Lowery Training Associates provides programs for caseworkers, counselors, and foster and adoptive parents.   

All of our programs are based on sound clinical theory and presented in an upbeat, imaginative, and relevant format that trainees really enjoy. Course evaluations consistently reflect great satisfaction with these programs.

 

Lowery Training Associates is an approved Ohio Child Welfare Training Program provider of Caseworker, Foster & Adoptive Parent Training.  We are also approved for social work (#RSX080301) and counselor (#RCX110602) continuing professional education CPE’s, through the State of Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board.  Social workers and counselors who attend these sessions will be awarded CPE's and a certificate of attendance.

 

Please review our course offerings and brief descriptions below.  For any of our programs, we would be delighted to send you a detailed course description including:

·        Complete course outline

·        Learning objectives

·        Competencies

If you have a need for one or more specialized courses that you do not see here, feel free to contact us.  We are always interested in developing new courses and materials to further enhance the educational development of both child care workers and foster and adoptive parents.

 

 

Caseworker, Specialized, and Related Workshops

 

Verbal De-escalation in Child Welfare

 

Substance Abuse, Chemical Dependency and Kids

 

Educational Advocacy: Improving Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care

 

Advancing Sexual Safety and Promoting Healing in Children Services

 

Navigating the Whitewater of Reunification: Primary Family, Agency and Caregiver Collaboration

 

Understanding and Assessing Risk and Behavior in Adolescents

 

Acting Your Way into Better Thinking: Reinforcement Theory into Action

 

Casework Interviewing, Problem Solving and Crisis Intervention

 

Reality Therapy and Other Cognitive Approaches to Counseling

 

Real World Case Plans: Opening the Door to Independence for Adolescents

 

Bleeding Heart or Purple Heart: Parenting Today's Troubled Youth

 

Promoting Physical and Emotional Health in Human Service Professionals

 

Caseworker Toolkit: Reality Therapy & Other Cognitive Approaches to Counseling

 

 

 

 

Foster and Adoptive Parent Ongoing Workshops

 

Behavior Management I - Techniques for Handling Surface Behaviors with Oppositional and Acting Out Children

 

Behavior Management II -  Avoiding and De-escalating Physical Crisis Situations

 

Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Children in Foster Care

 

Attachment, Separation and Loss in Foster Care

 

Substance Abuse, Chemical Dependency & Kids

 

Opening the Doors to Independent Living

 

Educational Advocacy: Helping Your Foster Child Succeed in School

 

Culture and Diversity Issues  in Foster Care

 

Advancing Sexual Safety and Promoting Healing in Foster Care

 

Fostering Physical and Emotional Health in the Caregiver

 

Navigating the Whitewater of Reunification: Primary Family, Agency and Foster Parent Collaboration

 

"Holy Chaos, Batman!": Understanding and Assessing Risk and Behavior in Adolescents

 

Bleeding Heart or Purple Heart: Parenting Today's Troubled Youth

 

Hands On Behavior Management for Younger and Developmentally Delayed Children

 

"Do You Feel Me?": Talking, Listening and Problem Solving with Your Foster Child

 

Beyond Time-Out: Managing the Behavior of Maltreated Pre-school Age Children

 

Peek-a-Boos and Terrible Twos: Managing Behavior of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers

 

Caregiver Toolkit:  Effective Counseling Strategies and Interventions

 

“You Can’t Make Me”: Managing Behavior of Maltreated School Age Children

 

 

 

OCWTP Foster Care Fundamentals Offerings

 

Understanding and Building Attachment   (F13 - 6 Hours)

 

Foster Families and How They Grow: Understanding the Effects of Fostering   (F16 - 6 Hours)

 

 

 

Foster and Adoptive Parent Pre-Service Training

 

• Orientation and Overview of Foster Care, Adoption and Kinship Care
• Teambuilding
• Child Abuse and Neglect and the Impact on Child Development
• Attachment, Separation and Placement
• Discipline
• Cultural Issues in Placement
• Primary Families
• Effects of Caregiving on the Family
• Caring for Children Who Have Been Sexually Abused
• Permanency Issues for Children
• Permanency Issues for Families
• Preparing Adolescents for Independent Living
• Educational Advocacy

 

 

 

 

Verbal De-escalation in Child Welfare

(Caseworker Workshop)

This class will review the skills of active listening, non-violent communication and verbal de-escalation.  Levels of crisis development and the conflict cycle are discussed, emphasizing appropriate staff response.  Trainees will participate in exercises and demonstrations concerning personal space, body posture and motion.  Skills in life space interview will be taught.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Substance Abuse, Chemical Dependency and Kids

