Upcoming Workshops
ICPN team members have been providing onsite-learning opportunities since the inception of the program. In 2015, ICPN launched the Professional Development Initiate to benefit members of the community and provider agencies. Since this time, both members of ICPN and outside speakers have offered Professional Development Workshops and Learning Experiences throughout the state of Illinois. All topics are based on observed trends in the field in an effort to provide support to staff and community members working with adults and children with challenging behaviors and/or medical difficulties. Goals of this initiative include increasing the education to those who take care of and provide services, providing relevant tools, and attempting to shift the focus of treatment away from crisis, and work towards prevention.
Beyond the Basics: Dealing with Dementia after Diagnosis
July 13, 2021
You notice signs and symptoms of dementia in your client and take him/her to the physician. Your client receives a diagnosis of dementia – what should you do next?! This workshop will identify and discuss the steps a health care worker should take after a doctor verifies memory impairment. You will learn about ways to inform your staff and peers in the home or community and recognize how goals and service plans may change throughout the decline process. Instructors will also review other medical issues that may arise during the diagnosis.
Supporting People with IDD as They Age Using ABA
July 20, 2021
Providing supports to the aging population is essential; however, it looks very different than other age groups. Accommodating decreased understanding and ability to express as one ages is a natural process. The application of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) can have a crucial role in supporting people with IDD as well as neurocognitive challenges. Through ABA, staff can work to make daily life more predictable through prompting and redirecting consistently. Expectations can be made simplistic to decrease frustration, with augmentations in the environment through visuals and other systems. Although programming plays a role, adjusting our focus to antecedent management is essential when working with the aging population. We will talk about antecedent management and simple ways to shift our thought processes in the ways we support and educate direct support staff.
Useful Treatment Strategies: Understanding and Supporting Persons with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability Who Have Been Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
July 27, 2021
Borderline Personality Disorder is a serious mental disorder marked by a pattern of ongoing instability in moods, behavior, self-image, and functioning. These experiences often result in impulsive actions and unstable relationships. This learning experience will provide an overview regarding the features of Borderline Personality Disorder as well as discuss how Borderline Personality Disorder may present in people with Developmental Disabilities. In addition to this, an overview of treatment strategies for managing difficult behavioral incidents common for people with Borderline Personality Disorder with be provided.
Differential Diagnosis of Genetic Disorders and Autism Spectrum Disorder
July 28, 2021
This presentation will compare and contrast Autism Spectrum Disorder with the most prevalent Genetic Disorders. Specifically, we will compare the physical characteristics, co-morbid medical conditions, and issues, along with the behavioral presentations of ASD with these syndromes. The presentation will emphasize the unique characteristics and issues associated with each condition that may assist in the differential diagnosis of these conditions. Case studies will be presented to exemplify the similarities and differences between these conditions. The presentation will also review current treatment recommendations for different genetic disorders and highlight current research on promising treatments for those disorders. Participants will receive a tool to aid in the differential diagnosis of genetic disorders along with links to resources for support.
Compassion Fatigue and Burnout
August 10, 2021
Compassion fatigue and burnout are common experiences for staff in the helping professions. In this training, staff will be able to learn about these difficulties as well as how to combat them. Learning how to build resiliency and sustain our personal and professional selves allows us to continue to serve the intellectual disabilities community to the best of our abilities.
Beyond the Basics: Dealing with Dementia after Diagnosis
August 17, 2021
You notice signs and symptoms of dementia in your client and take him/her to the physician. Your client receives a diagnosis of dementia – what should you do next?! This workshop will identify and discuss the steps a health care worker should take after a doctor verifies memory impairment. You will learn about ways to inform your staff and peers in the home or community and recognize how goals and service plans may change throughout the decline process. Instructors will also review other medical issues that may arise during the diagnosis.
Useful Treatment Strategies: Understanding and Supporting Persons with an Intellectual/Developmental Disability Who Have Been Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder
August 24, 2021
Borderline Personality Disorder is a serious mental disorder marked by a pattern of ongoing instability in moods, behavior, self-image, and functioning. These experiences often result in impulsive actions and unstable relationships. This learning experience will provide an overview regarding the features of Borderline Personality Disorder as well as discuss how Borderline Personality Disorder may present in people with Developmental Disabilities. In addition to this, an overview of treatment strategies for managing difficult behavioral incidents common for people with Borderline Personality Disorder with be provided.
Self-Care: But Who Cares for the Caregivers?
Tuesday, September 21, 2021
Focusing on preventative measures can help us lead a happier, healthier life. During this workshop, a review of self-care studies and ideas. We will focus on identifying self-care methods unique to each individual person and how to best enact these methods of care to improve one’s life. We will review the balance between work, personal, and family stresses and develop practical plans. The plans will focus on recognizing the deficits in each area and how to build them back up. This workshop will help those actively engaged in the helping profession recognize the need for self-care, including the types of self-care, as well as how we can develop a self-care plan.