top of page
Professional Development Catalog
(Safe and Supportive Environments)
All trainings can be adapted to meet your specific needs and can be presented in person or virtually.
Building Connections: Engaging Ideas for Teambuilding and Get-to-Know Activities
Children who feel safe and secure are more able to focus their energy on learning. Co-workers who enjoy each other’s company and feel a sense of belonging often experience a boost in morale and motivation. Join us for this interactive session as we explore a variety of engaging activities designed to foster teamwork, enhance communication, and deepen interpersonal relationships. Try these activities with children or with colleagues to promote collaboration and strengthen your program culture!
​(Note: Due to the collaborative nature of the topic, we prefer to conduct this session face-to-face.)
Building Resilience for Lifelong Success
Educators can help children build resilience by encouraging a growth mindset, teaching problem-solving skills, and providing emotional support. Join us to discover practical strategies for building resilience in our children so they can thrive academically, socially and emotionally!
Connections that Count: Helping Every Child Feel Seen, Safe, and Significant
When children feel seen, safe, and significant, they’re more likely to thrive—emotionally, socially, and behaviorally. Join us to learn practical strategies, low-risk connection routines, and easy-to-use tools that build strong relationships and positive group culture. We will share simple yet powerful ways to foster a sense of belonging and help every child feel that they matter.
Differences in You and Me: Embracing the Differences You See
This session will help out-of-school time professionals understand the importance of embracing the uniqueness of the students within their programs. We live in a society full of differing backgrounds and perspectives, and it is important that educators help students navigate the differences they see and understand how they shape our overall growth.
Do All Stakeholders Feel Safe? Creation of a Safe, Supportive Environment
Does your program have structures and strategies in place to create a safe and supportive environment for all? It is important to foster a safe physical environment coupled with a comfortable learning environment in which children feel safe, relaxed, and willing to take risks, especially for learners who may have had negative experiences. Children often describe supportive learning environments as places that expand their sense of family and in which they feel safe to take risks. We will explore routines and strategies to employ to provide a safe, supportive environment where children can grow.
Empowering Students to Own their Strengths and Unleash Individual Potential
In this interactive session, educators will discover powerful approaches they can implement to help students recognize and leverage their unique strengths. Learn practical strategies for identifying individual student capabilities and supporting students’ self-reflection. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, explore ways to shift students' perspectives from deficit-based to strengths-based thinking. Investigate tools for helping students develop self-awareness, build resilience, and create personalized action plans that capitalize on their individual talents. Leave with concrete strategies to empower students to understand their exceptional qualities, embrace a growth mindset, and confidently chart their personal and academic paths. By focusing on strengths rather than limitations, help students own their strengths, develop meaningful, achievable goals, and unleash their full potential!
Feel the Power of Positivity! Promoting a Positive Mindset to Achieve Positive Outcomes
Students and teachers alike will benefit when you boost the positive energy of your afterschool or childcare program. Join us as we discuss strategies for creating a culture of positivity among students and staff. Talking points will include the benefits of shifting from punishment to positive guidance, the importance of highlighting student and staff successes, and ideas for program activities that inspire positive behavior, cooperative learning, and positive peer-to-peer interactions.
Keeping Kids Safe: Physically, Socially, and Emotionally
A safe environment is essential for children of all ages. The gap in time between the ringing of the school bell and when adults arrive home from work has long been a concern of families and community members due to the potential dangers and risky behaviors that take place after school. In this session, we will explore the revisions and additions to the “Health and Safety Guidelines, Requirements and Procedures for Out-of-School Time Facilities Participating in the Child Care Subsidy Program” that were made so that a greater number of children may be served in our state. In addition, we will examine strategies and best practices to address student needs and increase engagement to offer a better experience for all.
Nurturing Resilience for Success in School and Beyond
Nurturing resilience is crucial for success in both school and beyond. Encouraging a growth mindset, teaching problem-solving skills, and providing emotional support can all help individuals bounce back from challenges and setbacks. Developing strong social connections and maintaining a healthy work-life balance also contribute to building resilience. Remember, setbacks are opportunities for growth! Join us to discover practical strategies to help nurture resilience so our children can thrive academically, socially and emotionally!
Promising Practices to Provide Positive Outcomes for Our Youth
With the growing need for afterschool, a large body of evidence exists that confirms quality afterschool programs help children become more engaged in school, reduce their likelihood of taking part in at-risk behaviors or acting out in school, and help raise their academic performance. Let’s explore promising practices that will provide a quality program for our youth, thus improving the chance that positive outcomes will occur.
Promoting Respect, Belonging, and Community for Lasting Impact
Every child deserves to feel seen and valued. Working to promote respect, belonging, and community can help develop a child’s sense of confidence in their personal and social identities and help them feel grounded in who they are, while also helping them comfortably and empathetically engage with people from all backgrounds. In this session, we will share strategies for creating a more welcoming classroom culture. We will also discuss ways to encourage children to understand, appreciate, include, and advocate for themselves and those around them. Join us for valuable resources and information that will help you improve your program and create a positive, lasting impact for children, families, and staff.
Protective Factors: Empowering Children to Thrive
"Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” (Desmond Tutu) Protective factors play a crucial role in promoting the health and emotional well-being of children and serve as a buffer to the potentially harmful effects of negative situations and events. In this session, we will discuss strategies that educators can use to strengthen protective factors and bolster the resiliency of their students. We will also discuss ways that programs can collaborate with families and support them in fostering attitudes and behaviors that empower children to thrive, even in the face of adversity.
Relationships with Children are Essential: How to Build, Maintain, and Strengthen
Creating, maintaining, and strengthening relationships with students involves building trust, showing respect, and fostering a supportive environment. A positive teacher-student relationship enhances learning and personal growth. How do you build relationships with your students? The session will offer ideas and allow participants to share their successes.
Strengths-Based Approaches: Unlocking Youth and Family Potential
Discover the transformative power of strengths-based approaches in out-of-school time. In this session, we will explore how focusing on strengths can transform afterschool programs, leading to improved outcomes and stronger relationships and unlocking the full potential of the youth and families we serve. Discover core principles of the strengths-based approach that shift perspective from deficits to possibilities. Learn practical techniques for identifying and nurturing strengths in both youth and families. Practice recognizing hidden strengths and creating strengths-focused environments through interactive exercises. Join us to start turning potential into reality!
Trauma-Informed Practices: Nurturing Resilience for Success
Need strategies to respond to children who have experienced trauma? This session will review how trauma affects behavior and discuss how to respond appropriately to trauma-induced behaviors. We will share strategies for relationship-building and for nurturing the skills children need to be resilient after going through difficult circumstances, thus reducing mental stress, strengthening student outcomes, and creating a healthier learning environment.
Triumph with Teamwork! Be Connected and Build Community through Teambuilding
Want to strengthen your program’s sense of community and belonging? Join us for this fun, interactive session that focuses on leveraging teambuilding activities and games to create strong bonds among students, among staff, and between students and staff. Participants will learn a variety of age-appropriate, fun, and inclusive activities designed to promote cooperation, communication, and trust. The session will cover the theory behind effective teambuilding, provide hands-on experience with selected games, and offer strategies for adapting activities to different group sizes and dynamics. Help children feel safe and secure so they are more able to focus their energy on learning. Boost morale and motivation by helping staff feel more connected. Come ready to participate and make new friends. Leave with new ideas, effective strategies, and a smile on your face!
​(Note: Due to the collaborative nature of the topic, we prefer to conduct this session face-to-face.)
bottom of page