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Training

Free, Professional Training

KCSL provides an extensive range of training topics specifically curated for professionals dedicated to working with children and families. Register for one, or more, of our FREE virtual training sessions! Our committed training team is equipped to deliver any of these trainings directly to your organization, ensuring a personalized and impactful in-person learning experience. To sign up for in-person training, fill out the form at the bottom of the page.

Click a category to scroll to that section:

Adverse Childhood Experiences Child Abuse & Neglect Connections Matter Prevention Stronger Families Family Resource Centers

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

ACEs and Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope

2 hours

This training will provide a brief recap of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)  followed by a screening of Resilience, a film that chronicles the promising beginnings of a national movement to prevent childhood trauma, treat toxic stress, and greatly improve the health of future generations. We will end with group discussion on family and community resilience and how we can help support families. This training is the same training as the 60-minute version, except that the video is fully shown in this training and further discussion is provided. This training is approved by KDHE for 2.0 child care licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

An Introduction to Adverse Childhood Experiences

1 hour

Children who grow up in safe, stable, nurturing relationships and environments that foster hope and resilience are better prepared for lifelong health and well-being. The 1998 landmark Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study demonstrated that many adults recall experiences including abuse, neglect, substance abuse and areas of household dysfunction that led to lifelong poor physical and emotional health. Understanding ACEs provides valuable insights, but of equal importance is the ability to consider ways children and families can flourish even in the face of adversity. This training will provide an introduction and overview of the Adverse Childhood Experiences research, discuss how ACEs impact child development and the likelihood of developing negative health behaviors. Participants will brainstorm concrete ways to cultivate relationships and environments that create a positive impact for children and families in our communities, which prevent and mitigate adverse childhood experiences. This training is approved by KDHE for 1.0 child care licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

Becoming Trauma Aware

1.5 hrs

Early experiences, both positive and negative, impact brain development, shape behavior and influence our ability to navigate life. This training discusses neurological and environmental factors driving the behaviors of children who have experienced traumatic events. Participants will take a closer look at how to respond with connection and compassion to their own lived experiences and be further empowered to provide coregulation and healing to the children in their personal or professional lives. Strategies for responding in a trauma-responsive manner will be provided. This training is an introduction to approaching our world through a trauma-focused lens and is appropriate for anyone who interacts with children.

This training is approved by KDHE for 1.5 child care licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

Hope: Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences

1.5 hours

We know the potential effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). The question becomes: what can we do? HOPE is transforming the way we can support children’s growth into healthy, resilient adults. This interactive session will discuss the four building blocks of HOPE (Relationships, Environment, Engagement and Emotional Growth) and work to create action steps to help build skills for resilience. This training is approved for 1.0 KDHE childcare licensing hours; certificates of attendance will be provided to all participants.

*All times are Central Time

Child Abuse & Neglect and Special Offerings

A Shift in Perspective: A Preventative Approach in Supporting Families and Reducing Child Abuse and Neglect

1 hr

What prevention efforts are established that focus on preventing child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place? The answer is very little. This training will focus on primary prevention strategies to empower mandatory reporters, help-seeking agencies, and all individuals who interact with families in their communities to help alleviate the risks of child abuse and neglect before the need of a hotline report. Through a strengthening families framework, emphasizing protective factors, and individual and agency-wide equity awareness, factors that impact child abuse and neglect can be reduced. This training will allow dialogue on this perspective shift and allow for attendees to brainstorm best practices and create achievable action steps to prioritize supporting families in our communities.

This training is interactive. Please plan to engage through conversation, breakout rooms, and the chat box. This training is approved by KDHE for 1.0 child care licensing hours.

