Oppression, Privilege, and Motivational Interviewing: Utilizing MI for Systems Safety Planning

Sarah Solis LCSW & Salina Harrigan LCSW

Training Description

This 6-hour training focuses on the experience of marginalized communities and the means of tailoring Motivational Interviewing to capture an at-risk youth’s experience of oppression. Trainees will identify aspects of their own privilege and use this to better enhance service provision/assess marginalization. The training will include practice of concrete Motivational Interviewing skills, such as readiness rulers, value cards, and OARS (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries). The training will conclude with trainees practicing the facilitation of change plans that highlight the at-risk youth’s means of remaining safe in oppressive treatment systems. Learning will occur in small and large group. All skill levels welcome, prior Motivational Interviewing training helpful.

Learning Objective

• Differentiate between sustain talk and the identification of oppression/structural violence
• Identify aspects of their own privilege and use this to enhance service provision to marginalized individuals/communities
• Establish change plans that focus on safety within an oppressive system

Agenda 

9:00am-9:15am-Trainer Introduction and Objectives

9:15am-9:45am-The Righting Reflex

9:45am-10:30am-Spirit of MI

10:30am-10:45am-Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

10:45am-12:00pm-Types of Client Communication/Discussions Around Oppression

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

12:30pm-1:15pm-Privilege

1:15pm-2:130pm-OARS

2:30pm-2:45pm-Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

2:45pm-3:15pm-Types of Advocacy/Formal Supports

3:15pm-3:45pm-Change Plan

3:45pm-4:00pm-Provider Safety While Advocating

Meet Our Trainers

Director of Seeds of Change Consulting, Sarah Solis LCSW, has 15 years of experience providing care to clients impacted by trauma. She is currently employed as a Clinical Case Manager at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sarah has worked in corrections, community mental health outpatient and day treatment programs, medical social work, and community-based services for children and families. Sarah has experience providing direct service, clinical supervision, and worked as a program manager for many years.

The majority of Sarah’s experience has been working with underserved and marginalized populations. Cultural humility and responsiveness is an important element in her work. She participates in regular cultural humility work groups and facilitates trainings to address oppressive practices in clinical settings.

Sarah has been training for 12 years and completed the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) training program. She remains an active member.

Salina has worked in the field of social work for over 16 years. Salina is currently providing case management support and housing services to homeless veterans in Alameda County, and she comes with a wealth of social work experience. Salina worked with foster youth in Sacramento County for close to 10 years before moving into medical social work for more than 5 years.

Salina is currently an adjunct Field Instructor teaching first year Master of Social Work students at California State University, East Bay. She also provides students with support, advising, and supervision while in their field internship.

Salina continues to give back to her community by acting as a board member for a local non-profit providing mentorship services to foster youth. She has provided social service education to community providers to ensure the best possible care to clients.

Salina knows that the additional education, training and experience providers receive, prepares them to provide the best possible service and support to clients and strengthens the community they serve.

This course meets the qualifications for (6.00) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.