Peer Generation Youth Empowerment Training

Peer Generation Youth Empowerment Training® is a youth driven and youth developed curriculum that offers an experiential introduction to youth peer support. The training focuses on strategies for resiliency and offers pathways for individuals to get in touch with their unique and authentic selves. Participants will experience an environment that is culturally grounded and focuses on practical ways to be inclusive toward the diversity of all communities and experiences. Individuals will be better equipped to practice peer support in real life situations that could be easily implemented. Personal sharing and mutual learning are at the core of this curriculum.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will gain an understanding of youth resiliency
• Participants will become educated in personalized self-care strategies
• Participants will increase cultural awareness

Learn More About Peer Generation Youth Empowerment Training

Youth & Young Adult Peer Training

This 3-day workshop allows for education, conversation, and skill building that focuses on working directly with the youth and young adult population as well as enhancing the knowledge attendees may already have about peer empowered story sharing and relationship building with the peers they work with. Certification is provided

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the importance of maintaining ethical boundaries while supporting positive change
• Define youth engagement and application of best practices
• Identify peer core values and the many facets of wellness
• Learn potential risks factors and what to do in a crisis/emergency

• Develop skills to understand wellness tools, the importance of self-care, and actively participate in the recovery process

• Practice and Skill Building; Relate to your YAYA peer with a 7-minute introduction

Time: 3-Day Training

Number of People: 25

• January 8th, 2024 thru January 10th, 2024-Training will be held virtually on zoom from 9 am to 4 pm. Cost is $300 per non-member participant/$270 for members.  Register Now!

• April 24th, 2024 thru April 26th, 2024- Training will be held at PMHCA Office at 2551 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA from 9 am to 4 pm. Cost is $300 per non-member participant/ $270 for members.  Register Now!

WRAP Seminar 1 (Wellness Recovery Action Planning)

The Wellness Recovery Action Plan or WRAP is a self-designed prevention and wellness tool that you can use to get well and stay well. WRAP is for anyone, most age groups, any time, and for any of life’s challenges. WRAP is listed in the National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices. Certification is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover your own simple, safe wellness tools
• Develop a list of things to do every day to stay as well as possible
• Identify upsetting events, early warning signs, and signs that things have gotten much worse
• Understand wellness tools and develop action plans to respond at the proper times
• Create a crisis plan
• Create a post-crisis plan

Time: may vary
Number of People: 20

There will be a FREE WRAP Seminar 1 training on January 17th thru January 19th from 9 am to 4:30 pm at the PMHCA Office at 2551 Walnut Street in Harrisburg. The course is free for everyone; however, participants must pay for their own lodging, meals, and transportation. Register Here!

Trauma 101

Trauma 101 is an overview of Trauma-Informed Care. Research shows that 67% of the population has experienced at least one Adverse Childhood Experience. These trauma-based adversities are predictive of a multitude of toxic physical, mental and social outcomes throughout a person’s lifetime. As a society and as individuals, we need to be better informed and prepared to prevent and address the traumatic impact of childhood adversities. In this multi-media, interactive workshop, professionals work together to build a powerful image that helps them appreciate the complex nature of trauma and its aftermath. Certification is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain basic overview of trauma, brain basics
• Gain basic overview of triggers and trauma responses
• Understand complex nature of trauma and how it can affect us

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25

Trauma Sensitive Peer Support: Continuing Our Journey

As Certified Peer Professionals, we continue our healing and recovery journey every day and this workshop allows for more growth and understanding of trauma, how it applies to us as humans, how we can apply it to our professional life, and why any of that is important.

During this workshop participants will:

• Practice sharing a personal story in a way that is sensitive to the person receiving the story
• Practice receiving a person's story that may be difficult to hear in a kind and compassionate manner 
• understand the importance of body language while having difficult conversations
• learn how to control body responses and verbal responses that may be harmful 
• learn how to receive a person's story so it does not become part of vicarious trauma for the peer professional

Time: 3-day Training or 18-hours

Number of People: 25

Trauma for Youth & Young Adults

Has anyone ever talked to you about trauma? Trauma impacts every single person in some way or another. Often, adults do not discuss trauma, it's impact throughout the lifespan, and how to support oneself or a friend with youth and young adults. This training speaks directly to youth and young adults about the difficult topic of trauma in a way that is easily understood, in a plain language, and in a supportive, safe environment. Dialogue and discussion are encouraged to promote as much learning as possible! Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What is trauma?
• How can unresolved trauma impact you now?
• How can unresolved trauma impact you as an adult?
• What can a person do to resolve their trauma?
• How can you help a friend who may be struggling?

Time: 2.0 hours

Number of people: 25

Against the Backdrop of an Epidemic

Against the Backdrop of an Epidemic was created to invite conversation and self-exploration into stigma related to substance use disorder. Self-Stigma has prevented many individuals from accessing and even being successful in their recovery. In this workshop, we look to identify those stigmas, break down barriers, and crush self-stigma, giving individuals the tools to access their full potential in their recovery journey. 

Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What is stigma?
• What is self-stigma?
• How can we change the conversation around stigma related to substance use disorder?

Time: 3 hours

Number of People: 25

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)

This is a suicide prevention training where the participant learns to recognize warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to Question, Persuade, and Refer someone to help appropriately. Youth MOVE PA provides this training to professionals and youth as an emergency mental health intervention for suicide. Certification is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the warning signs of suicide
• Know how to offer hope
• Know how to get help and save a life

Time: 2.5 hours

Number of People: 25

"I Didn't Die, But..."

