This week our blog post features a YWCA team member’s reflection on their attendance to the Supervised Visitation Network 24-hour certificate training that YW hosted.
September 20th-23rd, YW Calgary hosted Canada’s first Supervised Visitation Network’s (SVN) 24-hour certificate training. Stacey, YWFamily Access Services and Child Support Programs Supervisor attended the training along with four team members.
Other attendees came from Calgary, Fort McMurray, Whitecourt, Alberta and Toronto, Ontario. Facilitating the training were Joe Nullett, Executive Director of SVN from Jacksonville, Florida; Kathy Lotsos, MSW, Clinical Director of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and President of the SVN board of directors as well as Jody Bittrich, Parenting Time Program Director at Family Tree in Colorado.
“Trainings like this are great opportunities for participants to have more training specifically geared towards supervised visitation,” said Stacey Ashton. Attending these types of training ensure our frontline teams remain aware of best practice standards and ensure our organization remains a leader in innovation and service delivery. “The YW team, and other participants, had a chance to network with like-minded individuals – people who speak their language, understand their successes and share many of the same challenges,” remarked Stacey.
The SVN training pertained specifically to supervised visitation topics including: SVN code of ethics and standards, relevant laws, child welfare and reporting, safety, family violence, cultural sensitivity, child development and parenting skills, effects of separation, grief and loss, mental health and substance abuse, parent re-introduction and intervention.
This was an interactive training with a lot of opportunities for knowledge sharing and a great way for staff to hear other perspectives on the important work they do. To receive a certificate, all participants were required to pass a final exam.
Some of the feedback from YW staff:
“The SVN training provided me with a comprehensive introduction to the complex needs of those seeking service at our facility, from custodial and visiting adults. Through insightful presentation and thought-provoking examples, I have added more ‘tools’ to my ‘facilitator’s toolbox’ including: intervention strategies, understanding policies & procedures, building rapport with clientele and maintaining ethical standards of practice.”
“I really appreciated the information on supportive intervention, mental health awareness/substance abuse, standards/ethics and protocol regarding abuse signs. I feel that I will be approaching my visits with more information and a more detailed awareness of what visitation should look like. It was also great to meet people in this field and share ideas and experiences.”
At YW Calgary, we know that supporting a woman includes her family and creating spaces where women and their children can engage and feel safe is critical to their ability to thrive.
