Trainings Calendar

1. A View from All Sides: Perspective-Taking to Support Family Engagement (Nov 9)

Description: When interacting with families, finding common ground is critical. Taking multiple perspectives on a situation can help family-facing providers identify a common place where we can join with families. This requires reflecting on all points of view: one’s own, the child’s, and that of their family members. In this webinar, you will learn how to use perspective-taking to connect with families in their child’s care and development. You will learn about family engagement strategies for Perspective Taking that you can immediately apply to your work.

 2. Choosing Your Attitude: Using Strength-Based Family Assumptions (Nov 16)

Description: Providers’ assumptions and emotions can sometimes get in the way of effective engagement with families. For example, when a family doesn’t follow through on a recommendation, the provider can become frustrated. Choosing to adopt strength-based family assumptions supports providers in discovering the strengths of the families with whom they work, which leads to improved relationships. In this webinar, you will learn how to use strengths-based assumptions in our interactions with families. You will learn about family engagement strategies for using the Strengths-Based Family Assumptions that you can immediately apply to your work. 

3. I Hear You: Active Listening to Engage Families (Nov 30)

Description: Learning from families what is happening in their lives is crucial to being able to support them. However, sometimes families don’t come out and tell us what is going on. This is where active listening can help. When we listen to understand what is most important to the family in that moment, we can join with parents in their hopes, dreams, and goals for their child. In this webinar, we will explore some specific listening techniques that can help providers deepen their connections with parents. You will learn about family engagement strategies for listening actively that you can immediately apply to your work. 

4. The Power of Observation: Connecting with Families through the Child’s Behavior (Dec 7)

Description: Connecting with families of young children can be challenging. They are busy, the children are busy, and providers are busy. When providers share with families specific details of what they notice about their child—such as their interests or temperament—they open the door to connecting. In this webinar, participants will learn specific steps for using the child’s behavior to open up communication with the family. You will learn about family engagement strategies for Connecting with Families through the Child’s Behavior that you can immediately apply to your work.

Description: Families show us a wide range of emotions, both positive and negative, as they navigate through their ever-changing experiences (e.g., routines, new skills, discipline, feeding) with their child. The negative emotions that families sometimes show can be challenging for providers to manage. Reframing these emotions as coming from a family’s passion for their child can strengthen our partnerships with families. In this webinar, we will explore ways that providers can value families’ passion. You will learn about family engagement strategies for Valuing Passion that you can immediately apply to your work.