Please note: the ACDS office will close December 18 at 4:00pm and reopen January 4, 2021 at 8:30am. We wish you all a safe and happy Holiday season. |
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Training and Development Update |
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ACDS Training and Development awarded Community Capacity Building Award of the Month for July 2020
St. Paul Abilities Network has recognized ACDS Training and Development’s online webinars for disability workers with the “Community Capacity Building Award of the Month” for July 2020. This award recognizes outstanding activities, which draw the broader community into the lives of clients and help to facilitate and foster better connections between both. We thank them for this recognition.
ACDS Training and Development continues to expand its online offerings, delivering informed, relevant, and timely courses. This includes core training programs, as well as periodic webinars in response to emerging issues and needs.
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Upcoming Training Sessions
Virtual Non-Violent Crisis Intervention Prevention (NVCI)
Via Zoom | January 13th and January 14th, 2021 (9am to 12pm both days)
Learner materials will be sent to the organization after confirmation of registration. Learners must complete the two sessions and pass the tests to receive their Blue Card certification.
This training is offered virtually and does not feature physical restraints. It is ideal for staff who do not require knowledge of restrictive interventions in their de-escalation techniques. This training meets standards for CET purposes.
Training covers: Prevention & deceleration strategies; decision-making related to risk associated with crisis behaviour; and postvention approaches.
Facilitator: Rita Delfing
Cost:
ACDS Members: $52.50 + GST per learner
Non-members: $75 + GST per learner
The registration form allows for up to 5 learners per organization to register. There is a 15 registrant capacity for the session.
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Virtual Outcomes Training
Via Zoom | January 21 and January 22, 2021 (9am to 12pm both days)
This course aims to support frontline workers by increasing clarity around how their work relates to their organization's mission and vision. A clear recognition of the link between their work and the achievement of outcomes leads to more effective practice in community disability services.
Registrants will receive an invitation with a link to the virtual classroom following the confirmation of registration.
Facilitator: Jessy Cheung
Cost:
ACDS Members: $35 + GST per learner
Non-members: $50 + GST per learner
Subsidy support from the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program has been applied to these rates.
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Virtual Facilitating Meaningful Change with Outcomes
Via Zoom | February 4 and February 5, 2021 (9am to 12pm both days)
This course is designed for staff in leadership roles leading teams within organizations, or who are in roles responsible for planning. Workshop participants will increase their understanding of outcomes—from defining them to planning them, to measuring and evaluating them. Registrants will receive an invitation with a link to the virtual classroom following the confirmation of registration.
Facilitator: Jessy Cheung
Cost:
ACDS Members: $50 + GST per learner
Non-members: $71.50 + GST per learner
Subsidy support from the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program has been applied to these rates.
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Foundations in Community Disability Studies (Train-the-Trainer) - Training for Tutors
Via Zoom | Janurary 27-29, 2021 (9am to 12pm each day)
This is training covers the Foundations in Community Disability Studies training for new tutors.
As this training is for tutors who will deliver training to staff within their organizations, registrants are required to provide contact information of a reference (ideally a person who supports the registrant in being a tutor)and respond to questions on educating others. This information is used to determine the fit of registrants for this training.
Registrants will receive an invitation with a link to the virtual classroom following the confirmation of registration. This training has a capacity of 10 learners.
Facilitator: Tacey Murphy
Cost:
ACDS Members: $150 + GST per learner
Non-members: $215 + GST per learner
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Thank You to the Standards Review Committee
ACDS is grateful to everyone who served on the Standards Review Committee. As we had hoped, participants contributed their experience, knowledge, and enthusiasm for the sector and for Accreditation to advise on the draft standards that were created by our external consult.
The next steps in this process are
- review the method for rating the indicators and standards
- write up the introductions to each standard
- develop the tools needed to record survey evidence
- train our surveyors
- finalize the strategies to implement the new CET Standards and to support the service providers who will be using this version of the Standards in their next survey
We are excited that some service providers are already showing an interest in how the revised CET Standards are going to look and when they will be able to access them for their own upcoming surveys.
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Thanking CET Survey Participants with Certificates
For the past several years, ACDS has given certificates to individuals accessing service who have participated in CET surveys. It is our way of letting them know that we value their time and the information they share with us.
Starting in 2021, as part of the site survey process, ACDS will supply each service provider going through accreditation with blank certificates that they can add the participants’ names to and pass on as recognition of the participants’ cooperation with us. We are choosing this method rather than pre-preparing the certificates before the survey so that last-minute changes in participants are not missed.
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Congratulations to Alberta’s CET Accreditation Level 2 Service Providers
Developmental Disabilities Resources Centre (DDRC)
DDRC achieved Accreditation Level 2 following its August 2020 survey and met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation and for Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities.
Commendations for DDRC included:
- the comprehensive training given to individuals accessing service around rights, responsibilities, abuse, positive relationships, and communication skills
- the orientation and ongoing training given to staff
- the Client Voice Committee’s success in advocating for issues that affect themselves, DDRC’s clients, and other people
- its commitment to honouring the individuals’ rights
- its system for monitoring and tracking incidents and for ensuring that risks and incidents are reviewed and managed
- its commitment to the overall health and safety program for staff and individuals
Independent Counselling Enterprises (ICE)
ICE achieved Accreditation Level 2 in all four of its regions following their surveys in July 2020. Each regional office also met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation and Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities. The survey team commended ICE for its overall level of consistency in service provision and staff support across all regions.
