DSS Instructor Orientation

August 13, 2014

PANEL:

Jennifer Pryor, Training Coordinator

Jay White, CEU Contact, Content Development

Annette Kelley, DSS, Division of Licensing Programs

Dr. E. Ayn Welleford, Department of Gerontology Chair

Introductions

• Mary Beth Alford • Ellen Phipps

• Sonya Barsness • Lindsey Slaughter

• Annette Clark • Nakia Speller

• Ronda Greene • Stacy Sutherland

• Carolyn Merriman • Rhonda Whitmer

• Courtney Petley • Gail Ziemba

Welcome Returning and New Instructors!

Agenda

• Review of Spring 2014

• Fall 2014

• What’s New?

• Policy & Procedure Manual

• Department Preamble

• Fairfax/VA Beach Training Sites

• CEUs

• Questions from YOU!

Review: Spring 2014

• ISP

• Working With Families

• Organizational Diversity (new)

• Agitation and Aggression

Overall:

Well Received and very positive feedback (great tips/tricks/information)

Constructive Feedback:

Practice better time management and engage the group

– do not just read to them!

Looking Ahead: Fall 2014

• ISP

• Activities for the Cognitively Impaired: Part I• Updates by Ellen Phipps

• Mental Health in Later Life Part I: Mood Disorders & Anxiety • Updates by Jay White

What’s New?

Policy and Procedure Manual

New sections include information on:

Mandatory Semiannual Webinar Meetings

Department Preamble

Enhanced Expectations of our Instructors

New online CEU process

Blackboard Training Summaries

Conditions of Employment

Department Preamble

A dynamic program in place since 1976 in the School of Allied Health, the

Gerontology Program prepares students for a variety of capacities and settings

including allied health, public sector, education and research, as well as impact

in those professions serving senior consumers.

With a broad, integrated view of gerontology, our perspective is that whether

one is a degree/certificate seeking student, or pursuing continuing education,

the application of gerontological knowledge can support optimal aging.

What’s New?

What’s New?

• New Training Sites

New Fairfax Training Site!

• Historic Blenheim (Fall only)

• There will be a new site in the Spring

New VA Beach

Training Site!

• VA Department of Social Services, Eastern Regional Licensing Office

What’s New?

Each trainer folder will continue to have

hard copy forms.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

NEW FOR FALL 2014

Online application and advance payment of CEU’s will now be accepted during online

registration for each training course. Upon registering for a training, you will be asked

to select if you want to receive CEU credit for the course. A $10 processing fee will

be added to your total. You must complete the online CEU application form during

registration. Refunds will not be given for no-show attendance. If you have any

questions, please email agingstudies@vcu.edu.

Hard Copy Online

+ $10 check or money order + $10 credit card payment

Turned in at training Completed before training

CEU Applications

How will we know if someone applied

for CEUs online?

Carolyn paid

with a check for

the class, and

did not apply for

CEUs online

Derrick paid with a

credit card for the

class, and applied

for CEUs online

What’s New:

CEUs

• Only those who register for the training online are able to apply

for CEUs online

• Online CEU applications cannot be completed at or after the

training

Questions?

Tips, Tricks, and

Fun Activities

“I always use tented name cards…this helps

to keep the training more personal. I can

reengage someone if I feel that attention is

drifting”

– Annette Clark

“Establish up front what they hope to gain from the workshop and then explain the goals

and objectives”

– Ellen Phipps

“Identify with specific disciplines, how hard

they work at what they do, and what motivates them to do well at their work (i.e., CNA versus

DON versus social worker).”

– Lindsey Slaughter

“I use the agenda as my nametags. It really helps to have them. You can

call on people and acknowledge them when they engage”

–Carolyn Merriman

Making It Fun!

“I always have some type of ice breaker even if

one is not included in the

training”

– Annette Clark

“Playing an ice breaker game for the attendees to get to know each other a little but also to help them relax and make a fun

learning experience”

– Rhonda Whittmer

“Use humor/be personally accessible… use real-life examples to engender a “group peer

supervision” feel. Make info meaningful to what they really do and have folks learn from each

other and give tips.”

– Lindsey Slaughter

“I usually try to come up with an

exercise relative to the topic of the

class or just a fun ice breaker”

– Gail Ziemba

M&M ICE BREAKERshared by Rhonda

• Give each participant a fun size bag of M&Ms

• Have them select 2 or 3 colors from the bag

• During introductions have them introduce themselves by using the color of the M&Ms

as follows:

Red

Describe

your

personality

in one word.

Orange

What is

your

favorite

food?

Blue

What is one

thing your

parents

taught you?

Brown

What is one

thing you

want to learn

today?

Yellow

What do you

like the most

about your

job?

Green

Which cartoon

character best

describes you?

Making the Best of Group Activities!

• “Group activities are key in making the program more

interesting. They are heavily encouraged to do these activities

with attendees that they do not work with or know.”

– Annette Clark

• “The group counted off by 6, which helped get a balance of

experienced and inexperienced participants in the group, and

mixed up the different facilities.”

– Carolyn Merriman

Bringing it all Home!

• “If time allows, I always attempt to let the attendees discuss

best practices, tips, and tools that they use. It promotes

engagement, self-esteem, etc. and others always learn from the

shared information.”

– Annette Clark

Questions from YOU!

For Annette Kelley:

“What is going on with Person-Centered Care related to the

regs that DSS is trying to get though our state government?

Annette spoke about that sometime this past year.”

For Gerontology:

“What exactly is needed for the Leadership Program [CEGL]

that is being offered?”

Questions from YOU!

• How can we better engage adult day centers?

• Could we have prizes or candy to hand out?

• Is it possible for the department to provide laptops to

instructors in addition to projectors?

• Can we have a one day conference for all the trainers so that we

can meet one another?

Questions from YOU!

“Some attendees seem to register for all of the training sessions

regardless if they have attended them in the past. I know and

understand that they need the training hours and many of them

are engaged in the repeat session, but some seem to be less

interested. I do attempt to use other examples and change up

activities as much as possible, but feel a responsibility to keep

true to the curriculum… any one else have suggestions?”–

Submitted by Annette Clark

Wrap Up Questions and Comments

Jennifer Pryor – pryorjm@vcu.edu

Jay White – whitejt2@vcu.edu

Department of Gerontology

804-828-1565 | http://www.sahp.vcu.edu/gerontology/

Department of Social Services

http://www.dss.virginia.gov/