School Box of Trainings

Participants will learn information about developmental neuroscience, epigenetics, and results of the ACE Study. Participants will come away with tactics and strategies to operationalize this knowledge in their respective communities. The instructor has been trained through Dr. Rob Anda’s ACE Interface Master Trainer Education program, licensed by UT Health.

Are you wondering what anxiety is and how it presents itself in children? In this training, you will learn a general description of anxiety and discuss the way anxiety presents itself. You will also be provided with ways to communicate openly with your child and to recognize and define the emotions your child may experience. You will be provided with resources to support children experiencing feelings of anxiousness and/or anxiety, and you will also get to practice and engage in activities that can be implemented.

This training will delve deeper into the ethical responsibilities of Social Workers and Counselors. We will discuss Texas-specific ethical issues and Texas law in a school setting. We will also use an Ethical Decision-Making model to work through various ethical dilemmas/case studies.

In this interactive session, you will learn about Mindfulness, the Science behind the practice, and how promoting awareness and presence in the moment can help you manage stress and practice regulation.  You will engage in Mindfulness practices and learn how to use Mindfulness strategies with adults and children.

The AS+K? About Suicide To Save A Life (Basic) workshop provides participants with an overview of the basic epidemiology of suicide and suicidal behavior, including risk and protective factors. In this one-hour course, participants are trained to recognize warning signs—behaviors and characteristics that might indicate elevated risk for suicidal behavior—and the initial intervention steps to support a person who may be at risk for suicide.

Please note that this course is designed for public health information purposes only and is not intended to assess, screen for, diagnose, or treat any mental or physical health condition.

Often used interchangeably, health and wellness are two distinct concepts that people may use to define their quality of life. Wellness is the set of actions one can take to achieve a desired level of health. This session will introduce the 8 dimensions of wellness recognized by SAMHSA and show how these dimensions are interlinked and affect one another. Wellness is a journey that has many twists, turns, and sometimes roadblocks. Understanding how these dimensions are connected, very much like a bundle of balloons, can provide people with an opportunity to step back and identify components of each dimension and create an individualized plan of action for each stage of life.

This interactive workshop will show peers how art is a powerful tool for recovery and self-expression. Through hands-on creative activities, participants will express themselves and create a unique piece of art. Attendees will also learn how to design and facilitate their own arts-based workshops to incorporate into peer support programming. According to the World Health Organization (2019), participation in the arts has been shown to support both the promotion of mental well-being and the management of mental health challenges. Be free! Be creative! Be connected through art!

This 3-hour workshop is designed to help providers implement strategies to put time and distance between someone at risk of suicide and lethal means. CALM includes relevant information on suicide and the public health approach to suicide prevention. Specifically, Texas CALM is designed to develop skills, create understanding, and provide basic information about suicide prevention.

Are you a professional who struggles to cope with everyday stress? In this workshop, you will understand how compassion fatigue and burnout can affect your professional quality of life. You will learn about different strategies to overcome professional burnout and will walk away with hands-on strategies you can use in your everyday life.

Navigating conflict effectively requires the right tools and strategies. This session is tailored for those working with middle and high school students and can be adapted for student audiences as well. This session provides activities and lessons to help adolescents understand conflict, communication, collaboration, and team building.

In this session, participants will learn about current smartphone trends and receive tools to become more mindful. These tips will help them create a digital wellness plan for themselves and their loved ones. Balancing face–to–face interactions with digital connections is crucial in today’s busy world. The instructor has a master’s in public health.

First time working in a school setting? You aren’t alone. Attend this training to learn more about ethics in a school setting. We will use an ethical decision-making model to work through various situations you will experience in a school setting.

An interactive course to learn about the powerful role of individual assets in youth development. Participants will learn to identify the traits of effective asset builders and recognize their own strengths and challenges. Course instructors have been trained through the Search Institute.

Learn ideas on how each of us can contribute to the health and well-being of our children and youth by expressing care, challenging growth, expanding possibilities, sharing power, and providing support. Instructors for this course have been trained in Developmental Relationships through the Search Institute.

In this series of highly interactive courses, participants will learn how to repair harm and restore relationships. Techniques and strategies learned will help with classroom management, behavior management, and organizational management. Topics can include community-building circles, re-entry circles, restorative conversations, and staff transition circles. Participants will learn strategies for promoting a healthy climate and culture in their school or organization. Trainers have experience implementing Restorative Practices in school-based and youth development program settings.

This training provides an introduction to Motivational Interviewing (MI)—a person-centered, collaborative communication approach designed to strengthen an individual’s motivation and commitment to change. Rooted in empathy and respect, MI helps professionals engage with individuals in a nonjudgmental way that supports autonomy and fosters meaningful conversations around behavior change. Participants will learn the core principles of MI, including expressing empathy, developing discrepancy, rolling with resistance, and supporting self-efficacy. Through discussion, role-play, and practical application, attendees will gain skills to effectively navigate ambivalence, build rapport, and empower individuals to take actionable steps toward positive change.

Navigating conflict effectively requires the right tools and strategies. This session helps teams, leaders, and organizations create a peaceful work environment, even during conflicts, using six practical steps. Participants will understand peace and conflict through interactive activities related to team building, collaboration, conflict experiences, and peacebuilding.

Learn about an attachment-based, trauma-informed care model that was developed by two developmental psychologists studying high-risk children. TBRI® uses empowering principles to address physical needs, connecting principles for attachment needs, and correcting principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. This course is taught by a TBRI® Practitioner trained through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University.

Learn about an attachment-based, trauma-informed care model that was developed by two developmental psychologists studying high-risk children. TBRI® uses empowering principles to address physical needs, connecting principles for attachment needs, and correcting principles to disarm fear-based behaviors. This course is taught by a TBRI® Practitioner trained through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University.

This course will provide important information about the variety of vaping devices that are on the market and the harmful ingredients that are found in them. Participants will learn how these nicotine-filled devices are impacting the developing adolescent brain and creating a population that is becoming strongly addicted to nicotine.

In this interactive course, participants will explore the 4 R’s and six pillars of Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) developed by SAMHSA. The course emphasizes key elements of TIC, such as building relationships, teaching self-regulation, and practicing self-care. Participants will gain skills and tools needed to become trauma-informed.

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a skills-based training that teaches parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and any other citizen how to identify, understand, and respond to an adolescent (ages 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.