Training

In order to increase the capacity of local towns, coalitions, and other organizations, SERAC provides a variety of evidence based training and topical presentations. Trainings are offered at low to no cost based on current grant funding. There are several options for youth, parents, school professionals, treatment providers, and community-based providers.

QPR: Question, Persuade, Refer Suicide Prevention

The ultimate goal of the QPR training is to help community members prevent suicide attempts and completions. As a result of this training, participants will be able to recognize risk factors and warning signs and understand the myths and facts associated with suicide. Knowledge of referral sources will be addressed as well as increasing intervention skills.

Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Target Audience: Adults, youth

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents. The program builds understanding of the importance of early intervention and teaches individuals how to help a youth in crisis or experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. The course teaches participants the risk factors and warning signs of a variety of mental health challenges common among adolescents, including anxiety, depression, psychosis, eating disorders, AD/HD, disruptive behavior disorders, and substance use disorder. Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide any therapy or counseling – rather, participants learn a core five-step action plan to support an adolescent developing signs and symptoms of mental illness or in an emotional crisis.

Length: 8 hour certification (two 4-hour sessions) ***If a certification is not needed, a 4 hour training is available.
Target Audience: Adults whom regularly interact or work with adolescents, but may also be appropriate for older adolescents (16 and older) so as to encourage youth peer to peer interaction.
Note: Youth Mental Health First Aid is not specifically designed for parents of youth with mental health challenges. Although parents & families may find the course content useful, the course provides a basic level of information and guidance, rather than more in-depth information on navigating the healthcare system, which parents may wish to explore.

Training for Intervention ProcedureS (TIPS)

TIPS is tailored to a specific setting where alcohol is being purchased or consumed: On Premise, Off Premise and Universities. TIPS training enhances people skills of the servers, sellers and consumers of alcohol. Program participants are trained by certified instructors to detect the signs of intoxication, properly check IDs and gain the confidence needed to intervene effectively to prevent alcohol-related problems. TIPS helps to reduce alcohol liability lawsuits and reduce penalties for alcohol violations. After completing the course examination participants will become TIPS certified.

TIPS for On Premise

This program is specifically designed for establishments where alcohol is being consumed. Employees will learn strategies that ensure responsible alcohol service, promote professionalism, and enhance customer service skills.

Length: 4 hours
Target Audience: Servers at restaurants, bars, hotels, grocery stores and other venders.

TIPS for Off Premise

This program is specifically designed for establishments where alcohol is being purchased and not consumed. Staff and personnel will learn strategies for preventing illegal alcohol sales to underage and/or intoxicated patrons.

Length: 3 hours
Target Audience: Liquor and package stores, grocery stores and convenience stores

CAP: Community Awareness Program

The Congregation Assistance Program and the Community Awareness Program (CAP) is designed to help you gain more knowledge and connection with your community with the issues facing our society today. CAP sessions train individuals in organizations, churches and businesses to raise awareness of the real impact of addictions, gambling and suicide prevention. Participants will learn the signs and symptoms of behavioral health issues and the local resources that are available to help. This is not a clinical training, but will train you to recognize the possible warning signs and how to help.

Length: 3 hours
Target Audience: Designed for those working in non-clinical settings, foster parents, union stewards, school staff, office staff and lay ministries

A-SBIRT (Adolescent Screening for Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment

A-SBIRT is a comprehensive, integrated, public health approach to the delivery of early intervention and treatment services that adolescent primary care providers can utilize to efficiently incorporate screening, brief advice, brief motivational interventions, referrals for further evaluation and treatment for alcohol and other drug use into routine adolescent visits.

Adolescent Girls and Opioids, a division of A-SBIRT, focuses on the unique issues young women may face when it comes to substance use.

Length: 3 hours
Target Audience: People who work with youth.

Narcan Training

This training provides information on opioids that include street drugs (like heroin) and prescription drugs (like Oxycontin). Opioid overdoses have become epidemic; in Connecticut, on average, two people die every day from an opioid overdose. By the end of this training you will learn how to administer naloxone, also known as Narcan, which can reverse an opioid overdose in a few minutes.

Length: 1 hour
Target Audience: Community partners, local prevention councils, and coalitions

Stacked Deck (Youth Problem Gambling Prevention)

Stacked Deck teaches young people to approach life as smart risk-takers, weighing the pros and cons of their actions to determine the odds of achieving positive results. In 6 interactive lessons, the program teaches about the history of gambling; the true odds and the “house edge;” gambling fallacies; the signs, risk factors, and causes of problem gambling; and skills for good decision-making and problem-solving.

Length: 6 lessons (1 hour each) in classroom setting
Target Audience: Students in grades 9-12; college students

Overview of Postvention: an organized response in the aftermath of a suicide or critical incident

Length: 2 hours
Target Audience: Adults, Community Leaders, Volunteers

Postvention Team Development

This training is designed to develop a postvention team for a school, community, or organization. The training will continue the foundational principles provided during the Overview of Postvention training with an emphasis on the need for both internal as well external membership and role clarification. The training will utilize case examples and activities to highlight the best practices associated with postvention. The team will be introduced to a postvention guidance document which will assist in creating their own postvention plan following the training.

Length: 6 hours
Target Audience: Adults, Community Leaders, Volunteers

Girls Circle

Girl’s Circle is an evidence-based, structured support group for girls (ages 9-18), and those who identify with female development. It integrates relational theory, resiliency practices, and skills training designed to increase positive connection, personal and collective strengths, and competence. The aim is to counteract social and interpersonal forces that impede growth and development by promoting an emotional safe setting and structure where they can develop caring relationships and use their authentic voices to build confidence. This program is being offered to SERAC’s communities to help foster leadership and independence in young girls.

Length: Varies 8-10 sessions
Target Audience: Youth ages 9-18

Additional Trainings

Current Drug Trends: This workshop has been designed and updated over the years to give the audience member appropriate and functional information on the issues of gambling, substance use, and mental health in Eastern Connecticut.

Problem Gambling Awareness: “21”: This video docu-drama addresses the phenomenon of poker and on-line gambling on college campuses or prior to transitioning to college. This one-hour workshop includes a video and discussion points for students in grades 11-12 and college students.

Vaping, Juuls, Mods, E-Cigs…What’s the Trend About? Nicotine delivery products come in all different types now but the addiction to nicotine is the same. We have also found many of the same chemical combinations in the vape smoke as compared to tobacco smoke.