(Caseworker Workshop)

Drug and alcohol abuse takes an enormous toll on families.  It may be a factor in two-thirds of all substantiated cases of abuse and neglect.  This class will give staff an understanding of substance abuse and chemical dependency and how it affects the family.  We will also examine factors related to special risk for substance abuse, and review methods of prevention and treatment.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Educational Advocacy: Improving Outcomes for Children in Out-of-Home Care

(Caseworker Workshop)

One of the best ways caregivers and case workers can help to improve educational outcomes for at risk youth is to know the facts, to identify roadblocks that may hamper educational success, and to make a plan.  This class will offer staff an opportunity to enhance their own skills to assist children in doing better in school. This course also examines special education for children with disabilities, and serves as a basic introduction to Surrogate Parenting.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Advancing Sexual Safety and Promoting Healing in Children Services

(Caseworker Workshop)

This workshop is designed for professionals interested in developing their knowledge in addressing the special needs of their children who have been sexually abused.  Special emphasis will be devoted to creating an environment of safety, developing a sexual safety plan and talking with children who have been abused.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Navigating the Whitewater of Reunification: Primary Family, Agency and Caregiver Collaboration

(Caseworker Workshop)

Historically, children service agencies have aligned themselves with children to protect them from their parents. Yet, in doing so, they jeopardize the connection between parents and their children, which undermine efforts to preserve or rebuild birth families. This class will examine the complex dynamics facing principal actors before, during and after placement. Emphasizing the advantages of safe reunification of children with birth families, this training will develop a framework for shared parenting, including promoting and building the “parent - foster parent team.” Further, it will explore the relationships between foster parents and agency staff, and potential organizational and value conflicts that may obstruct therapeutic parenting and case management of children.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Understanding and Assessing Risk and Behavior in Adolescents

(Caseworker Workshop)

This class reviews the fundamentals of behavioral assessment in adolescents within the context of their physical, cognitive and psycho-social development.  It will explore issues related to family and culture and their effect on behavior.  Further, it explores the behavioral manifestations of common adolescent emotional disorders, including depression, and suggests various treatment options available.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Acting Your Way into Better Thinking: Reinforcement Theory into Action

(Caseworker Workshop)

Understanding the concepts of social learning theory and utilizing it’s principles to effect behavior change may be two entirely different matters.  This class will review reinforcement theory and offer workable models to put it into practice. Those attending will learn how to perform a functional analysis of child behavior recognizing the various drivers within the social ecology.  Behavior management approaches, including token economies & behavior contracts will be explored.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Casework Interviewing, Problem Solving and Crisis Intervention

(Caseworker Workshop)

This class will present several effective interviewing techniques, including motivational interviewing, and offer strategies to help families resolve their problems.  Also, this workshop will examine the dynamics of crisis and offer suggestions for crisis counseling, verbal de-escalation and stress management.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Reality Therapy and Other Cognitive Approaches to Counseling

(Caseworker Workshop)

 

 

 

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Real World Case Plans: Opening the Door to Independence for Adolescents

(Caseworker Workshop)

This class will examine effective case planning for troubled adolescents.  The essentials of various data collection strategies, including assessment measures and strength focused interviewing will be reviewed.  Suggestions on practical and effective case plan development will be shared.  Finally, tools for assessing adolescent readiness for independent living and strategies to assist them will be explored.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Bleeding Heart or Purple Heart: Parenting Today's Troubled Youth

(Caseworker Workshop)

This workshop explores models of effective parenting including STEP, PET & Behavior Modification. Special emphasis will be given to assessing parenting styles and applying discipline strategies and parenting techniques appropriate to the child’s developmental level and individual needs. Concrete strategies will be shared on how to help parents tackle the many challenges of parenting today’s troubled youth.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Promoting Physical and Emotional Health in Human Service Professionals

(Caseworker Workshop)

“You’re in time-out!”! This workshop explores the value of human service professionals taking care of themselves.   Trainees will experience a mini-retreat that is chock full of ideas and experiences that include approaches to the physical, spiritual and mental well-being of the caseworker. Participants will walk away with a recipe for establishing daily self-nurturing practices and routines.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

Caseworker Toolkit: Reality Therapy & Other Cognitive Approaches to Counseling

(Caseworker Workshop)

This class reviews the fundamentals of Reality Therapy and it’s applications in child and family services.  Strategies for creating as strength focused environment of alignment and engagement with clients will be shared.  Finally, the efficacy of assertive individual and family communication and behavior will be explored.

