About the Training Program

Professionals who work with caregivers and young children (birth to 3 years) often see the need to support and guide caregivers in building nurturing and responsive relationships with children. Promoting First Relationships gives professionals the knowledge, tools, and strategies to do so. As of early 2011, we have conducted over fifty Promoting First Relationships Workshops in every region of the United States and in Japan.

Through this training, participants learn a unique consultation and intervention strategy that they can integrate into their work, whether in the high risk, special needs, child care, or other early childhood fields. The strategy can be used one-on-one with parents, in the clinic or in home, and also with child care providers and early childhood teachers responsible for group care. Because Promoting First Relationships is a positive, strengths-based model, caregivers are open to the intervention and gain competence, and thus investment, in their caregiving.

The Promoting First Relationships training program integrates theory, practice and intervention. Trainers use various learning approaches including video case studies, role-playing, and reflective dialogue. These approaches allow participants to apply the framework directly to issues faced in their work environment.

Why Promote First Relationships?

Parenting and providing child care to young children is a joyful experience, yet it is also challenging and demanding. Poverty, poor parenting models, family stress, special needs, or behavioral difficulties can make the task even more complicated. These first relationships between children and their parents or other caregivers - the people who are closest to them - are crucial to children's later development, particularly their social and emotional development. When these first relationships are positive, children develop confidence in themselves, trusting relationships with others, and a hopeful outlook on life.

So why Promote First Relationships? Because how we are as parents and caregivers is as important as what we do.

There are currently three different levels of Promoting First Relationships training available. Please note that completion of the 3-day Learner's Workshop (Level 2) is required prior to participating in Level 3 traning. Please click here for more information about this Workshop.

Training Levels

Level 1: Awareness Building

1.5 to 4-Hour presentations facilitated by Program Director, Dr. Jean Kelly, or another Promoting First Relationships Master Trainer. Presentations designed to introduce the concepts of Promoting First Relationships.

Level 2: Knowledge Building

3-day Learner's Workshop, click for more information.  Next workshop dates are March 5, 6 and 7, 2012 in Seattle, WA.

Our three day workshop is designed to give service providers knowledge about using Promoting First Relationships within one’s own practice. The workshop is taught by PFR Master Trainers and includes the curriculum, parent handouts, and training in the following elements:

• Elements of a Healthy Relationship
• Attachment Theory and Secure Relationships
• Reflective Capacity Building
• Development of Self for Infants and Toddlers
• PFR Consultation Strategies
• Challenging Behaviors
• Intervention Planning Development

Level 3: Skill Building

           
Prerequisite: Knowledge Building 3-day Workshop

Our Level 3 training is a more intensive mentored training program with two models, our Reflective Practice and Learner Model.

A. Reflective Practice is a mentored model where a PFR Master Trainer attends agency based case conferencing and mentors participants in a reflective practice case consultation strategy based on PFR curriculum.

B. Learner Model is a mentored model where a PFR Master trainer works on-site with service providers within their own practice setting mentoring the trainee in the use of PFR methods and consultation strategies. The Learner Model consists of a total of 20 mentored visits with two different families.  Each mentored visit lasts 2 ½ hours and includes a 75-minute visit with the family and a 1-hour reflection with the mentor afterward.

C. Distance Learning Model: In response to the many requests for online training, we are launching an online, mentored training program. Training will begin in October 2011. Applications are currently being accepted and registration will be limited to the first 20 applicants at this time. You may read below, or click on this link for more information about this option. ( PFR Distance Learning Flyer)


Training Participants will work individually or in pairs with one of our Promoting First Relationships master trainers.


 During the first 10 weeks, trainees will view professionally filmed PFR sessions with caregivers (parents and child care providers) and young children (infant,toddler, special needs). The tapes were developed and narrated by Dr. Jean Kelly, PFR director. After viewing each tape, master trainers and trainees will meet every other week on-line to reflect on the filmed sessions and the PFR infant mental health essentials. The curriculum includes the following elements: Elements of a Healthy Relationship; Attachment Theory and Secure Relationships; Reflective Capacity Building; Development of Self for Infants and Toddlers; PFR Consultation Strategies; Challenging Behaviors; and Intervention Planning.
 During the next 10 weeks, trainees will be mentored weekly on-line as they implement PFR with caregiver/child dyads at their own sites. Sessions will include reflection on videos of the dyadic interactions that trainees upload to a secure website, and discussion about how to implement the PFR concepts and consultation strategies.

Pre-requisites:
 3-day PFR Workshop through NCAST in Seattle. Or an on-site workshop delivered in your area may be arranged through NCAST (www.ncast.org)
 Access to a computer with internet access and a video camera to record sessions during the second 10 weeks.


Costs for 6-Month Mentored Training Program:
 Individual mentoring: $2750
 Pair mentoring (two individuals simultaneously; preferably from the same agency): $1950 each


Contact: Jennifer Rees, MSW, PFR Program and Training Manager, rees@uw.edu, for more information.