HCBS Training
Teaching Person-Centered and Positive Support Practices to Other Stakeholders
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The types of people involved in HCBS vary and will need different kinds of training about person-centered and positive support practices. Teams consider training for these different groups. Examples of these groups include:
- People receiving services,
- Staff members providing direct support,
- Administrators, supervisors and managers,
- Behavioral health and medical professionals,
- Trainers and specialists, and
- Volunteers.
It is important to reach out to this larger circle of people who can help to improve person-centeredness in the wider community. Some people need basic details about the practices in HCBS while others may need more information.
Teams use Item 25 on the Minnesota Team Checklist to think about introducing key concepts about person-centeredness to people who are part of the larger community.
- People receiving services
- Family members, relatives and friends
- Guardians
- Community members
- Professionals from the mental health and medical communities
- County and other social workers
- Education
- Police and law enforcement
- Universities and colleges
It can be helpful for teams to assess how the provider is already reaching out to different groups of people. Sometimes special community events are occurring already. These events can be used as a way to share details about person-centered and positive support practices. Using time during the events that are already in place, when possible, helps to decrease costs since funds are already allocated for these events.
The training materials created for staff are adapted by adding new stories, examples, or information that will fit the needs of the different types of people. These slight changes can help people understand and apply the information.
One community held listening sessions with the police department, providers, advocates, family, relatives, community members, and county leaders. The listening session addressed adult foster care and the frequency of 911 calls that were occurring. Together, the community discussed concerns each stakeholder had about the increasing number of 911 calls that were occurring. Some people believed that were too many 911 calls while others voiced concerns about what resources might be available in order to help people before a 911 call was needed.
The team created training for staff, family members, and organizations. In addition to person-centered practices, the team introduced positive supports including Psychological First Aid and Trauma-Focused Care Philosophy. The team worked with community members to create a resource manual guide people through challenging situations by the practices that were introduced along with contact information where people can find help. Visit the Module 6 Resource Page to learn more about community collaboration.
Activity
Please use the MN Team Checklist and the HCBS Planning Tool to complete the activity.
Checklist item 25: The provider offers training for different stakeholders who can benefit from learning about person-centered and positive supports.
How will your team share information and progress about person-centered practice with stakeholders?
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If you haven't already done so please use these links to access the tools.