also gain insights into the brain’s main structures, their critical functions, and the stages of brain development from birth through adulthood. The workshop will introduce you to the concept of neurodiversity, exploring its causes – ranging from genetics to environmental factors – and providing practical strategies to support and enhance brain function through neuroplasticity. By the end of this workshop, you will be equipped with knowledge and activities to foster cognitive potential in yourself and those you support. Please note there is a required homework component which must be completed and submitted prior to attending. The assignment is expected to take about 1.5 hours. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Deeper Facilitation equips participants to develop facilitation skills, including self-awareness, checking assumptions, and creating a safe and inclusive learning environment. Participants will learn concrete strategies to enhance preparation, engage participants, and navigate challenging situations with confidence. This workshop is designed for individuals who regularly facilitate training sessions or presentations. By the end of the workshop, facilitators will have developed tools to actively foster participation, value diversity within the group, and manage the dynamics of power in the room. It is recommended to complete Dynamic Presentations prior to attending Deeper Facilitation. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Johari Window is designed to help you expand your self-awareness and enhance your interpersonal relationships. In this session, you will explore the Johari Window model, a simple yet effective tool for understanding how you present yourself and how others perceive you. You will practice applying the model to your own experiences, gaining valuable insights into your Blind Spot, those aspects of yourself that others see but you do not. This workshop will guide you in developing a plan to shift these blind spot traits into the other quadrants of the Johari Window, improving your communication, relationships, and leadership effectiveness. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Cognitive Restructuring focuses on identifying and overcoming ineffective thought patterns that can hinder leadership effectiveness. During this session, you will explore the concept of Fundamental Attribution Error, our automatic tendency to explain others’ behavior by attributing it to their internal characteristics while overlooking external factors. By learning to recognize and replace these faulty thought patterns, you will enhance your ability to interact more effectively with others, both in your professional and personal life. The workshop will guide you in developing a plan to avoid this common error in future interactions, resulting in more thoughtful and constructive leadership. This class is intended for Service Alternatives' Employees, Foster Parents, and SA-served Clients. If you are interested in attending the course and do not fall within those categories, please reach out to the Service Alternatives Training Institute. We make every effort to create an environment inclusive to all training participants. If you require additional support or special accommodations to participate, please email us at learn@servicealternatives.com at at least 5 business days before the training and let us know how we can serve you.

Course will introduce participants to effectively using Motivational Interviewing (MI) in their work environments and personal lives.