Professional Development Topics Options
(categorized by resource or general focus)
We offer various topic options for professional development, and this webpage specifically, lists the options categorized by general focus and based on our resources. If you are interested in scheduling a training with us, please fill out this request form. You can also reach out to Debi Mahler, Director of Professional Development, at [email protected] or (610) 574-6141.
If you would like to see our topic options categorized by the age groups we support, click here.
Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program
Overview of the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program
This training will discuss how the DECA Program, a strength-based assessment and planning system, can support participants in promoting resilience in and supporting the social-emotional development of young children (4 weeks to 5 years old). Participants will learn how to understand DECA results and reports, and how to use them for planning.
Refresher on the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) Program
Customized to meet the needs of your team, this training can offer a review of the DECA Program and a deeper focus on a few areas requiring more attention. Issues around understanding results and reports can also be discussed.
Supporting Staff with DECA Program Implementation
This unique, eight-part training is designed for those in a role of providing coaching or support to team members implementing the DECA Program. Participants will walk away from this experience with knowledge, tips, and tools that they can share with team members. A prerequisite for this training is a basic understanding of the DECA Program, which participants may have from attending a past training or from thoroughly reading DECA Program resources.
Overview of the DECA-C (Clinical)
This training provides a foundation for using the DECA-C (Clinical), a behavior rating scale that assesses both protective factors and behavioral concerns for young children (2-5 years old). Participants will learn how to use the DECA-C (Clinical) as part of the overall DECA Program and as a stand-alone tool. It’s important to note that individuals using the DECA-C must meet Level B User Qualifications.
FLIP IT Strategy for Behavior Concerns and Conflict
Addressing Behavior Concerns for Young Children Using the FLIP IT Strategy
This training will introduce the FLIP IT strategy, a four-step process for addressing behavior concerns for young children (3-8 years old). The four steps are embodied in the FLIP mnemonic, which stands for Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, and Prompts. The FLIP IT strategy can help reduce behavior concerns while also supporting young children’s social-emotional development.
FLIP IT Train-the-Trainer Course
This course is for individuals in the role of providing training and technical assistance to others on use of the FLIP IT strategy with young children (3-8 years old). Through six classes with the author of FLIP IT, Rachel Wagner, participants will experience and practice the FLIP IT strategy to gain the competency to teach and train others on it. Participants who graduate from the course will walk away with the content, skills, and resources necessary to deliver a successful FLIP IT training.
Take Care of You, Take on Behavior Concerns
This training will focus on the critical connection between adult well-being and its impact on the capacity to support young children with behavior concerns. Participants will explore behaviors associated with adult resilience and learn simple strategies for promoting their own resilience and social-emotional health. With this adult resilience mindset in place, participants will then learn how to use the FLIP IT strategy, a four-step process for addressing behavior concerns for young children (3-8 years old). The four steps are embodied in the FLIP mnemonic, which stands for Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, and Prompts. The FLIP IT strategy can help reduce behavior concerns while also supporting young children’s social-emotional development.
Conquering Conflict with Staff, Families, and Yourself Using the FLIP IT Strategy
This training will introduce the use of the FLIP IT strategy to work through conflict with staff, with the parents and families of children in your care, and even with yourself. What was originally created for use with young children (3-8 years old) can now be adapted for use with adults. Participants will learn how FLIP IT can become a go-to strategy that will create healthy habits for coping and problem-solving during challenging moments.
Your Journey Together / Family Resilience
Promoting Resilience and Social-Emotional Health in Families
This training will discuss how to create strong, positive, supportive relationships between programs and families. Participants will learn to support family partnerships by (1) honoring families’ values, cultures and emotions, (2) creating a mutual goal of supporting children’s resilience, and (3) promoting the resilience of adults within the family as a pathway to family partnerships. Sometimes values, cultures, and emotions collide and create a strained relationship. With a focus on resilience and protective factors, this training will help participants better understand how to give one of the best gifts we can give children: a positive partnership between home and school.
Overview of the Your Journey Together (YJT) Parenting Curriculum
This training will provide an overview of this strength-based curriculum designed to promote resilience in and support the social-emotional health of young children and their families. The curriculum is based on 29 stepping-stones; 10-15-minute lessons that can be used in the context of work with families both in home visiting and group settings. YJT is a great resource that complements the DECA Program, and it can also be used independently.
Building Your Bounce / Adult Resilience
Promoting Adult Resilience: Building Your Bounce
This training provides an educational and inspirational message for professionals working with young children (4 weeks to 5 years old). Using the Devereux Adult Resilience Survey (DARS), this training offers a fun way for caregivers to recognize the importance of their own resilience and social-emotional health and how they relate to their ability to provide quality care for young children. Get ready to reflect, laugh, and have fun!
Building Your Bounce Train-the-Trainer Course
This course is for individuals in the role of providing training and technical assistance to others on the topic of adult resilience/staff wellness. Through six classes with co-author of Building Your Bounce: Simple Strategies for a Resilient You, Dr. Nefertiti Poyner, participants will gain the competency to teach and train others on the impact adult resilience/staff wellness has on young children. Participants who graduate from the course will walk away with the content, skills, and resources necessary to deliver a successful Building Your Bounce training.
Resilient Leadership: Creating a Culture of Resilience and Wellness
This training will provide leaders with an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a resilient leader and how to build the capacity of their staff. Participants will use the Devereux Resilient Leadership Survey (DERLS) to reflect on key behaviors of a resilient leader. This training provides many opportunities to learn and develop meaningful, resilience-building strategies for staff. Additionally, participants will reflect on their own resilience and explore strategies for building their own capacity.
