What is PARedu?
No, we did not become a university overnight. However, we are here to educate! PARedu will offer a combination of educational trainings, development programs and informative webinars, organized by PAR, that are available to PAR members and non-members. We believe that training and development for our industry presents prime learning opportunities to expand one's knowledge base in various subjects which in turn strengthens the capacity of your team.
Click here for a list of past trainings.
Interested in becoming a part of the PARedu lineup? Fill out the below PARedu Proposal Form.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Effective Communication Skills for DSPs
Wednesday // April 14
9:00 am // Virtual
Speaker Bio
The ID/A field presents significant communication challenges for DSPs on a daily basis. Unhappy individuals served, parents/guardians, and co-workers call for positive, constructive approaches which are not always a part of these staff’s skill set. This training focuses on teaching various verbal, nonverbal, and social media skills to successfully deal with the various communications scenarios encountered. The training also highlights and emphasizes staff’s role as an effective communicator. In this training, participants will learn:
- Appropriate verbal, non-verbal, and social media communication skills.
- How to defuse a “Crisis” situation.
- The concept of “SHOWTIME!” in creating a positive communication culture.
- How to construct an “OREO” communication message to ensure that positive messages are used when individuals served are the focus.
Who should attend this training: This training is targeted to DSPs, but is also useful to Frontline Supervisors and other staff in a “train the trainer” model.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, FFCRA, and COBRA
Thursday // April 22
11:30 am - 12:15 pm // Virtual
The Federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) expanded what has been referred to as Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) leave. The now voluntary FFCRA leave provides paid sick leave and paid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) leave for COVID related issues. The ARPA also provides for paid Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) health insurance coverage for involuntarily terminated employees who qualify. In this webinar presented by Jeffrey J. Worley, Esq., we will be examining who qualifies for leave and COBRA payments and how to administer them, the timeline for these benefits, and how the benefits are paid.
Ongoing Training Techniques
Wednesday // April 28
9:00 am // Virtual
Speaker Bio
One of the biggest challenges providers face as they work to maintain regulatory compliance is to ensure staff receive continual and ongoing training. The challenge is further compounded because employees are spread across service settings, counties, have differing schedules, and often work alone. Lack of ongoing training can be key reason for citations and regulatory non-compliance. Creativity and innovation are required in order keep staff on their toes and stay in compliance with requirements. In this online interactive session with Sara Sherman, supervisors and leaders in your organization will learn:
- The tools and techniques to implement ongoing staff training, even across multiple and diverse service locations.
- The biological barriers that make learning new information a challenge, and how to surpass those challenges.
- How to create a work culture that expects and strives for compliance.
- Methods to measure and track progress and identify shortcomings for quick remediation.
Behavioral Basics for Beginners – Oh, So That’s Why They Do That
Thursday // May 20
9:00 am // Virtual
Speaker Bio
Human behavior is fascinating! Why do “we” and “they” do the things we do and why do we seem to repeat behaviors that are not productive? Why do individuals act out and why do they engage in self-defeating and sometimes “injurious” behaviors? What causes this behavioral mayhem and can we successfully change these behaviors? YES, WE CAN! This training will shed light on the mystery of human behavior and how you can successfully change it, whether with a child, an adolescent, an adult or even yourself!!!
June - Effective Communication Between Staff and Supervisors
The key to present and future agency success will be how well communications are performed between supervisors, managers and staff. Let’s remember that staff are a key to positive PR with individuals, stakeholders and the community. What they say reflects on YOUR agency’s image and reputation and will directly reflect on how well your supervisory staff are trained in handling interpersonal interactions. In this training, participants will learn:
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How to identify key communication issues using focus groups
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The four steps in fairly and empathetically interacting with stressed/angry staff
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The four steps in objectively and fairly managing and directing staff
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And at least one strategy to use in building a positive workplace culture.
July - Management Skills Basics (Supervisor Bootcamp)
Agencies serving individuals with ID/A remain faced with significant challenges in recruiting and retaining a new generation of staff. National turnover rates range from 40% to 70%, making service continuity and quality difficult at best. Add the ongoing pandemic and we face a crisis of service. A major variable in staff retention is the quality of your frontline supervisors. Do they have the basic skills to help minimize turnover or have they been “thrown” into their positions with little training? In this dynamic and humorous training, staff will learn the basics of supervision, characteristics of positive supervision, how to handle conflicts and behavioral correction, and more.
August - So You Want to be a Leader?
So, you’ve learned First Aid, CPR and all types of rules and regulations along with at least 2000 policies and procedures. Oh, and you now know what an IFSP, IEP, ISP and all sorts of other initials refer to. But if you wanted to move into a leadership position, you probably have no clue what skills are needed. This training focuses on those skills that will assist you now and in the future for developing teams and becoming a LEADER! LET’S START TODAY!!!
September - Quality Customer Experience
A quality customer/stakeholder experience is critical for your agency’s success – how’s yours? Do your staff have the skills to provide that experience? Will families and guardians choose you, and once they do, will they stay? 25% percent of customers do NOT return to do business due to a poor customer experience. Also, there is a direct relationship between an excellent customer experience environment and employee morale, satisfaction and retention. In this training, participants will learn:
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The five reasons a quality customer experience is important
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The four critical characteristics of a quality customer experience
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How to increase self-awareness
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What to DO and NOT TO DO when using electronic communications, and more!
October - Wow, You Do What?
Being a DSP can be the most challenging yet rewarding position you will ever enjoy! Helping the most vulnerable individuals in your state live, learn and grow is truly a humbling and rewarding adventure. How to do this takes skill, dedication and a great sense of HUMOR and HUMILITY! This training will assist you now and in the future to be a teacher, mentor, partner and positive role model for the individuals you serve.
November - What Do You Mean I Am Not in Charge?
Managing is one of the most challenging responsibilities one can have! It seems easy, but when you are in the middle of “managing,” it feels quite daunting. Today, the new generation of employees bring exceptional challenges but also exceptional opportunities to the workplace and to their supervisors. Additionally, 41% of staff say the lack of appreciation and the poor quality of supervision is what drives them to leave their jobs. So how do we deal with the most frequent staff behaviors calling for intervention and what are the specific strategies one can use for each? In this training, participants will:
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Identify the six most frequent staff behaviors calling for intervention
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Learn two specific management strategies.
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Learn two major positive approaches to improve their workplace environment
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And select 5 of 9 elements for consistent behavior reminding.
December - Appreciology
Nearly 40% of staff report leaving their jobs because of feeling “underappreciated!” The old styles of leadership are no longer effective given a new staff generation, new technologies, and new issues never- before encountered. Through a seriously humorous presentation Mr. Speaks and Dr. Greg will discuss the art and science of appreciation which will assist in expanding your LEADERSHIP TOOL KIT!
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