For more information, please contact NRS’ Training and Education Manager at 773-289-1724.
NRS’s Five Step Solution-Focused Crisis Intervention Model
Youth Running from Care
Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum
Keys to Developing an Effective and Sustainable Volunteer Program
Quality Assurance, the "holding on" and "letting go" of volunteers
The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Runaway, Homeless and At-Risk Youth
For more information, please contact NRS’ Director of Programs at 773-289-1728.
- Telephony and Internet Infrastructure Development and Maintenance
- Data Collection, Reporting, Backup, and Maintenance
- Resource Agency Database Development and Maintenance
- Online Services Development and Operations
- Staff Training and Continuing Education Program Development
- Operations Policy and Procedures Development
- Quality Assurance Systems and Protocols
- Marketing and Community Engagement
- Volunteer Program Development and Maintenance
- Human Resource Assessment, Planning, and Management
This training will introduce NRS’ five step, solution-focused crisis intervention model that guides the training of all crisis line personnel. Special attention will be given to challenging calls, including those that require mandated reporting. Participants will practice responding to callers in crisis through small group activities and will "answer" crisis calls through back-to-back role plays.
Workshop includes:
1. NRS’ five step, solution-focused crisis intervention model.
2. NRS philosophy and values.
3. How NRS handles challenging calls, including those regarding abuse and suicide.
4. Role playing typical crisis hotline calls.
By the completion of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the five steps of NRS’ solution-focused crisis intervention model.
2. Demonstrate active listening and the first three steps of the NRS crisis intervention model in a role play.
3. Apply the NRS crisis intervention model to their work with particular clients within the organization.
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This training will explore the reasons youth choose to leave foster or residential situations. A comparison will be made between youth leaving "intact" families and those leaving an out-of-home placement. NRS’ Why They Run research, NRS’s caller trend report, and the Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum will guide discussion of prevention of first-time and future runaway incidents. Staff attitudes and beliefs regarding youth who run from placement will be addressed throughout the training.
Issues covered include:
1. Characteristics of runaways, including early "warning" signs.
2. Characteristics of chronic or repeat runners.
3. Discussion of youth running from intact families versus residential programs.
4. Techniques to de-escalate a crisis situation that could lead to a runaway incident.
5. Steps a guardian or program should take to report and locate a missing youth.
6. Preparations for a youth’s return, including communication skills and meeting the youth’s basic needs.
7. Information and materials from NRS’ runaway prevention curriculum as a method of discussing runaway prevention with youth at-risk and their caregivers.
8. Methods for managing staff and caregiver emotions regarding youth who run from care.
By the completion of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Identify potential "warning" signs of a run incident.
2. Collaboratively develop a plan with their client or child that offers alternatives to running away.
3. Facilitate the reunification process of youth returning to care from a run incident.
4. Identify and discuss emotions triggered by youth who run from care.
5. Utilize NRS’ Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum to minimize the impact of future runaway episodes.
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This hands-on training provides participants with a step by step curriculum from development to implementation. Using a "train the trainer" model, the facilitator will prepare participants to implement the curriculum in their work setting with youth 11-18 years of age. Participants will receive a copy of the curriculum on CD-ROM (English or Spanish) and will work with the facilitator to develop an implementation plan.
The workshop includes:
1. The curriculum development process.
2. An in-depth look at the fourteen modules of Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum, including their relation to runaway prevention and youth at-risk.
3. Opportunities to experience and facilitate the curriculum.
4. Tips for implementation and facilitation.
By the end of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Identify curriculum modules and activities that will benefit their population.
2. Implement the Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum utilizing specific tips to maximize youth engagement.
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This workshop will guide a focused discussion of what constitutes and how to achieve an effective volunteer program. Success in maintaining a corps of diverse, highly-trained volunteers can be obtained through a systematic and analytical approach of recruitment, management, retention and recognition. Participants will take away practical tools that can be tailored to the management of volunteers in their agency.
The workshop includes:
1. Explanation of a systematic approach to volunteer management. Program assessment.
2. Development of a "culture."
3. Elements that comprise strong retention and recognition components of a volunteer program.
By the completion of this training, participants will be able to:
1. List four key components to effective volunteer management.
2. Understand the purpose of and how to utilize on-going, systematic analysis.
3. Identify tools that are useful in volunteer management such as program assessment.
4. Examine how different recognition activities play a role in a sustainable and strong volunteer core.
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This workshop will guide a focused discussion about the best practices in developing and maintaining a quality service-model utilizing volunteers. Attendees will learn what procedures need to be in place before recruitment can begin, as well as what processes are best used in selecting and fostering an excellent corps of volunteers. For example, firing a volunteer isn’t something anyone wants to see happen, but is sometimes necessary to maintain quality. Participants will obtain practical tools that can be tailored to the management of volunteers in their agency.
The workshop includes:
1. Steps to complete before recruitment of volunteers can begin.
2. Best practices in accepting volunteers to the agency.
3. Development of a disciplinary action plan for potential issues.
By the completion of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Determine which elements should be included in descriptions of volunteer roles.
2. Identify areas specific to participant agency where volunteers could be utilized.
3. Understand what the process of accepting volunteers is, why it is important to have, and how to implement.
4. Create a detailed, multi-step plan should termination of a volunteer be necessary.
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This workshop will educate about the Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) of children including prostitution, sexual trafficking, pornography, sex tourism, and other forms of transactional sex where a child engages in sexual activities to have key needs fulfilled, such as food, shelter or access to education. CSE also includes forms of transactional sex where the sexual abuse of children is not stopped or reported by household members, due to benefits derived by the household from the perpetrator. As service providers and community leaders, it is crucial to recognize and combat our stereotypes regarding people engaged in the sex industry and those enduring exploitation. Through experiential activities, video, and discussion, this workshop will define the issue of CSE and ask participants to analyze their own attitudes and beliefs about affected youth. Participants will consider the language used in conversations about CSE and identify factors that put youth at risk. Discussion will focus on the complex challenges to creating effective program initiatives and providing services to victims. Finally, participants will learn about the programs that are addressing this issue nationwide.
The workshop includes:
1. Definitions of CSE.
2. Pathways and precursors to CSE.
3. Understanding the impact of CSE.
4. Victim identification and engagement.
5. Effective service delivery to CSE victims.
By the completion of this training, participants will be able to:
1. Define terms needed to discuss and understand issues of CSE.
2. Understand various risk factors that make youth vulnerable to exploitation.
3. Understand the impact of trauma and exploitation on youth, as well as the challenges to exiting the situation.
4. Learn potential warning signs of CSE and strategies for victim identification.
5. Identify programs throughout the United States that provide services to CSE victims.
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