Our Natural Supports training is delivered in three parts. First, our facilitators work with organizational leaders to increase clarity and awareness on the importance of natural supports.

Workshops

Natural Supports for Leadership

This short session can be provided to organizations who are looking for clarity and to assess organizational readiness to implement a natural supports approach.  This session is meant for leadership, board members and management. The goal of this session is to increase awareness on the importance of natural supports and to explore how organizations can begin to implement this approach in their work.

Workshop Duration: 1.5 hours

Audience: Leaders

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 three-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.

Workshop Duration: 4 hours

Audience: Professionals working with families

6-8 Weeks of Practice: Teams will work together to start implementing a natural supports approach. They will read through the Practice Framework provided and meet with their work partners to reflect on the principles they are working on implementing. Participants will bring back their learnings, successes, challenges and questions to the group for Natural Supports Part 2.

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.

Workshop Duration: 3 hours

Audience: Professionals working with families

Natural Supports Training – Part Three

Enhancing Natural Supports for 2SLGBTQ+ Clients 

In this workshop participants will explore the impact of rejection from natural supports on mental health and well-being of 2SLGBTQ+ 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 2SLGBTQ+ clients.

Workshop Duration: 3 hours

Audience: Professionals working with families

Book a Workshop

Contact us to book this workshop, or to discuss customized training for your organization.

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Since 2009, our Training Centre has offered a full-range of workshops tailored for professionals working in all sectors. Whether you’re looking to support diversity and inclusion in your workplace, build comfort and skill in addressing topics around sexual health with your clients, or navigate conversations with your kids—we’ll work with you to develop a training plan that is right for you.