Take Care of You, Take on Behavior Concerns
This training will focus on the critical connection between adult well-being and its impact on the capacity to support young children with behavior concerns. Participants will explore behaviors associated with adult resilience and learn simple strategies for promoting their own resilience and social-emotional health. With this adult resilience mindset in place, participants will then learn how to use the FLIP IT strategy, a four-step process for addressing behavior concerns for young children (3-8 years old). The four steps are embodied in the FLIP mnemonic, which stands for Feelings, Limits, Inquiries, and Prompts. The FLIP IT strategy can help reduce behavior concerns while also supporting young children’s social-emotional development.
Conquering Conflict with Staff, Families, and Yourself Using the FLIP IT Strategy
This training will introduce the use of the FLIP IT strategy to work through conflict with staff, with the parents and families of children in your care, and even with yourself. What was originally created for use with young children (3-8 years old) can now be adapted for use with adults. Participants will learn how FLIP IT can become a go-to strategy that will create healthy habits for coping and problem-solving during challenging moments.
Overcoming a Crisis of Confidence
Capacity-building work can be as heartbreaking as it is rewarding. This training is for infant and/or early childhood mental health consultants, educational coaches, and leaders who are committed to building the capacity of professionals working with young children and families. Participants will explore the fears, negative self-talk, and imposter syndrome that creates a crisis of confidence. It is imperative that we take time to name the struggles we face, normalize them, and nurture ourselves before we seek to nourish those we serve. This training is a deeply reflective and interactive experience, where participants will have an opportunity to connect with other capacity-builders and take the time we seldom give ourselves to regroup and regain our confidence.
Resilient Leadership
Resilient Leadership: Creating a Culture of Resilience and Wellness
This training will provide leaders with an opportunity to reflect on what it means to be a resilient leader and how to build the capacity of their staff. Participants will use the Devereux Resilient Leadership Survey (DERLS) to reflect on key behaviors of a resilient leader. This training provides many opportunities to learn and develop meaningful, resilience-building strategies for staff. Additionally, participants will reflect on their own resilience and explore strategies for building their own capacity.
Overcoming a Crisis of Confidence
Capacity-building work can be as heartbreaking as it is rewarding. This training is for infant and/or early childhood mental health consultants, educational coaches, and leaders who are committed to building the capacity of professionals working with young children and families. Participants will explore the fears, negative self-talk, and imposter syndrome that creates a crisis of confidence. It is imperative that we take time to name the struggles we face, normalize them, and nurture ourselves before we seek to nourish those we serve. This training is a deeply reflective and interactive experience, where participants will have an opportunity to connect with other capacity-builders and take the time we seldom give ourselves to regroup and regain our confidence.
Promoting Resilience and Social-Emotional Health
Promoting Resilience and Social-Emotional Health in Infants and/or Toddlers
This training will introduce resilience theory and its link to the social and emotional health of infants and toddlers (4 weeks to 36 months old). Participants will learn about the importance of quality environments and be introduced to strategies that will enhance those environments in which children spend their time. Additionally, this training will emphasize a planning process that focuses on children’s strengths. The topic of adult resilience and its connection to providing quality care for young children will also be discussed.
Promoting Resilience and Social-Emotional Health in Preschoolers
This training will introduce resilience theory and its link to the social and emotional health of preschoolers (3-5 years old). Participants will learn about the importance of quality environments and be introduced to strategies that will enhance those environments in which children spend their time. Additionally, this training will emphasize a planning process that focuses on children’s strengths. The topic of adult resilience and its connection to providing quality care for young children will also be discussed.
Promoting Resilience and Social-Emotional Health in Families
This training will discuss how to create strong, positive, supportive relationships between programs and families. Participants will learn to support family partnerships by (1) honoring families’ values, cultures and emotions, (2) creating a mutual goal of supporting children’s resilience, and (3) promoting the resilience of adults within the family as a pathway to family partnerships. Sometimes values, cultures, and emotions collide and create a strained relationship. With a focus on resilience and protective factors, this training will help participants better understand how to give one of the best gifts we can give children: a positive partnership between home and school.
Promoting Adult Resilience: Building Your Bounce
This training provides an educational and inspirational message for professionals working with young children (4 weeks to 5 years old). Using the Devereux Adult Resilience Survey (DARS), this training offers a fun way for caregivers to recognize the importance of their own resilience and social-emotional health and how they relate to their ability to provide quality care for young children. Get ready to reflect, laugh, and have fun!
Infant/Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation
Overcoming a Crisis of Confidence
Capacity-building work can be as heartbreaking as it is rewarding. This training is for infant and/or early childhood mental health consultants, educational coaches, and leaders who are committed to building the capacity of professionals working with young children and families. Participants will explore the fears, negative self-talk, and imposter syndrome that creates a crisis of confidence. It is imperative that we take time to name the struggles we face, normalize them, and nurture ourselves before we seek to nourish those we serve. This training is a deeply reflective and interactive experience, where participants will have an opportunity to connect with other capacity-builders and take the time we seldom give ourselves to regroup and regain our confidence.
Overview of the DECA-C (Clinical)
This training provides a foundation for using the DECA-C (Clinical), a behavior rating scale that assesses both protective factors and behavioral concerns for young children (2-5 years old). Participants will learn how to use the DECA-C (Clinical) as part of the overall DECA Program and as a stand-alone tool. It’s important to note that individuals using the DECA-C must meet Level B User Qualifications.
Healing from Trauma and Building Resilience in Early Childhood Settings
Healing from Trauma and Building Resilience in Early Childhood Settings
This training will raise awareness around what trauma is and what the impact of trauma and toxic stress looks like in young children and adults. Participants will learn about the impact of childhood trauma and toxic stress on brain development and behavior, explore specific trauma-sensitive approaches and strategies, and gain an understanding of how resilience-building practices support healing. This training will also discuss the well-being and resilience of adults who care for young children who have experienced trauma and toxic stress.
