OPEN MINDS and The Devereux Foundation have formed a partnership to offer skill-based staff development training designed to establish and enhance the therapeutic skills of direct care staff of behavioral health and social service organizations. Six new courses are now available through OPEN MINDS:

Life Skills Certification Program: New Directions Instructor Training
April 5-8, 2004 – Santa Barbara, California
October 19-22, 2004 – Denver, Colorado

Social Learning Certification Program: New Directions Instructor Training
November 2-5, 2004 – Santa Barbara, California

Crisis Prevention/Intervention Train The Trainer Program:
Staff Effectiveness, Safety Techniques & Personal Restraints
June 7-11, 2004 – Santa Barbara, California

Staff Effectiveness Train The Trainer Program: Crisis Prevention/Intervention, Part 1
September 20-21, 2004 – Villanova, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

Safety Techniques Train The Trainer Program: Crisis Prevention/Intervention, Part 2
September 22-24, 2004 – Villanova, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

Personal Restraints Train The Trainer Program: Crisis Prevention/Intervention, Part 3
September 27, 2004 – Villanova, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia)

For organizations providing direct customer services, this series of train-the-trainer courses is invaluable. They offer four key organizational benefits:

Provide Safety

Youth service workers and teachers are charged with a care taking responsibility. As such, they assume the natural role of adults to protect or safeguard youth even when they are acting out. The need for safety requires that intervention staff be trained.

Protect From Liability

The Supreme Court has affirmed the responsibility of organizations to train staff in areas of duty in which they are expected to perform. This decision clearly establishes the liability of service agencies for failing to train their staff.

Promote Professionalism

Professional practice in care requires the practitioner to operate with skills that are based upon the most contemporary information possible. The OPEN MINDS/Devereux courses are compatible with professional standards and legal requirements. They are continuously updated to reflect changes in the field.

Meet Growing Public Concerns Head-On

The advent of new regulatory requirements, an increase in professional standards, the development of advocacy to reduce restraints and the creation of school system policies are prompting schools and agencies across the nation to re-examine their behavior management practice. Staff must be trained!

Here is what some past attendees of these events had to say about them:

“This training exceeded my expectations. The trainers were very effective and presented the material in a manner that makes it very clear and directly applicable to every day work situations. The presentation style made it possible to immediately retain skills!”

“Instructors were extremely engaging, knowledgeable and enthusiastic; provided great feedback and individual attention.”

“Beyond expectations-it gave me a refreshing way to look at training approaches.”

“Great instructor! Very effective training style. A positive experience.”

“This program offers excellent solutions to many situations direct care staff encounter daily at work.”

For more information on the courses please visit: www.openminds.com/educ/devereux.htm.

The Devereux Foundation, following the philosophy of Helena Devereux, today has close to 6,000 staff members at all levels that provide professional and quality care to more than 15,000 individuals annually. In a wide range of settings – from home, school, and community to campus-based programs and hospitals – Devereux provides services to individuals of all ages who have emotional, developmental, and behavioral needs.

OPEN MINDS is a national behavioral health and social service industry market research and management-consulting firm. Founded in 1987 and based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 30 associates of OPEN MINDS provide information, professional education, market research, and management consulting services to payers, regulators, professionals, service provider agencies, and advocacy organizations in the field.