Return to Caseworker Workshop List

 

 

 

 

Behavior Management I - Techniques for Handling Surface Behaviors with Oppositional and Acting Out Children

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This program explores the dynamics of separation and how that influences behavior. It also gives substitute caregivers a model for structuring a supportive and therapeutic setting for behaviorally challenged children. Further, it reviews fundamental social learning theory; and finally examines ten tried and true techniques for handling surface behaviors.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Behavior Management II -  Avoiding and De-escalating Physical Crisis Situations

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class will examine how pre-placement experiences and current stressors may affect a foster child’s behavior.  The skills of active listening, non-violent communication and de-escalation will be reviewed.  Levels of crisis development and the conflict cycle are discussed, emphasizing appropriate foster parent response.  Trainees will participate in exercises and demonstrations concerning personal space, body posture, and motion.  Skills in life space interviewing will be taught.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Effects of Abuse and Neglect on Children in Foster Care

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Parenting a child in foster care is a challenging task, especially when the child comes into care as a result of abuse or neglect.  This course will focus on the special needs of these children. Basic facts and issues regarding neglect and abuse (psychological, physical & sexual) and their effect on the child’s psyche will be explored. Positive strategies for parenting are examined from school age through young adulthood.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Attachment, Separation and Loss in Foster Care

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class introduces foster parents to the concept of attachment and the biological bond. Separation will be addressed by reviewing the five stages of grief vis-à-vis a foster care placement.   Strategies for helping insufficiently attached and grieving children are reviewed. 

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Substance Abuse, Chemical Dependency & Kids

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Drug and alcohol abuse takes an enormous toll on families.  It may be a factor in two-thirds of all substantiated cases of abuse and neglect.  This class will give trainees an understanding of substance abuse and chemical dependency and how it affects the family.  We will also examine factors related to special risk for substance abuse, and review methods of prevention and treatment.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Opening the Doors to Independent Living

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This workshop will introduce caregivers to the many challenges that adolescents face when leaving foster care, and moving toward independent living.  Be prepared for an interactive, hands-on workshop that will enlighten and encourage foster/adoptive parents to help your adolescent successfully transition to independent living.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Educational Advocacy: Helping Your Foster Child Succeed in School

(Foster Parent Workshop)

As surely as you are your children’s most important teachers, your children’s ideas about education and its significance begin with you. Moreover, you bear a responsibility to participate actively in your children’s education.  This class will offer caregivers an opportunity to enhance their own skills to assist children with their academic achievement. This course serves as a basic introduction to Surrogate Parenting.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Culture and Diversity Issues in Foster Care

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class begins by introducing caregivers to the concept of cultural sensitivity and moves them toward improving their ability to understand and work with people from different backgrounds.  This is done by examining our own values and codes of conduct, making an effort to learn more about other cultures and people, and by talking to our foster children about these issues.  By the end of the session, caregivers should begin to have a greater appreciation for the unique opportunities and blessings inherent in a diverse foster family experience.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Advancing Sexual Safety and Promoting Healing in Foster Care

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This workshop is designed for foster families who need to develop their knowledge and parenting skills to address the special needs of children who have been sexually abused.  Since sexual abuse is the ultimate betrayal of the parent-child relationship, the primary resource available to these victimized children is understanding and committed families who can prove to them that families can be trusted and nurturing.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Fostering Physical and Emotional Health in the Caregiver

(Foster Parent Workshop)

“You’re in time-out!” This workshop explores the value of foster parents taking care of themselves.   Trainees will experience a mini-retreat that is chock filled with ideas and experiences that include approaches to the physical, spiritual and mental well-being of the caretaker. Participants will walk away with a recipe for establishing daily self-nurturing practices and routines.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Navigating the Whitewater of Reunification: Primary Family, Agency and Foster Parent Collaboration

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class will examine the complex dynamics facing birth families before, during and after placement. Emphasizing the advantages of safe reunification of children with birth families, this training will help foster parents come to further appreciate the “biological bond” as well as challenge them to consider forgiveness as a foundation of collaborative work with parents.  It will also develop a framework for shared parenting, including promoting and building the “parent - foster parent team” and provide practical guidelines for such issues as visiting, phone calls and establishing boundaries. .” Further, it will explore the relationships between foster parents and agency staff, and potential organizational and value conflicts that may obstruct therapeutic parenting and of children.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

