Trainings:   

Professional Wellness Series

When: July 15, 22, and 29, 2025 - 10 AM to 12 PM each session.

Where: Virtual - Zoom links will be sent out 1-2 days prior to each session.

Cost: $130 (Oregon Alliance Members receive 10% off).

We are partnering with Boys & Girls Aid to bring you a 3-part virtual training series surrounding "Professional Wellness" in the workplace. Many client-facing and direct services staff have been facing challenges in the workplace, whether it's related to internal or external circumstances, and this training series will help address those issues and teach techniques to overcome stress and implement self-care in the workplace. 

This training series will be held in 3 sessions over 3 weeks and will cover these topics:

  • Tuesday, 7/15: Expanding our Foundations for Personal Wellness
  • Tuesday, 7/22: Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Tools for Resiliency
  • Tuesday, 7/29: Rational Detachment: Tools for Supportive Youth Care

About The Trainer

Taylor Herreman is an experienced leader in child and youth services, having worked in a variety of settings to support systems-involved youth with early childhood trauma exposure from a trauma informed perspective. Taylor is currently the Director of Training Services at Boys & Girls Aid, a non-profit foster and adoption agency in Portland, OR. In her role, she provides training and consultation to staff and foster parents in a variety of program roles.

 

Register Here

 

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

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Motivational Interviewing

When: August 20, 2025 - 9 AM - 4 PM.

Where: Knife River Training Center - 35973 Kennel Road SE, Albany, OR 97322.

Cost: $210 (Oregon Alliance Members receive 10% off).

The Center for Excellence and Jackson Street Youth Services are teaming up to bring you a full-day, in-person Motivational Interviewing (MI) training designed for those who serve families and youth! This interactive session will cover the principles and practice of MI, an evidence-based approach to fostering collaboration and positive change.

Participants will discuss and practice MI approaches that can be used in conversations around behavioral health, service engagement, and substance use, among other topics. Whether you're new to MI or looking to sharpen your skills, this training will offer practical tools and strategies to support you in your work.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discuss and demonstrate the fundamental spirit and principles of Motivational Interviewing.
  • Practice several Motivational Interviewing skills, including open-ended questions, reflective listening, and offering information.
  • Apply the core skills and principles of Motivational Interviewing to a variety of change topics.

About The Trainer

Carrie Bader (she/her), MPH, MOT first attended a Motivational Interviewing (MI) training in 2007 and has been a dedicated student of MI ever since. She is an occupational therapist and public health educator, and has worked in a variety of settings, including health coaching, inpatient behavioral health, and public health education.

As a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) and a MINT-certified trainer, Carrie has presented at conferences, healthcare settings, and non-profit organizations for a wide array of professionals, including front-line staff, clinicians, community and social service professionals, administrators, and leadership. She has provided training to hundreds of people in settings such as inpatient behavioral health, local and state government, and community-based organizations. Carrie is dedicated to supporting people in the helping professions to have collaborative and effective conversations through fun, interactive, and engaging workshops. 

 

Register Here

 

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

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Practice-Oriented Skillsets Series

When: September 2, 9, and 16, 2025 - 10 AM to 12 PM each session.

Where: Virtual - Zoom links will be sent out 1-2 days prior to each session.

Cost: $130 (Oregon Alliance Members receive 10% off).

NOTE: Individuals who attended the "Professional Wellness Series" in July are eligible to attend this series at a discount. Please email Erica at [email protected] to receive your discount promo code!

The Center for Excellence and Boys & Girls Aid are excited to provide another 3-part virtual training series: "Practice-Oriented Skillsets"!

This training series will be held in 3 sessions over 3 weeks and will cover these topics:

  • Tuesday, 9/2: Relationship: A Foundation for Meaningful Change
    Discover how safety and trust create the foundation for growth. Explore strategies to build strong, positive relationships with youth using the nested model of attachment.

  • Tuesday, 9/9: Understanding Compassion Fatigue and Tools for Resiliency
    Learn how stress affects the brain and body—for youth and helpers alike. Recognize the signs of compassion fatigue and practice tools to support resilience and emotional regulation.

  • Tuesday, 9/16: Strategies for Verbal De-escalation
    Gain confidence in using trauma-informed approaches to defuse tense situations. Explore techniques to calm distress and promote safety during moments of risk or crisis.

About The Trainer

Taylor Herreman is an experienced leader in child and youth services, having worked in a variety of settings to support systems-involved youth with early childhood trauma exposure from a trauma informed perspective. Taylor is currently the Director of Training Services at Boys & Girls Aid, a non-profit foster and adoption agency in Portland, OR. In her role, she provides training and consultation to staff and foster parents in a variety of program roles.

 

Register Here

 

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

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The Neurobiology of Trauma: Putting Theory into Practice

When: September 10, 2025  -  9 AM - 12 PM.

Where: Virtual - Zoom links will be sent out 1-2 days prior to the training date.

Cost: $160 (Oregon Alliance Members receive 10% off).

Leah Brookner is teaming back up with the Center for Excellence to follow-up on her prior trainings: “The Neurobiology of Trauma and Attachment: A Brain-based Approach to Healing Relationships.”

With a strong foundational understanding of attachment theory, brain development and the neurological impact of trauma, participants will explore the use of play-based and somatic experiencing techniques to support relational safety-building, nervous system regulation and trauma processing. 

Attendees will develop a clear understanding of how children’s nervous systems respond to internal and external stressors. You will leave with concrete strategies for attunement, grounding and co-regulation through the use of case studies and practice exercises.

 Note that all participants who complete this training will receive 3 MACHBO CEUs!

About The Trainers

Leah Brookner, PhD, MSW, MA first started teaching at PSU as an adjunct instructor and moved into her current position as an Assistant Professor of Practice in 2015 after many years as a child and family therapist. Dr. Brookner’s courses focus extensively on experiential therapies, child-centered interventions, animal-assisted therapy, adoption social work, and family services. Her clinical focus includes attachment-focused therapies, family system interventions, and engagement with families who intersect with foster care and adoption services. Dr. Brookner’s pedagogy is heavily influenced by her experience providing therapeutic services to children and their families/caregivers.

Helene Hanson, MSW, CSWA is a Portland-based child and family therapist whose main demographic is children who are struggling with emotional dysregulation and behavioral issues. She offers play-based and attachment-focused therapy methods that help children process in a low-demand and child-centered space. She works to understand the needs, feelings, and stressors that are at the root of the child’s behavior and provides tools to help them manage their feelings.

 

Register Here

 

Questions? Reach out to [email protected]

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