Commendations for ICE included:
- finding unique ways to help individuals to access new and fun activities despite pandemic restrictions
- creating innovative ways for individuals to connect with family members during the restrictions
- having a highly successful Health and Safety Program for staff and individuals
- using a multi-disciplinary team to ensure continuity when addressing complex behaviour support across all programs
- making its Employee and Client Assistance Team (ECAT) easily accessible to staff and individuals
- taking such care in matching individuals with their placements that many become long-term relationships
MirkaCare Services Inc.
MirkaCare achieved Accreditation Level 2 following its August 2020 survey and met the requirements for the Complex Support Needs Designation, Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities, and Services for Children with Disabilities.
Commendations for MirkaCare included:
- starting the Employment Recognition Committee, which acts as a liaison between management and staff and acknowledges employee contributions for excellence in service
- having a training initiative called Emotional Regulation that is beneficial to both staff and individuals in terms of trust and understanding of issues, and is completed by individuals and staff at the same time, which has resulted in building trust with the team
- accepting into service exceptionally complex individuals and building into its strategic goals a way to expand services to accommodate more individuals with multiple disabilities
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Edmonton
YWCA achieved Accreditation Level 2 following its Standards Verification in November 2020 and it has met the requirements for the Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities indicators and for the Services for Children with Disabilities indicators.
Commendations for YWCA included:
- developing exceptional transitional plans for individuals
- prioritizing inclusiveness and diversity resulting in a high level of expertise being provided when serving individuals of different backgrounds, experiences, and cultures
- making an extra effort when matching individuals to the right homes and staffing models, which is key to the individuals’ success
- having many support homes that have also become natural supports to children and adults as the contracted support workers build life-long relationships with them and their natural families
Rehoboth Christian Ministries
Rehoboth achieved Accreditation Level 2 in all five of its regions following their surveys in August 2020. The Edmonton, Calgary, Northwest and South regions also met the requirements for Respite for Children and Adults with Disabilities. South region also met the requirements for Services for Children with Disabilities.
Commendations for Rehoboth included:
- providing consistent supports across the five regions (e.g., the same information, the same access to supports, the same processes, the same responses to CET queries)
- having Employee WebApps (EWA), which staff say is easy to use when accessing information and training
- instilling great confidence in the families of individuals accessing service by keeping guardians involved and informed
- promoting staff growth within their roles
- having a comprehensive and dynamic Sustainability Plan
- ensuring staff have a thorough understanding of how to identify and respond to unanticipated situations and behaviours of concern
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Congratulations to CET Accreditation Level 1 Service Providers
Congratulations to the following service providers for attaining CET Accreditation Level 1 in the last quarter. Your accomplishments are appreciated by ACDS and the individuals who access your services.
- Ability Development Services by Bea Fisher
- Beehive Support Services Association
- Calgary Alternative Support Services Inc. (CASS)
- Crowsnest Community Support Society
- L’Arche Association of Edmonton
- Southern Alberta Society for the Handicapped (SASH)
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Trauma Informed Care Training with Dr. Karyn Harvey
Dr. Harvey will be leading 3 Trauma informed training sessions:
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Trauma Informed Care: an introduction to trauma and trauma informed approaches to support clients. January 12 and 13, 2021 from 10:00 am to noon each day. Four hours of training divided over 2 days, participants must attend both days. COST $20.00 Trauma Informed Care Registration
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Trauma Informed Management: for those who want to build a trauma informed approach into their organizational culture, policies, and practice. Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021. 10am to noon. COST $20.00 Trauma Informed Management Registration
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Trauma Informed care: Train-the trainer – (Includes Trauma informed Care and Trauma Informed Management Webinars). If interested, submit your name to denea.parker@gov.ab.ca. This is a 4-part program (2 hours each) delivered weekly starting Jan 20, 2021 through Feb 10, 2021 from 10am-noon. COST $175.00
Dr. Harvey has worked as a clinician in the field of intellectual disabilities for over 25 years. She has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology and a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland. She has published articles about therapeutic interventions with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), workbooks for individuals with IDD and two books.
These sessions are organized by the South Region Community Assessment and Support Team (CAST) and North/Northeast Region CONNECT Team. Proud members of the Community and Social Services (Disability Services) and Alberta Health Services Mental Health and Addiction Complex Needs Initiative
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Pivot Online Toolkit
New webinars are available to help Albertans work remotely and engage with clients in new ways. Despite the current challenges, individuals, artists and non-profits are doing amazing things to pivot their work online and we want to help all Albertans do the same.
Pivot Online: A toolkit for artists and non-profit organizations, is a series designed by the Government of Alberta to help non-profits and capacity building organizations transition into online platforms and shift their programs and services to continue to meet the needs of their community.
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Success in a Digital World - Social Media: January 4, 2021 - 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm
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Virtual Organization - Programs & Services Online: January 6, 2021 - 3:00 pm to 4:15 pm -
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Civil Society Fund
Applications for Alberta’s new Civil Society Fund (CSF), which provides $20 million to expand civil society’s capacity to address social problems for Albertans are now open. Of that, $7 million is budgeted for 2020/21 to support civil society’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Proposals must demonstrate how the project can support transformational change for their organization or the broader civil society sector. Transformational change involves significantly expanding the capacity of civil society to address pressing social issues.
Organizations applying for funding must demonstrate that their proposed project aligns with at least one of the following priority areas:
- system infrastructure
- civil society research and data
- organizational transformation
- financial sustainability and resilience
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Alberta Council of Disability Services
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