All parents and guardians of children with mental and behavioral health challenges need hope.

Favor’s Learning and Leadership Academy (FLLA):

FAVOR’s Learning & Leadership Academy is a learning collaborative designed to provide an infrastructure guiding and mentoring youth and family champions interested in developing their leadership and peer support skills—while fostering a spirit of life-long learning and continuous personal growth.

The mission of the Learning and Leadership Academy is to empower individuals through education, training and development that elevates young adult and family voice in the community.

 

Training Descriptions:

How to Be Your Child’s Best Advocate-

Part 1 & 2

(1 hour each)

Part 1 – Focus is on educational advocacy, including what to do when your child is struggling in school, the PPT process, laws parents need to know, effective communication and collaboration skills, how to work with school professionals when disagreements occur, and resources for parents with children who have behavioral health challenges.

Part 2 – Focus is for parents/caregivers to learn about possible issues that may arise once your child has been identified under special education.

Topics include:

  • Bullying
  • Manifestation Determination
  • Discipline
  • Suspensions
  • Expulsions
  • Independent Evaluations
  • Prior Written Notice

Agents of Change

(1 hour)

This workshop helps family members understand the change process that drives the networks of care. Topics include: increase your knowledge of System of Care values and principles, enhance your knowledge of Connecticut’s Network of Care Transformation Initiative –[CONNECT], develop skills to bring family voice to local, regional and state decision-making tables, and advance family engagement in policy and practice.

Data Series:

(1 hour each)

Why Data Matters & How to Read It

A hands-on workshop that teaches participants how to understand and interpret everyday data through visuals and real-life examples.

Understanding & Questioning Data

This session explores how data is collected, how to spot bias or gaps, and why critical thinking is essential when reviewing data in care systems.

Telling Your Story with Data

Participants learn to combine personal stories with meaningful data to craft compelling messages for advocacy and change.

Support Group: Facilitation

(1.5 hours)

This training addresses the need to nurture, empower, and educate families of children with mental health, behavioral or emotional challenges who are current facilitators or are interested in facilitating support groups. Participants will learn the following skills: listening awareness, communication skills, stages of human emotional response, strategies for handling challenging and difficult behaviors, facilitator skills and strategies, what makes a good support group, support group member responsibilities, support group facilitator.

CONNECTing Youth

(1 hour)

An interactive presentation designed to introduce youth to the Children’s Behavioral Health System and to mental health as an important part of your overall health. It focuses on three pillars — Physical, Mental and Social Health and allows the participants to see how they can all be interconnected. The presentation also dedicates time to discuss the difference between Mental Health and Mental Illness as it relates to the culture of their school and community. CONNECTing Youth allows time to brainstorm ways that youth can take charge and bring awareness to health, wellness and reducing the stigma of mental illness.

Persuasive Storytelling

(1.5 hours)

This workshop focuses on the use of personal stories, one of the most effective tools for children’s behavioral health advocates. Personal stories are especially powerful when communicating with system partners, provider agencies, media and other families and youth. During this session, participants learn and practice skills for telling their personal story. Participants are taught how to create their Single Overriding Communication Objective (SOCO). A SOCO is the reason a presentation or speech is done. Participants learn that if they stay true to their SOCO, there will be no doubt in the audience’s mind about what they stand for and what message they are trying to convey. This training is highly interactive.

What’s Your Story?

(1 hour)

Focuses on walking youth and young adults through the process of telling their stories honestly and exactly the way you want in your own words. The workshop discusses the sharing circle, the importance of knowing your audience and understanding how to apply the pain to power philosophy. The workshop closes with participants beginning to create an outline for their story.

Understanding Your Child’s IEP

(1 hour)

This training focuses on understanding:

  • the New IEP page by page
  • changes from the old IEP
  • how parents/caregivers should prepare input/concerns in the different areas of
    • academic – all subjects
    • social and emotional
    • transition planning

  • List of supplementary aids and services

Mental Health & Wellness Workshops:

(1 hour each)

Redefining Self Care

This workshop is a concise exploration and discussion of self-care essentials, focusing on balance and stress management. Uncover the three key areas of self-care – physical, emotional, and mental – and learn to integrate them for overall well-being. After our interactive session, you will have the skills to create a customized self-care plan, empowering you to thrive and work towards leading a more joyful life.

Burnout: Road to Recovery

A reflective workshop that uses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to help participants recognize burnout, understand its root causes, and build personalized strategies for self-care and sustainable recovery.