Description of Trainings

The Boys & Girls Village program itself is a philosophy and a method of caring for children and their families. The program flows from the philosophy that the youth it serves have not yet developed the skills they need to live healthy and productive lives.

Our staff has the responsibility of providing an environment wherein the youth of Boys & Girls Village can learn those skills so very essential in becoming a functional part of society.

Boys & Girls Village provides some of its workshops to outside agencies on a contractual basis. Please direct any questions to Jeannine Popovic, Director of Training, at (203) 877-0300, ext. 141.

Staff Training

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI)

Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training (TCI) is one part of a comprehensive staff development program that provides core training as well as specialized training based on the population served. Therapeutic Crisis Intervention presents a crisis prevention and intervention model designed to help staff assist children to learn constructive ways to handle feelings of frustration, failure, anger and hurt. In addition, safe physical intervention techniques that respect the dignity of the staff and the child will help the child learn how to avoid crisis.

TCI is a competency-based training. All Boys & Girls Village employees are required to attend and pass the training within their probationary period. Staff is also required to attend and pass re-certifications as scheduled for their programs throughout the year.

TCI training is conducted by a member of the Boys & Girls Village Training Department who has completed a Cornell University-sponsored Training of Trainers and is certified to train this course. TCI trainers are required to attend Cornell University sponsored updates every two years in order to maintain their training status.

Boys & Girls Village Social Skills Model

The Boys & Girls Village model is the second part of our comprehensive staff development program. The model that Boys & Girls Village trains staff to use with the children they serve is much different than traditional behavior modification programs. Our model trains staff to include teaching in each of their interactions with the children. Staff learn effective ways to praise children, teach them about new situations, or situations that may present a challenge for them, about how to correct problem behavior, and how to use crisis as an opportunity.

Training in the Social Skills Model is also competency based and all Boys & Girls Village employees are required to attend, and pass the training within their probationary period. Staff is also required to attend and pass re-certifications as scheduled through their programs throughout the year.

Social Skills Model training is conducted by specially trained staff who, in addition to holding a minimum number of certifications from Girls & Boys Town, USA, have also had extensive on-site training and experience with Model use.

Workshops Also Open to Outside Agencies

PARENTING CLASSES: Girls & Boys Town, USA Common Sense Parenting

The Girls & Boys Town, USA Common Sense Parenting (CSP) program complements all our programs by providing a complete training package to train parents in the same skills used by our staff for on-campus programs. This class, designed for parents of school-aged children has proven successful in many different homes. CSP teaches parents the practical tools needed to teach their children the social skills they need, while at the same time, helps to lower current levels of aggression and to date, more than 2,000 trainers are disseminating the program in organizations in 44 states and 12 foreign countries. Those organizations include schools, churches, counseling agencies, and the US Air Force's Family Advocacy program. There is an ongoing CSP training program taking place in each of our three different offices throughout the year (Milford, Waterbury, & Bridgeport). Check on our home page for the link for registration forms. BEGINNING IN JULY 2007 we will also be offering CSP in Spanish as well as for Toddlers & Pre-schoolers. (All trainers are certified through Girls & Boys Town, USA.)

Learning Workshops

Several Learning Workshops are held throughout the year in order to help staff to obtain the additional training they need to develop professionally. Several of these workshops are also open to the community. Some recent workshops have included: Domestic Violence, A Judges Decision: TPR or Reunification, and, Staying Safe in the Community. If you are interested in attending any of our upcoming Learning Workshops, please contact Jeannine Popovic, Director of Training at (203) 877-0300, extension 141 for pricing information, workshop lists and class availability.

On-Site Training

Boys & Girls Village Training Department has often designed specialized trainings, based on the needs of agencies, schools and organizations in the community. If you or your agency, school or organization has a special need for training, please contact Jeannine Popovic, Director of Training at (203) 877-0300, extension 141. Our experienced trainers will work closely with you to develop a training that meets your specific needs.

Community Adult, Child and Infant CPR

The CPR courses are taught by an American Red Cross Certified Instructor. Courses are offered in adult, child and infant CPR. The courses include responses for choking, cardiac arrest and respiratory arrest. Certification in CPR from the American Red Cross is received after successful completion. Certification is valid for one year. Tuition Cost: $65 per person.

Community First Aid

The First Aid course is taught by an American Red Cross Certified Instructor. Topics covered include wounds, burns, injuries to muscles, bones and joint, sudden illness and heat and cold related injuries. Certification in First Aid from the American Red Cross is received after successful completion of the course. Certification is valid for three years. Tuition Cost: $40 per person.