"Holy Chaos, Batman!": Understanding and Assessing Risk and Behavior in Adolescents

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class reviews the fundamentals of behavioral assessment in adolescents within the context of their physical, cognitive and psycho-social development.  It will explore issues related to family and culture and their effect on behavior.  Further, it explores the behavioral manifestations of common adolescent emotional disorders, including depression and suggests various treatment options available.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Bleeding Heart or Purple Heart: Parenting Today's Troubled Youth

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This workshop explores models of effective parenting including STEP, PET & Behavior Modification. Special emphasis will be given to discipline strategies and parenting techniques appropriate to the child’s developmental level and individual needs. Concrete strategies will be shared on how to help foster/adoptive parents tackle the many challenges of parenting today’s troubled youth.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Hands On Behavior Management for Younger and Developmentally Delayed Children

(Foster Parent Workshop)

 

 

 

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

"Do You Feel Me?": Talking, Listening and Problem Solving with Your Foster Child

(Foster Parent Workshop)

“Seek ye first to understand…then to be understood”. Pretty good advice;  but does this apply to our children? You better believe it!  Lacking a feeling of empowerment, foster children desperately need someone to truly understand the feelings they are experiencing. This class will explore the importance of understanding and share practical strategies to help foster parents better understand their children’s feelings.  In addition, we will offer a helpful problem solving paradigm for the family.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Beyond Time-Out: Managing the Behavior of Maltreated Pre-school Age Children

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Parenting a pre-school child in foster care is a daunting task, especially when the child comes into care as a result of maltreatment. This workshop focuses on the special needs of these children.  Effects of abuse and neglect on the development of pre-school children will be examined vis-à-vis the major domains of their development. Behavior problems resulting from maltreatment will be discussed and suggestions for effective behavior management will be outlined.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Peek-a-Boos and Terrible Twos: Managing Behavior of Maltreated Infants and Toddlers

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Parenting an infant or toddler in foster care is a challenging task, especially when the child comes into care as a result of maltreatment. This workshop focuses on the special needs of these children. Effects of abuse and neglect on infant & toddler development will be examined vis-à-vis the major domains of their development. Behavior problems resulting from maltreatment will be discussed and suggestions on behavior management will be outlined.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Acting Your Way into Better Thinking: Hands-on Behavior Management for Younger and Developmentally Delayed Children

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Understanding the concepts of social learning theory and utilizing it’s principles to effect behavior change may be two entirely different matters.  This class will review reinforcement theory and offer workable models to put it into practice for younger and developmentally delayed children. Caregivers will learn how to perform a functional analysis of child behavior and recognize the various drivers within the social ecology.  Behavior management approaches, including token economies and behavior contracts will be explored.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

Caregiver Toolkit: Effective Counseling Strategies and Interventions

(Foster Parent Workshop)

This class reviews the fundamentals of Reality Therapy and its potential applications in out of home care.  Strategies for creating as strength focused environment of alignment and engagement with children will be shared.  Finally, the efficacy of assertive individual and family communication and behavior is explored.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

“You Can’t Make Me”: Managing Behavior of Maltreated School Age Children

(Foster Parent Workshop)

Parenting a child in foster care is a challenging task, especially when the child comes into care as a result of abuse and neglect. This workshop focuses on the special needs of these children. Effects of abuse and neglect on school age children development will be examined vis-à-vis the major domains of their development. Behavior problems resulting from maltreatment will be discussed and suggestions on behavior management will be presented.

Return to Foster Parent Workshop List

 

 

 

 

OCWTP Foster Care Fundamentals Offerings

 

Understanding and Building Attachment   (F13 - 6 Hours)

(Foster Care Fundamentals)

This workshop. designed for licensed foster caregivers with placement experience, focuses on the initiation and development of attachment in children.  Distinctions between secure and insecure attachment are presented along with how separation and placement impacts the child’s attachment pattern.  A template for parenting children with attachment problems will be advanced.

Return to Foster Care Fundamentals List

 

 

 

Foster Families and How They Grow: Understanding the Effects of Fostering   (F16 - 6 Hours)

(Foster Care Fundamentals)

This workshop is designed for licensed foster parents in the early years of foster parenting.  Issues unique to fostering are discussed, including: 1) Understanding and dealing with the new set of challenges; 2) Recognizing stages of adjustment and changing family relationships; and, 3) identifying stressors and developing strategies to build a healthy fostering experience.

Return to Foster Care Fundamentals List