Professional Devlopment & Training

Workshops, Collegial Groups and Professional Development

  • The °ÄÃÅÁùºÏͼ¿â Mental Health Consortium offers a plethora of professional development and training opportunities for educators.  In addition to workshops, we offer collegial circles and groups, spaces for student support staff to work collaboratively and discuss topics specific to their areas of expertise. 

    Need specific training? Contact us (516) 832-2769


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For Administration

  • PREPaRE 1 The PREPaRE curriculum has been developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) as part of NASP's decade-long leadership in providing evidence-based resources and consultation related to school crisis prevention and response. PREPaRE training is ideal for schools committed to improving and strengthening their school safety and crisis management plans and emergency response.   PREPaRE I is a ONE DAY course  for school administrators.  Comprehensive School Safety; Emergency Operations Plans Components; Safety and Crisis Teams; Levels of Crisis Response; Physical and Psychological Security; Vulnerability Assessments; Accounting for all Persons; Communications and Warnings; Functional Crisis Exercises and Drills; Reunification Plans; Public Health, Medical and Mental Health Concerns; Crisis Recovery and Memorials; Continuity of Operations Plans; Threats and Specific Hazards; After Action Reports; Tabletop Drill Activity; Examining Effectiveness of Crisis Plans .  

Specialized Training

  • °ÄÃÅÁùºÏͼ¿â hosts  annual

    Non-Violent Crisis Intervention and Mental Health, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Trauma Extensions  

    Fall 2023 Training Dates - all dates  8:30 AM to 4:30 PM - breakfast and lunch

    All fall registration is due by October 4, 2023

    Renewal CPI Training  NO EXTENSIONS 1 day - October 25th 2023

    Renewal CPI Training WITH extensions 2 days - October 25th & 26th

    New CPI Training Non-Violent Intervention ONLY NO EXTENSIONS- 3 days October 23rd, 24th and 25th -

    NEW CPI Training Non-Violent Intervention WITH extensions - 4 days October 23rd, 24th, 25th & 26th -

    Please contact Beverly Forgash bforgash@nasboces.org for information and registration details.

Training Suggested for ALL Staff

  • Introduction to Restorative Practices and Using Circles Effectively -  °ÄÃÅÁùºÏͼ¿â uses the International Institute of Restorative Practice (iirp) course and training format. This 3- day workshop teaches the basics of Restorative Practice and how to use Restorative Circles effectively.  The first two days will focus on the basics of Restorative Practice. Topics include the importance of being explicit about practice, how to set high expectations while being supportive, and ways to build a community in your setting. We will discuss giving direct feedback and asking questions that foster accountability, as well as utilizing effective methods to resolve common conflicts. The third day will cover the use of different types of circles for community and relationship building, to reinforce learning and to respond to conflict.  This course is designed for all PK-12 staff.

    Mental Health First Aid for Youth - This course requires completion of a 2-hour self-paced online pre-class then participation in the 6.5 hour in-person course.  Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, and peers how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people.  The course introduces common mental health challenges for young people, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.  Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. 

    Naloxone / NARCAN Training- This 45 minute training allows program attendees to administer NARCAN and provides a Naloxone kit.

For Student Support Staff

  • PREPaRE II The PREPaRE curriculum has been developed by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) as part of NASP's decade-long leadership in providing evidence-based resources and consultation related to school crisis prevention and response. PREPaRE training is ideal for schools committed to improving and strengthening their school safety and crisis management plans and emergency response.  PREPaRE II is a TWO DAY course that provides school-based mental health professionals and other school crisis intervention team members with the knowledge necessary to meet the mental health needs of students and staff following school-associated crisis events. This workshop teaches participants how to prevent and prepare for psychological trauma, help to reaffirm both the physical health of members of the school community and students' perceptions that they are safe and secure, evaluate conduct psychological triage, respond to the psychological needs of the school community utilizing a multitiered approach, and examine the effectiveness of school crisis intervention and recovery efforts. This workshop is an excellent course for all professionals in your district who provide mental health crisis intervention services.     

    Using Restorative Conferencing- Facilitating Listening Circles-  °ÄÃÅÁùºÏͼ¿â uses the International Institute of Restorative Practice (iirp) course and training format.   The Restorative Conferencing and Facilitating Listening Circles is an advanced class meant to be taken AFTER Intro to RP and Circles.  This course is two full days and is designed for student support staff that will be tasked with organizing Restorative Conferencing. Restorative conferencing is used to re-introduce students to the educational community and to respond to conflict.  This is not a course for faculty tasked with implementing disciplinary action for students, it is meant for staff that can act as neutral intermediaries to facilitate the RP process.   

Collegial Circles and Groups for Student Support Staff

  • Substance Use Counselor Circle

  • BCBA Group

  • School Social Worker Circles

  • School Psychologist Meetings

Other Collegial Circles and Groups

  • ADHD- Support Circle

  • Elementary Counselor Circle

  • LGTBQ+ Learning Group

  • Erin's Law Stewards of Children Group

  • Restorative Practices Circle

  • PREPaRE Crisis Team Leader Meetings