Improving Motivational Interviewing Skills-Focusing on OARS to Improve Outcomes for System-Involved Youth

Marya Wright, MSW, ASW

Training Description

This is an advanced course developed for those who support system-involved youth and have a basic understanding of Motivational Interviewing already. Participants will build on the knowledge gained from another introductory MI course. Participants will increase their understanding of open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries (OARS). The content explores each interviewing technique in-depth to enhance the participants tool kit of MI responses with system-involved youth and adolescents. Participants will be able to apply the tools learned in this course to establish reports, collaboration, and understanding for their current clients. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

Learning Objectives

· Trainees will be able to identify at least one way that utilizing OARS influences their efforts to support system-involved youth and families.

· Trainees will be able to explain the differences between stock and open-ended questions.

· Trainees will be able to distinguish between open- and closed-ended questions and demonstrate the ability to convert questions to elicit change talk.

Agenda

10:00 – 10:15am Welcome & Introductions

10:15 – 10:30am Open-ended Questions

10:30 – 10:45am Converting Stock Questions

10:45 – 11:00am Roadblocks

11:00 – 11:15am Reflections

11:15 – 11:30am Responding to youth material

11:30 – 11:45am BREAK (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

11:45am – 12pm Strengths

12:00 – 12:15pm Affirmations

12:15 – 12:30pm Reframing youth behaviors

12:30 – 12:45pm 30-Day Plan

12:45 – 1:00pm Questions/Answers, Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, MSW, is a nationally distinguished social worker, consultant, educator, international trainer, and facilitator with experience in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. She is the President and CEO of Wright Community Services LLC, a company that strives to empower system-involved families through awareness, services, and education while also providing consultation, training, and system specific facilitation to the agencies that services these communities. She is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (#81167) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences working to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).

Marya holds a Master’s in Social Work from California State University, East Bay with a focus on Child Welfare Policy and Research and a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing from San Diego State University.

Marya is a qualified expert witness and private dependency investigator for children, youth, and family services as it relates to family law court, juvenile and dependency court. She is an elected Board of Director for the California Society of Clinical Social Work (CSCSW).

Marya has conducted considerable research on Child Sexual Exploitation, Foster Care, and published an article on the use of algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. In addition to her clinical social work, Marya is a seasoned lecturer. She has taught in the Sociology Department at Cal State East Bay since Spring 2020. Her course load includes Sociology of Sexualities, Child Welfare Policy, Sociology of Family, and Sexual Violence.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) 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.