WHO Caregiver Skills Training Program: Master Trainer Workshop

Overview

Format: 9-10 virtual sessions, via MyCourses McGill 

Trainers: Marla Cable and Rebecca Fenton, with support from Lucia Murillo Chacko 

Dates: Intensive Course, April 8 - 12, 2024, daily from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT);  Practice Sessions, April 23, May 7 and 21, and June 4 and 18, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT)  

Price: FREE  

Language: English 

Learn more: Download our information package

Register online 

About the Master Trainer (MT) Workshop 

The 2024 MT Workshop is part of a national research initiative aiming to conduct research and to enhance community capacity in Canada for early intervention in various settings like clinics, early childhood education, and community centres.

Interested organizations are encouraged to nominate a minimum of 2 individuals to take part in the MT Workshop, where they can become certified Master Trainers for the Caregivers Skills Training (CST) Program. This program focuses on equipping caregivers of young children with socio-communicative delays, including autism, with the skills necessary to support their child's growth and development.

Participants in the MT Workshop will gain knowledge and skills to:

• Teach caregivers to use evidence-based strategies for promoting shared engagement, social skills, and positive behaviours in their children through play and daily home routines
• Integrate the CST Program in routine services
• Train and supervise others to carry out the intervention

MT Workshop Expert Trainers 

Expert trainers offer support to CST MT Workshop participants and their local organizations via training, supervision, and implementation guidance:

• Marla Cable, CST Master Trainer, Resource and Training Centre Coordinator, Giant Steps School
• Rebecca Fenton, CST Master Trainer, Project Coordinator, Autism Yukon
• with support from Lucia Murillo Chacko, CST Focal Point, Associate Director, Clinical Services and Inclusion, Autism Speaks

Learn more about our trainers online

About the CST Program 

• Developed by the World Health Organization, with support from Autism Speaks, and used in 30+ countries to help address widespread shortage of evidence-based early intervention
• For caregivers of 2- to 9-year-old children with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism
• Aims to empower parents and caregivers with knowledge, skills, and resources to help better support their children and improve wellbeing
• The CST Program includes nine group sessions and three individual coaching visits that cover topics such as communication, daily living skills, positive behaviour and engagement, as well as caregiving coping skills

MT Intensive Course

5 half-day courses: April 8 - 12, 2024, daily from 1 to 4 p.m. EDT (10 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT)

• Presents the content of CST and offers instruction on the delivery of the 9 group sessions and 3 individual visits
• Didactic content will be supplemented by skill-based training

Practice Sessions

4-5 interactive sessions: April 23, May 7 and 21, and June 4 and 18, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. to 1 p.m. PDT)

• Focuses on improving fidelity to the CST intervention model via weekly viewing and coding of intervention videos, and group discussions

Eligibility and Applications 

Spaces are limited. Priority given to Canadian organizations who:

• Are interested in becoming a partner organization in upcoming Canadian research on CST
• Offer services to families and young children, in particular those that have the capacity to reach underserved groups in Canada
• Are interested in integrating the CST Program as part of their routine services and sustaining the intervention over time, including training local facilitators, at no cost to families
• Have the necessary experience to deliver early intervention for neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism
• Can attend all of the sessions in the MT Workshop

Important Steps and Dates

From February 15 to March 20, 2024:

1. Reviewed the CST information package

2. Identify a minimum of two service providers from your organization to be trained as Master Trainers

3. Schedule a meeting with a member of the CST-Canada Team by emailing trainingndd@mcgill.ca

By Friday, March 22, 2024 at 5 p.m. EDT (2 p.m. PDT):

4. Complete and submit the MT Workshop application form AND provide resumes for each participant (Note: The application should be completed by a manager or person responsible for decisions about the implementation of programs within the organization)

By March 29, 2024:

5. Successful applicants will be notified of decisions by email

Contact

Martine Habra, PhD

Partnerships and Knowledge Mobilisation

Transforming Autism Care Consortium (TACC)

Email: trainingndd@mcgill.ca

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