Training

 

  • Presentations are usually short “exposure” type trainings give basic information about a topic, usually in lecture format.
  • Skill-building trainings are experiential, interactive, with a chance to focus on real-life implementation or role-playing during the training
  • Facilitated Discussions are short, sometimes repeated, opportunities to discuss specific topics with experts and peers to support and enhance skills and knowledge.
  • Seek trainings evaluated on the basis of how well students demonstrate mastery of the skill and use it in ongoing practice as determined by follow-up.
  • Trainings can be taken
    • in person at a training center or education campus;
    • online
    • a blend of in person and online
  • Your work may offer individual or multi-staff trainings at work or offsite.
  • Online trainings taken by all staff individually can be supplemented with group discussions to add the interactive element.

A director might take an exposure training on a topic they are less familiar with, and consider sending staff and supervisors to a skill-building level training on the topic.

Some training topics that everyone working in the substance use field should take are:

  • Motivational interviewing
  • Cultural responsiveness
  • Trauma-informed care
  • Person-centered planning/shared decision making
  • Harm reduction

If you are working toward a license or certification, or need to accrue Continuing Education hours, make sure the course is accredited to provide hours for your field. Review the credentialing requirements and resources listed under the Career Paths you are most interested in getting trained for.