Trauma Talk Workshop

This workshop talks to attendees about what trauma is, how it can affect us throughout our lives, and what we can do about it. This will help participants feel more comfortable talking about their trauma. There is a skill-building portion which is to help attendees feel more confident in using the skills they are taught along with identifying what they already use to help organize their “trauma closet”. Along with the workshop, attendees will receive a participant packet and a bracelet included in the cost. Certification is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn about trauma, triggers, trauma responses, superpowers (coping skills), resilience, and post traumatic growth.
• A personal trauma story will be presented to help attendees learn about many different types of trauma.
• Attendees will learn about their triggers and how to manage them.
• The importance of being understanding when someone around you may be triggered.
• Help attendees to understand what the Flight, Fight, and Freeze responses are, why they happen, and how to handle them.
• This presentation is a different concept than most trauma trainings and we believe this new language focusing around the “trauma closet” will help attendees retain more knowledge on all of the above learning objectives. The concept of the “trauma closet” is a new way of visualizing what we do with our traumatic experiences and how to gain the tools needed to turn your “messy trauma closet” into an “organized trauma closet”.

Time: 2.5 hours (virtual) or 3 hours (in person)

Number of people:  25

Transitioning Into the Adult System | Transitioning & Aging Out

Successful planning for transitional age youth should begin well before the youth reaches transitional age and would benefit from involving multiple parties and agencies, this process may be especially complex for some. Effective communication and collaboration between agencies are essential. This training talks to youth about barriers they may experience during their transition into the adult system, ways to overcome those barriers, and how to pre-plan for this complex transition. Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify barriers and challenges youth may experience when transitioning into the adult system
• Discuss interrelated domains including education, employment, housing, budgeting, and family formation
• How to plan ahead for this transition to adulthood

• Transitioning Into the Adult System will be offered virtually on December 4th, 2023 from 2 pm to 4 pm. This is a free training. Register Here!

Time: 2.0 hours

Number of People: 25

"Life Through My Lens" Workshop

The "Life Through My Lens" Workshop was created to help people see that stigma reduction starts within. If we keep focusing on how others treat us and ignore the negative ways we talk to ourselves, stigma will always win. This workshop is focused on turning the dial toward helping ourselves by not taking that type of treatment from our own internal voice! To change how others see us, we must first change the lens through which we see ourselves | #LIFETHROUGHMYLENS 

Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• What is stigma?
• What is self-stigma?
• How can we change the conversation around self-stigma?
• Learn about the "Life Through My Lens Campaign"

Time: 2 hours

Number of People: 25

"Stand Against Stigma" Workshop

The "Stand Against Stigma" Workshop is all about how youth and young adults can help do exactly that: Stand Against Stigma. What is stigma, how can we combat the stigmas we experience, and how can we help to educate those who are creating stigma about what they could be doing and saying differently to be more inclusive. Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what “stigma” means
• How can stigma be damaging to ourselves?
• What can be done to fight the stigmas that exist?
• What role do I play in that fight??

Time: 3 hours

Number of People: 25

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DEI has become a prominent subject of focus for businesses and programs across the country, often targeting hiring practices, company culture, and political policy… but what does it mean? In this interactive training, we forget the politics and break down the fundamentals of DEI. Participants will learn what DEI means, how it can positively impact our society, where Implicit Bias fits in, and most importantly: how true DEI is more than an initiative – It’s a mindset! Certificate is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop a basic understanding of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
• Identify how the "DEI Mindset" can improve our society and ability to connect with others
• Define, recognize, and begin to heal from Implicit Bias
• Find opportunities by busting down DEI barriers together
• Discover how to have the conversation and change the world!

Time: 3.0 hours

Number of People: 25

Social Media & Its Connection to Mental Health

Youth MOVE PA’s Social Media training is presented to help youth, young adults, and professionals understand the impact that social media can have on our mental health. In this training participants will learn how to practice social media wellness, learn tips for excessive social media use, and identify resources that can help reduce mental health conditions/risk factors. Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn statistics related to the impact of excessive social media use
• Discuss mental health conditions/risk factors tied to social media use
• Explore tips & resources for teens and children related to excessive social media use
• Learn how to make a positive impact on social media

• Social Media & It's Connection to Mental Health will be offered virtually on October 12th, 2023 from 11 am to 1 pm. This is a free event! Register Now!

Time: 2.0 hours

Number of People: 25

Youth Engagement for Peer-Based Professionals

PaPSC, PMHCA, and Youth Move PA come together in partnership to offer this 2.5-hour Youth Engagement Training for staff that serve the youth and young adult demographic across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  Empowering and encouraging all peers and their allies to unite in educating and providing supports through advocacy to revolutionize the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Certification is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Define effective youth engagement and best practices
• Effective relationship building with youth and young adults
• How youth engagement and leadership skills can give youth and young adults the ability to learn important life skills through self-advocacy, inspiration, and empowerment

Time: 2.5 hours

Number of People: 25

A Guide for Etiquette

This training is to assist youth in understanding what etiquette is, why it is important, and how to use these skills in real life situations. Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• Gain an understanding of what etiquette is
• Learn when to utilize manners and etiquette skills
• Learn why these skills are necessary in day-to-day activities

Time: 1.5 hours

Number of People: 25

Communication & Active Listening

A look at developing youth and young adult communication skills and individual styles that each person can use in their professional and personal lives. Certificate of participation is provided.

Learning Objectives:

• To assist youth in understanding the different communication styles people have
• Learn how to utilize different communication styles when needed
• Learn about and practicing active listening
• Inform how communication plays a large role in life
• Identify attendees’ own communication style and how to use it effectively

Time: 1.5 hours

Number of people: 25