Child Abuse and Neglect: Recognition, Reporting & Supporting

1.5 hours

Professionals who work with children, including childcare providers, social workers, nurses, educators and others, are mandated reporters and are required to make a report when they have a reason to suspect child abuse or neglect. This training addresses areas of risk and protective factors, definitions and common indicators of child abuse including shaken baby syndrome, and considerations for distinguishing poverty from neglect. Participants will also learn what to do in the event of a disclosure, how to make a report, what happens after a report is made, and thinking through roles as not just a mandated reporter but also as a supporter of families and how we can support a family before a situation rises to the level of needing a hotline report. This training is KDHE approved for 1.5 hours childcare licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

Kansas Adult and Child Protective Services: Recognition, Reporting, and Supporting

2 hours

Many professionals, including emergency services personnel and medical professionals, work with both adults and children and are considered mandated reporters. This training includes information on both adult protective services and child protective services including areas of risk and protective factors, definitions and common indicators of abuse, how to make a report and what happens after a report is made. Additionally, this training includes information on best practices for supporting families and knowing what community resources exist. This training is presented by both Kansas Children’s Service League (covering child abuse and neglect) and the Kansas Department for Children and Families (covering adult protective services).

This training is NOT KDHE approved for childcare licensing hours. All participants will receive a certificate of attendance for 2.0 hours of training.

This training is unavailable this quarter.

Check back later!

*NEW* Perinatal Substance Use: Recognition, Reporting and Supporting

1.5 Hours

This training is unavailable this quarter.

Check back later!

Connections Matter

Connections Matter in Early Childhood

4 hours

Every day connections are more important than we ever believed. Science tells us that relationships have the power to shape our brains. Relationships help us learn better, work better, parent better. When we experience tough times, relationships help us heal. With each connection, we develop a healthier, stronger community. Connections Matter is a training designed to engage community members in building caring connections to improve resiliency, prevent childhood trauma and understand how our interactions with others can support those who have experienced trauma. Connections Matter explores how the connections we make in life profoundly impact our brain’s ability to grow and our own abilities to cope and thrive. This is done through a training curriculum that educates participants on Adverse Childhood Experiences, trauma, brain development and resilience. Connections Matter ultimately strives to promote the building of more resilient, compassionate and trauma-informed communities – thus allowing all children and individuals to succeed. This training is pre-approved for 4.0 KDHE childcare licensing hours. Training is from 10 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. We will break for a 30 minute lunch from Noon-12:30 p.m.

*All times are Central Time

Connections Matter in Early Childhood | Two-Part Training

4 hours (Day 1=2 hours; Day 2=2hours)

Every day connections are more important than we ever believed. Science tells us that relationships have the power to shape our brains. Relationships help us learn better, work better, parent better. When we experience tough times, relationships help us heal. With each connection, we develop a healthier, stronger community. Connections Matter is a training designed to engage community members in building caring connections to improve resiliency, prevent childhood trauma and understand how our interactions with others can support those who have experienced trauma. Connections Matter explores how the connections we make in life profoundly impact our brain’s ability to grow and our own abilities to cope and thrive. This is done through a training curriculum that educates participants on adverse childhood experiences, trauma, brain development and resilience. Connections Matter ultimately strives to promote the building of more resilient, compassionate, and trauma-informed communities – thus allowing all children and individuals to succeed. This training is pre-approved for 4.0 KDHE child care licensing hours.

You must attend BOTH DATES in order to receive a certificate. Partial credit cannot be provided. Participants will receive a link to part 2 of the training after attending day 1.

Prevention

Darkness to Light Stewards of Children® Sexual Abuse Prevention Training

2.5 hours

Stewards of Children® is an evidence-informed prevention training program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It offers practical prevention training with a conversational, real-world approach and covers the following topics: facts about the problem of child sexual abuse; the types of situations in which child sexual abuse might occur; the signs of sexual abuse so that you might intervene and be able to act responsibly; simple, effective strategies for protecting children from sexual abuse; and the importance of talking about the prevention of sexual abuse with children and other adults. This training is approved by KDHE for 2.5 child care licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

