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Training Programs

Dr. Powell’s workshops assist youth service providers & caregivers in working effectively with at-risk (at-promise) youth who are struggling with a variety of issues including  general delinquency, aggressive and oppositional behaviors, depression and anxiety, past victimization and trauma, self-destructive behaviors, harmful sexual behavior problems, etc.

 

Dr. Powell offers trainings for a variety of audiences/ programs:

  • Teachers

  • Mental Health Professionals

  • Parents/ Caregivers

  • Foster Parents

  • Child Welfare Caseworkers

  • Direct Care Residential & Security staff

  • CASA Workers

  • Probation/Parole Officers

  • Police Officers

  • Juvenile Justice personnel

  • Administrators

  • Attorneys

  • Judges


His trainings are multi-sensory and include case examples, handouts, audience participation exercises that are safe & fun, audience questions, and the latest research.

 

 

Kevin’s strengths-based trainings provide information on how to form positive, trusting relationships and create physically and psychologically safe classrooms, homes, and residential programs.  Participants will learn specific strategies for promoting hope, resilience, strengths, and collaboration within youth, families, and providers.

Dr. Powell offers training programs in the following areas:

Dr. Powell offers training programs in the following areas:

  1. STRENGTHS-BASED APPROACH: Working Effectively with At- Risk (At-Promise) Youth & Families

In Schools and Human Service Agencies/ Facilities 

This training will provide participants with a variety strengths-based interventions when working with youth and families with diverse service needs and sociocultural backgrounds. Information about promoting prosocial, non-violent homes, schools, residential facilities, and mental health settings will be highlighted.

Topics will include:
 

·     Defining a Strengths-Based Approach

·     41 strengths-based interventions targeting six areas--Relationships, Optimistic attitude          (hope), Assets, Prosocial behavior, Intellectual growth, and Provider health & well-being

·     Protective Factors commonly associated with 'resilient' youth and adults

·     Info about the Resilience Protective Factor Checklist (RPFC)

·     Strategies for how to engage youth and families in youth services

·     Strategies for how to enhance openness and honesty about sensitive topics

·     Evidence-based support for a strengths-based approach

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Length of training:

·     2 days

·     Full-day

·     Half-day

2. ADVERSITY-RESPONSIVE, RESILIENCE-ENHANCING (Trauma-Informed) SERVICES for Children & Adolescents: A Strengths-Based Approach

In Schools and Human Service Agencies/ Facilities 

 

This training provides information about strengths-based interventions for working effectively with children & adolescents who have been victims of sexual abuse and other types of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). 

 

Topics will include:

  • Necessary Characteristics for ACE-Responsive Service Providers

  • Reasons to remain optimistic when working with youth who have Adverse Childhood Experiences

  • Information about factors that can cause trauma in youth

  • 16 Adversity-Responsive, Resilience-Enhancing Treatment Components organized into six categories--Relationship Development, Stabilization, Rationale/Primer for Services, Assessment, Intervention, and Prevention.

 

Length of training:

  • 2 days

  • Full-day

  • Half-day

3. SEX - OFFENSE SPECIFIC SERVICES: A
Strengths Based Approach

In Schools and Human Service Agencies/ Facilities 

 

This training provides information about strengths-based, sex offense-specific (SOS) interventions for working effectively with youth who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviors.  
 

Topics will include:

  • Adolescents ≠ the no cure model

  • Necessary characteristics of the SOS provider

  • How to begin SOS treatment

  • Conducting a functional behavior analysis 

  • Distinguishing between prosocial & developmentally normal behaviors vs. abusive behaviors

  • Giving neurophysiological explanations in SOS treatment (NEUROPLASTICITY!)

  • Educating youth about healthy relationships & healthy sexuality

  • Strategies for how to increase youth’s openness & honesty

 

Length of training:

  • 2 days

  • Full-day

  • Half-day

Additional topics to customize a training with:

1. Key Components for a HEALTHY, EFFECTIVE YOUTH  
SERVICE ENVIRONMENT

 

This training highlights 18 key components for creating a healthy, effective youth services environment categorized into three areas--Organizational components, Milieu Stability components, and Program Service components. 

2. PREVENTING BURNOUT when working in Human Services


Working with 'at-risk' youth and families can be challenging and emotionally taxing at times. This training provides information about how to take care of yourself & co-workers, and how to maintain your hope and resilience.

3. Critical Thinking about the EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE MOVEMENT

 

This training assists youth service providers in being informed-consumers about the evidence-based practice movement and treatment outcome research.  The importance of incorporating evidence-based PRINCIPLES into youth service programs will be highlighted.

4. Effective BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

 

When youth are chronically disruptive & acting out, what should you do? This presentation provides specific interventions for how to effectively manage disruptive and aggressive behaviors and promote safe, prosocial environments.

5. Strengths-Based Assessment Reports  & Case

Management Plans

 

This training provides evaluators and community supervisors with information for how to interview, assess, and write about youth in a strengths-based manner.

6. Prevention & Proactive Intervention

 

Rather than be reactive and intervene after a problem has developed, we must be proactive and prevention-oriented whenever possible (public health perspective). This training will share key components that can help stop the intergenerational transmission of abuse and promote safe, stable, nurturing relationships that lead to positive life outcomes.

7. Training Orientation for the RPFC (Resilience Protective Factors Checklist)  (Powell, 2015)

This training provides an introduction to how to utilize the RPFC with clients, in order to help identify protective factors linked to resilience.  Content will include defining 'what is' resilience & protective factors; information about individual, family and community protective factors; administration and scoring instructions; and utilizing the RPFC as a clinical tool and a pre and post outcome measure. 

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