WJCS Trainings for Schools, First Responders, Youth Organizations, Community Partners, Parents, Legal Experts, and Public Interest Groups

Westchester Jewish Community Services (WJCS) is the largest provider of licensed outpatient community-based mental health services and one of the largest human service organizations in Westchester. WJCS professionals offer a variety of trainings to educate school staff, law enforcement and other first responders, youth organizations, community partners, parents, legal experts, and other public interest groups about mental health, trauma, vicarious trauma, LGBTQ+ issues, domestic violence, crisis counseling, and mindfulness. Our trainings include:

SUPPORTING ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH (2 hours)

One in 5 adolescents suffer from a mental illness and adolescent depression has increased 41% between 2006 and 2014 in the U.S. alone. This workshop will:

• Educate participants about Adolescent Development and the warning signs and symptoms of mental disorders
• Help participants differentiate between ‘typical’ adolescent development and emerging or existing mental illness
• Provide tools/strategies to enable individuals to support these youth and refer to appropriate professional help
• Destigmatize mental illness

Please contact Jessica Sansone at [email protected] for more information. Learn more about our Mental Health First Aid Trainings here.

TRAUMA 101 (1 Hour)

This workshop introduces participants to the impact of trauma on individuals using the CDC- Kaiser research study, ACES, as a foundation. This study notes the high prevalence of trauma in the general population and the correlation of trauma exposure to negative health outcomes across physical, social and emotional functioning.

Understanding of how trauma may manifest in various settings is discussed, as well as the impact of the pandemic on individuals. It helps individuals to be sensitive to behaviors that may be caused by trauma and for organizations to become trauma-Informed. Attendees develop an understanding of the impact of trauma and strengthen their trauma sensitive response repertoire.

*The above workshop can be modified to a specific audience:

• “Trauma-Informed Practices for Teaching and Supporting Students”
• “Trauma-Informed Practices for Teaching and Supporting Students Through the Pandemic”
• “Trauma-Informed Practices for Staff Re-entering the Workplace”
• “Trauma Trainings for Essential Workers”
• “Trauma Trainings for Community Partners, Legal Experts, and Public Interest Groups”

For school and parent trainings, please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.

For trauma trainings for essential workers, public interest groups, community partners, and legal experts, please contact Liane Nelson, Ph.D. at [email protected].

TRAUMA INFORMED PRACTICES FOR TEACHING AND SUPPORTING STUDENTS (1 Hour)

This above workshop can be modified to include additional supports for school staff. It will help staff to be sensitive to behaviors that may be caused by trauma and support schools to become ‘Trauma Informed’. It will cover all the same information as ‘Trauma 101’.

Please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.

VICARIOUS TRAUMA (1 Hour)

Secondary or vicarious trauma refers to the duress an individual experience when working with individuals who themselves are undergoing significant stress. Those working with individuals who are constantly under stress can experience symptoms of trauma. Left untreated, secondary trauma can cause significant disruption to the lives of individuals and detract from their ability to conduct their professional responsibilities. Secondary trauma training provides techniques to deal with the emotional toll of an individual’s job, recognize the warning signs for those experiencing trauma and offers resources on where to go for help.

Please contact Liane Nelson, Ph.D. at [email protected] for more information.

MINDFULNESS AND SELF-CARE (1 Hour)

This workshop demonstrates the benefits of mindfulness and demystifies it. Participants learn and explore mindfulness exercises that will enable them to self-regulate and balance their lives and work.

Please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.

YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (4.5 hours virtually or 6.5 in-person)

Youth Mental Health First Aid® is the help offered to a young person experiencing a mental health challenge, mental disorder or a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate help is received or until the crisis resolves. Mental Health First Aid® does not teach people to diagnose or to provide treatment.

This evidence-based course is designed for adults who regularly interact with adolescents (teachers, school staff, coaches, youth group leaders, parents, etc.) and introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents while educating them on typical stages of adolescent development. Most importantly, the course teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.

This course can be offered as a ‘Blended Learning’ – this allows staff to do 2 hours of pre-work and receive the remainder of the training virtually in 4.5 hours.

Please contact Jessica Sansone at [email protected] for more information. Learn more about our Mental Health First Aid Trainings here.

ADULT MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (6.5 hours virtually or 8 in-person)

Similar to Youth Mental Health First Aid but targeted to supporting Adults experiencing mental health challenge, mental disorder or a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate help is received or until the crisis resolves.

This course can be offered as a ‘Blended Learning’ – this allows staff to do 2 hours of pre-work and receive the remainder of the training virtually in 6.5 hours.

Please contact Jessica Sansone at [email protected] for more information. Learn more about our Mental Health First Aid Trainings here.

TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (90 minutes each or six sessions of 45 minutes each.)

is a new peer-to-peer training program specifically designed for teens in grades 10-12. This program was developed in response to critical mental health needs of young people — half of all mental illnesses develop by the age of 14 and suicide is one of the leading causes of death among teens — as well as research indicating that young people have a preference for sharing problems with peers, but that their friends do not always have the knowledge or skills to help. As with all MHFA training, TMHFA is an evidence-based training program for teens in grades 10-12. It teaches young people how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends. It also gives them the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and get a responsible and trusted adult to take over as necessary. This course is designed to be delivered in schools or community sites by a trained TMHFA Instructor in three interactive classroom sessions of 90 minutes each or six sessions of 45 minutes each.

Please contact Jessica Sansone at [email protected] for more information. Learn more about our Mental Health First Aid Trainings here.

PARENTING WITH LOVE AND LIMITS

This workshop explores how stress and trauma effect behavior and how parents can improve communication with their children while fostering resilience. Learn how to set limits, stay calm, and get on your child’s level. Empower yourself to parent with love and feel more confident communicating with your child.

Please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.

PARENTING: ONE STEP AT A TIME

Learn hands-on approaches to parenting while learning what positive parenting is all about. Add to your “toolbox” with new parenting skills to encourage desired behavior and see more positive outcomes in the future.

Please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.

MINDFUL PARENTING

This workshop for parents of teens but can be modified for younger children. It teaches parents and caregivers mindfulness tools and coping strategies to use particularly through COVID 19. They include The Three-Minute Breathing Space, Mindful Listening and Communication, and Gratitude. It explores why and how mindful parenting can help by acknowledging grief, loss of routine, and limited socialization and emphasizes Self-Care, Mindful Self Compassion and Loving- kindness for Parents.

Please contact Caitlin Leon at [email protected] for more information.