Being & Choosing Connection: How to Decrease Anxiety & Loneliness and Increase Connections for System Involved Youth

Anisa Mustafa

Training Description

In this training, we will discuss how Being, Staying and Choosing Connection can decrease anxiety, loneliness and fear and increase connections for system involved youth.  In this interactive training, participants will examine, discuss, and challenge issues related to disconnection. This workshop will encourage participants to apply connection methods including those specific to different communities and cultures. We will identify the root causes of why system involved youth might choose to disconnect, how that contributes to isolation and loneliness and fear. It will then determine ways to support ourselves and those we care for to reduce these intrusive feelings and behaviors that contribute to disconnection. Participants will explore the interconnections of peer support during times of crisis and the role relationships can play in increasing engagement of system involved youth and their families. Finally, participants will take time to create action plans to create positive changes and learn creative ways to integrate tools to decrease anxiety.

Lecture, and breakout group discussion will be used as training techniques to increase training participants understanding of connections tools and the most effective way to use them to support improved incomes for system involved youth and families.

Learning Objective

• Participants will be able to identify 3 principles of Connection, Connection Tools and Creating Structure.

• Participants will be able to identify 7 categories of connection to decrease anxiety, loneliness and fear

• Participants will be able to identify 4 techniques to support systems involved youth to be connected, choose connection, and enjoy alone time.

Agenda 

10:30-11:00am  Housekeeping, Introductions and Creating a Safe and Supportive Learning Environment

11:00am-12:30pm  What Is Connection, Enjoying Alone Time and Connection Tools

· Identify key principles of Connection, Connection Tools

· The importance of Enjoying Alone Time

· Recognizing the difference between alone time and being lonely

12:30-1:00pm  Lunch (CE hours will not be issued for this time)

1:00-3:30pm Reconnection, Daily Routine and Creating Structure

· Identify why we choose to disconnect and create strategies to reconnect

· Discuss the importance of Creating Structure and Daily Routines

3:30-3:45pm  Break (CE hours will not be issued for this time)

3:45-4:10pm Supporter Qualities

· Examine qualities we value in personal and professional supporter and systems

· Visit how support shows up in our lives and how we are supporting others

4:10-4:30pm  Next Steps, Debrief, and Closing

Meet Our Trainers

Anisa Mustafa is currently responsible for National and International Trauma, Crisis and Mental Health Recovery, Community Inclusion, Psychiatric Advanced Directives, Wellness/Recovery Education programs, certification training, curriculum development, and sourcing of initiatives through implementation. 

This course meets the qualifications for (5.25) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.