June 25th, 2025
Training Update
By: Cheryl Fuller, Training & Organizational Development Manager
Over the past year, we’ve seen our training opportunities grow and evolve at EAFWR and the wider community. In April 2024, we welcomed staff, direct support people, and the community to our 5th annual Direct Support Person Conference, Walking Through Trauma Together: Support and Care After Sexual Violence. This day and a half learning focused on helping DSPs identify and provide support to people who have experienced sexual violence, and ways to maintain health and wellness. Our speakers, Nikki Carswell, Nicole Schiener and Chris Martin, shared about human trafficking, the importance of self-care as a support person, and consent and boundaries in relationships, and supporting people with disclosures of sexual violence.
We had heard from our staff team and support people that there was a desire and interest in learning about self-care, trauma and supporting people with experiences of sexual violence. While the conference was heavier than in previous years, the subject matter resonated with our attendees, with many reflecting on how to take this learning and apply it in their work and personal lives.
Anytime I do a training seminar with EAFWR, I may think I already know the information, but what makes it special is the fresh perspective or a new way of thinking about an issue that always happens. – Kelly Zuk, EAFWR Direct Support Person
In October 2024, we introduced a new training: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), an Opening Minds Program. Over 30 people, including staff and family members, have attended this training. MHFA is offered quarterly and includes an online module, followed by in-person training. We are grateful for the positive feedback we’ve received so far and look forward to seeing this training grow.
The facilitators had an openness that made me feel open to expressing my thoughts, feelings and questions about the subject matter.
I really appreciated learning a framework to help me think through what it looks like to respectfully and appropriately respond.
We continued equipping our staff with tools and knowledge through our Inclusion, Understanding Conflict & Communication, and Sex Talks workshops. We are always happy to welcome community members who want to understand how to champion inclusion and belonging in our community.
In the wider community, we offered our Sex Talks training to Aldaview Services. In September 2024, we partnered with Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (OCAPDD) in Ottawa. In November 2024, we provided training to OCAPDD facilitators, so they could feel equipped to offer the Sex Talks training moving forward.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our workshops are open to community members! Visit eafwr.on.ca/training to learn more about our workshops and how you can get involved.
We also offer trainings to organizations and businesses! Interested in training for your team? Please contact Cheryl at cheryl.fuller@eafwr.on.ca