Outreach Training - March Session #1

Half day training for frontline staff who have outreach as part of their roles working within Wellington-Guelph.

Outreach Training:

To align front-line practice across agencies, strengthen core outreach skills, and establish clear, shared expectations for housing-focused outreach and encampment response grounded in Housing First, Trauma-Informed Practice, Harm Reduction, and Motivational Interviewing.

Housing-Focused Foundations

Shift from contact → engagement → housing; practice first-contact scripts; identify actionable next steps that advance housing pathways from the outset.

Trauma-Informed & Harm Reduction Practice

Build safety and trust in outreach interactions; practice safer-use conversations; develop de-escalation micro-skills for field-based engagement.

Motivational Interviewing in Outreach

Apply OARS skills (Open questions, Affirmations, Reflections, Summaries); elicit change talk; support goal-setting in real-world outreach contexts.

Person-Centred Intensive Case Management (ICM)

Strengthen housing navigation, warm hand-offs, documentation practices, and coordination of appointments and supports.

Safety, Boundaries, and Self-Care

Review field safety planning, vicarious trauma awareness, and structured debrief models to support staff wellness and sustainability.

Participants should sign up for two sessions, one in February and one in March.