Preventing Infant Abuse with the Period of PURPLE Crying®

1 hour

The Period of PURPLE Crying® is the phrase used to describe the peak time when babies cry more often. Infants who cry a lot or are awake and fussy at night are a source of concern for many parents. Because of the normal increase in crying that occurs in the first months of a baby’s life, parents and caregivers usually have questions. Crying is the most frequently reported trigger for why a parent or caregiver would shake a baby. Early prevention education is the key to decreasing the incidence of shaken baby syndrome and infant abuse. The Period of PURPLE Crying® is an evidence-based shaken baby syndrome primary prevention program created by the National Center on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Learn about the Kansas strategy, how PURPLE is being implemented in hospitals and agencies across the state, how the program was selected and the research behind it. This training is geared toward those professionals who are working with families with new babies, whether through childcare, home visitation programs, health departments, clinics, etc. This training is approved by KDHE for 1.0 child care licensing hours.

Stronger Families

Making the Connection: Strong Families, Strong Businesses and Strong Communities

1 hour

How do we ensure that children have a safe, stable, nurturing environment in which to grow? One strategy is engaging communities to support family-friendly policy and practice changes. Family-friendly workplaces and a family-friendly society are good for children, parents, and elders; they are in the best interest of employers; and, in the long run, they benefit all communities. Based on the latest research and strategies for preventing child abuse and neglect, this training will raise awareness and understanding about the connections between preventing and mitigating adverse childhood experiences, which lead to stronger families and stronger businesses. Specific examples of actions that can be taken will be provided. NOTE: This training is approved by KDHE for 1.0 childcare licensing hours.

*All times are Central Time

*NEW* Understanding Gender & Race: Best Practices for Growth and Awareness

2 hours

This session explores the complex roles of gender and race in shaping individual experiences and societal structures. Through interactive discussions and activities, participants will understand the importance of openly discussing gender and race, intersectionality and the nuances between them, and the effects of stereotypes and biases. We’ll also cover strategies to combat implicit biases and microaggressions. By the end of this training, attendees will have a better understanding of the complexities surrounding gender and race and be better equipped to promote inclusivity and equity both personally and professionally.

This training is not available this quarter.

Check back later!

LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competency: Best Practices for Working with LGBTQIA+ Youth and Families

2 hours

Being culturally competent means learning new patterns of behaviors, research trends, and social cues of a specific community and then effectively applying them into our personal and professional lives. This training covers the experiences, values, and belief systems specific to LGBTQ+ youth and their families. Participants will gain a heightened sense of personal awareness to encourage a safe and positive environment for sexual and gender minorities and will identify achievable strategies and adaptations for increasing confidence when working with LGBTQ+ youth and families. This training is approved by KDHE for 2.0 child care licensing hours.

This training is interactive. Please plan to engage through conversation, breakout rooms, and the chat box.

*All times are Central Time

Family Resource Center Certification Courses

Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support Certification | Two-Day Training

12.5 hours (Day 1=6.5 hours; Day 2=6 hours)

THIS TRAINING IS FOR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS & THEIR PARTNERS.

The nationally adopted Standards of Quality for Family Strengthening & Support are used by public departments, foundations, networks, community-based organizations and parents as a tool for planning, providing and assessing quality practice. The Standards are based on the Principles of Family Support Practice and the Strengthening Families Framework with its research-based evidence-informed 5 Protective Factors. These Standards establish a common language across different kinds of family programs such as Family Resource Centers, home visiting programs and child development programs.

This certification training details how the Standards can enhance work with families. Whether you are setting up a new program or strengthening an existing one, the Standards provide a blueprint for implementing best practice. Certification in the Standards is the first step in becoming part of the Kansas system of the National Family Support Network, a network of Family Resource Centers and affiliates throughout Kansas who are engaged in working together to provide needed resources for families. KCSL coordinates the Kansas Family Support Network and provides this certification training across the state.

This is a two-day training. You must attend both dates to receive certification. 

*All times are Central Time

Reach Out

Contact KCSL’s training team with questions or to request in-person training. We update our training schedule quarterly. If you’re interested in a training that doesn’t have sessions available, sign up for our email updates or check back next quarter!

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