Joining

Joining/Rapport-Building Skills
Solid interviewing skills and techniques are the foundation for joining with families and eliciting relevant assessment information. In addition, good interviewing techniques allow the worker to deal with resistance and hostility, and to negotiate conflict. This skills-oriented training is appropriate for anyone working with families, as well as supervisors who wish to enhance their ability to work with their team.

Solution-Focused Approach to Engaging Families
The solution-focused approach to working with families, which was developed by Insoo Kim Berg, provides a strength-based, empowering method for joining, engaging and motivating families for change. The approach is consistent with a family-centered philosophy, and shares the decision-making process of case planning and implementation with the family. This practical training focuses on the philosophy of this approach and the interviewing techniques necessary to engage and empower families.

Engaging/Interviewing Skills with Children
This module follows the "Foundation of Joining Skills" training and emphasizes talking to children in language they can understand based on cognitive and language development. In addition, specific techniques are discussed for interviewing children regarding difficult issues, such as sexual abuse and domestic violence.

Culturally Competent Interviewing Skills
This training focuses on culturally competent interviewing skills, including awareness of cultural taboos, verbal and nonverbal language, and the use of translators and interpreters. This skill-based workshop is highly interactive, with considerable time spent in practicing tools using participants' case examples.