TRAINING RESOURCES
Asset Based Community Development
The City of Calgary and Tamarack Institute have co-developed a toolkit to support Calgarians in building connected communities. Asset Based Community Development emphasizes the importance of starting with the assets and gifts within community when fostering community connection. The toolkit includes videos, tools, and resources to support people engaging in ABCD work in their communities.
NATURAL SUPPORTS SIMULATION
The Mental Health Natural Supports Simulation is an online interactive experience that raises awareness for the natural support role by building skills and confidence. As a result, we can help children and youth access supports, increase overall community well-being and create a network of caring citizens.
STEPS TO SUPPORT
The Steps to Support website is an online interactive experience that raises awareness and supports readiness for the natural support role. The tool equips individuals with the language of support, builds competencies and confidence, reduces fear around mental health conversations, and removes the stigma associated with mental health concerns. The gap this website will address is ‘I want to help, but I don’t know how’ – the fear and lack of skills when approaching a mental health conversation.
NATURAL SUPPORTS COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (YYC)
The Natural Supports Community of Practice is a group of social service agencies in Calgary who are all actively implementing and learning about the Natural Supports Practice Framework. The Community of Practice is currently comprised of more than 15 organizations. The group meets quarterly to discuss framework implementation barriers and successes, policy, and practice implications and to share natural supports resources. The Community of Practice vision is:
Vulnerable Calgarians have access to a variety of natural supports who help them to achieve wellbeing. As a collective we work towards this vision by:
a) Developing the collective capacity of non-profits in Calgary to enhance the natural supports networks of vulnerable Calgarians to achieve wellbeing through natural supports trainings, capacity building and access to a community of practice.
b) Advocating for systemic changes to better enable the successful integration of the natural supports framework and its principles.
Any individual from organizations in Calgary who have committed to and/or completed the two-part natural supports training can participate in the Community of Practice and join any time. The Community of Practice meets quarterly.
For more information about the work of the Community of Practice or to join, please email Dave MacLean at dmaclean@hullservices.ca.
CENTRE FOR SEXUALITY- NATURAL SUPPORTS SERVICES (YYC)
The Centre for Sexuality is a nationally recognized non-profit organization that provides comprehensive sexual health and healthy relationship education in schools, communities, and workplaces. We bring expertise and 50 years of experience in providing programs and services related to gender identity, sexual orientation, 2S/LGBTQ+ inclusion, gender equity, sexuality, sexual health, healthy relationships, and consent. Our mandate is to use that expertise to build and deliver meaningful programs that change lives, communities, and systems. Our Training Centre has reached more than 55,000 professionals in Alberta and across Canada since 2009. Our interactive, engaging and researched-based workshops can be customized based on your organization’s needs. One of our training opportunities includes training on the Natural Supports Practice Framework:
THE NATURAL SUPPORTS FRAMEWORK TRAINING
The Natural Supports Framework supports clients to rely on, and contribute to, a lifelong network of family, community, and peer relationships. Research suggests that practitioners understand the importance of natural supports but may not effectively engage them without tools and supports. This is a two-part series of online training for professionals working with clients and families. After you take part one, you will engage in 6-8 weeks of practicing a natural supports approach before taking part two.
NATURAL SUPPORTS TRAINING: PART ONE
In this interactive session, you will explore the guiding principles of the Natural Supports Framework and understand ways to integrate this into your own practice, recognizing this may be a new approach to your work.
NATURAL SUPPORTS TRAINING: PART TWO
Reflect on your practice of implementing the Natural Supports Framework and deepen your understanding, then identify how to manage challenges and assumptions. You will leave the session with a plan for continued implementation.
NATURAL SUPPORTS TRAINING: PART THREE (OPTIONAL)
ENHANCING NATURAL SUPPORTS FOR 2S/LGBTQ+ CLIENTS
In this workshop participants will explore the impact of rejection from natural supports on mental health and well-being of 2S/LGBTQ+ clients. Participants will be able to describe the importance of the Natural Supports Framework in their work by analyzing how a status quo approach to service provision can create more vulnerabilities for gender and sexually diverse clients. Utilizing both the Natural Supports Framework and the Family Acceptance Project’s Family Support Model, participants will leave this workshop with the knowledge and skills to enhance natural support acceptance of 2S/LGBTQ+ clients.
For more information about training offerings please email Dori at dpalmiere@centreforsexuality.ca.