AFP Training Outline

Alternatives for Professionals Training Outline

Presenter:

Barbara Baumann, Ph.D.
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic

Program Description:

Training will focus on development of skills to implement Alternatives for Professionals in community settings. AFP workshops focus on actively engaging participants in discussions, behavioral rehearsal, and exercises to increase their comfort and skill when working with youth and families with a history of aggression, conflict, behavior problems, or violence. The three-phase conceptual model is designed to provide a parallel process to the evidence-based model, Alternatives for Families: a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (AF-CBT) on which it is based. The SUPPORT acronym is taught to assist professionals in implementing the differing techniques and strategies from AFP. Illustrations of the methods that derive from the model will be provided to highlight key family processes that underlie the use of coercion and hostility (e.g., relationships, reframing, rules and roles, family routines), and family treatment methods (e.g., problem-solving). Specific activities and recommendations will be provided to enhance the use of community-based intervention strategies.

Educational Objectives:

At the conclusion of training, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the intervention model and its content
2. Discuss characteristics and consequences of child and family aggression
3. Implement specific techniques to decrease parent and child aggression
4. Initiate discussions about professional experiences with high levels of client conflict
5. Complete decisional balance training and goal planning
6. Implement engagement & retainment methods
7. Discuss techniques to promote positive problem-solving routines
8. Provide some positive child behavior management training

Alternatives for Professionals (AFP), based on AF-CBT (Alternatives for Families: a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), is designed to cover key skill components that can be taught by a range of professionals who do not provide direct counseling services to families, such as case workers, case managers, foster care workers, wrap-around providers, home visitors, and other professionals. AFP introduces and reinforces skills for engaging with families involved with the mental health, juvenile justice, or child welfare system.

For those with a masters degreee who provide direct counseling services to families, AF-CBT training is a better fit.