Pubdate: Wed, 18 Oct 2017
Source: Peterborough Examiner, The (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Peterborough Examiner
Contact: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/letters
Website: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2616
Author: Jessica Nyznik
Page: A3

TRAINING OFFERED TO DEAL WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Peterborough Drug Strategy is holding a new set of training sessions
this fall to support the work of professionals in aid-driven fields.

PDS's Question of Care training program is offering a first-stage
trauma treatment workshop and a dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)
skills workshop.

The workshops are designed to educate staff employed in social work,
addiction counselling, mental health and shelters, for example.

Jessica Penner, co-ordinator of PDS, said PDS strives to offer
training so local agencies don't have to create in-house sessions or
travel to other cities for education.

"Our focus is to try and bring it here in order to save money for
agencies," Penner said.

The first-stage trauma treatment workshop is a one-day event and the
DBT skills workshop is over two days.

They'll be led by Cheryl Robinson, a registered psychotherapist. She
has more than a dozen years of experience working in the addiction and
mental health fields.

There are three chances to take the workshops, which start Monday and
run until the beginning of December. They take place at the
Peterborough Lions Community Centre in East City.

The first stage trauma workshop is happening Nov. 20 and Dec. 14.
Participants will learn new ways to integrate trauma-informed practice
into their work and share safety and stabilization techniques with
clients.

The DBT skills workshop is on Oct. 30 and 31, Nov. 14 and 15, and Dec.
6 and 7. Attendees will have a chance to practice DBT skills before
leaving with practical tools for the workplace.

The Question of Care training program is a part of PDS's work to
reduce the negative impacts of substance use through education and
skill-based training.

The program launched in 2013, with training sessions running
throughout its first two years. During that time, more than 200
citizens received training.

A lack of proper funding stalled further training courses. Sessions
used to be free, but due to the funding shortage, PDS now charges for
its courses to cover their costs.

The first-stage trauma workshop is $30 and the DBT skills workshop is
$60. Some bursaries are available.

PDS is a collaborative effort that formed in 2009. It brings together
prevention, treatment, enforcement and harm reduction agencies with
concerned citizens.

NOTE: To register for a workshop, go to www.questionofcare.com/calendar/
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MAP posted-by: Matt