Reclaiming Connections Facilitator Workshop
Training Overview
The Reclaiming Connections program was developed over the past decade alongside British Columbia Indigenous communities, Elders and knowledge holders, health workers and families. The trauma-informed and strength-based program weaves culture throughout every session and can flexibly adapt to represent local cultural knowledge and caregiving practices. Reclaiming Connections acknowledges, with compassion, the experiences and internal worlds carried by parents and other carers, and how this shapes their relationships with their children. By working together, with support and safety, parents and other carers explore their relationships with their children, finding new ways of understanding and building a strength-based “tool-kit” for moving forward. At its core, this program aligns with the view that culture, connection and caregiving are interwoven and provide the strong foundations of health for all individuals and communities.
The full Reclaiming Connections workshop will be limited to a small number of participants, and priority will be given to Indigenous wellness workers. Non-Indigenous practitioners with established partnerships with Indigenous communities and extensive experience providing culturally safe, trauma-informed, and strength-focused support are also invited to express their interest in joining us, with priority given to those with prior Connect Program training. Completion of the workshop will be followed by mentorship and support in program delivery.
Workshop Structure
The workshop consists of six half-days across two weeks. On the first morning, we will discuss the foundations of connection and culture in caregiving, the influence of intergenerational trauma due to colonialism and cultural genocide that caused connection disruptions, and the inherent strength of culture, cultural learnings, and practices in guiding caregiving. Over the following days, we will introduce the Guiding Principles that support the intersection of culture and caregiving through role-plays, reflection exercises, and questions.
To download the schedule, click here.
How to become a certified Reclaiming Connections Group Facilitator?
Is there a shorter introductory workshop?
If you wish to gain an overview of the Reclaiming Connections program, you can sign up for the “Reclaiming Connections Foundation”. This would allow you to observe and participate in the first two days of the Reclaiming Connections workshop (the first day if the workshop is in-person).
This introductory session provides an in-depth review of the foundations of Reclaiming Connections, its structure, and the role of culture and connection in guiding caregiving. You will also participate in segments of the first two Reclaiming Connections guiding principles.
Please note that participation in the ‘Reclaiming Connections Foundation’ is not sufficient to become a Reclaiming Connections facilitator. Completion of the full Reclaiming Connections workshop is required for the purpose of Reclaiming Connections facilitator training and certification.
| Step 1. Training | Step 2. Certification | Options Post Certification |
Certification Retention and Additional Details
* All certifications require a refresh if over two years have elapsed since the last Reclaiming Connections group. |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Reclaiming Connections Facilitator Workshop (Required) |
Delivery of Reclaiming Connections Group with weekly mentorship by a Mentor to achieve certification. | Continue to deliver Reclaiming Connections Group | Refresh if over two years have lapsed between group delivery through partial workshop and/or partial supervision tailored to practitioner needs. |
| Pursue Advanced Program Options* |
Specialized supervision tailored to practitioner training and experience to achieve advanced certification.
Specializations include: Connect for Kinship and Foster Parents, Connect for Parents of Gender Diverse Youth. |
