Navigating Challenging Conversations: Why, What, and How

 

 

This series was presented on

August 11, 18, & 25, 2022

 

 

 

Challenging conversations are an inevitable part of building trusting relationships with families, colleagues, and partners. While these conversations can be uncomfortable, they are also opportunities for self-reflection and growth. In this workshop series, we explore how racism, culture, and bias may affect when and how we experience conversations as challenging. We practice applying a strengths-based approach to effectively engage in challenging conversations.

 

Who should attend: This series is designed for all professionals who work with families of young children, including child care educators, family child care providers, home visitors, pediatricians, child welfare workers, early intervention educators, and more.


Important Information about this Series:

  • This is an interactive series. Please be prepared to participate in activities such as group discussion, break out rooms, and/or demonstration. Your training experience will be best with the use of a web cam, audio, and a training environment conducive to active participation.
  • This series will be recorded. The recordings will be available to registered learners for 30 days after each session.
  • The workshops will be presented with Spanish interpretation. Los talleres se presentarán con interpretación en español.
  • By registering for a CalTrin training, you consent to be added to the CalTrin mailing list.

 

The Why of Challenging Conversations

 

This training was presented on

August 11, 2022

 

 

This workshop will be presented with Spanish interpretation. Los talleres se presentarán con interpretación en español.

 

Uncovering how our own cultures, experiences, and biases affect what we consider challenging is a critical step toward effectively navigating challenging conversations. Come explore what impacts what we see as challenging and why.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify the factors that cause you to view conversations as challenging
  • Increase awareness about how your own bias can impact the productivity of conversations about challenging topics

 

The What of Challenging Conversations

 

This training was presented on

August 18, 2022

 

 

This workshop will be presented with Spanish interpretation. Los talleres se presentarán con interpretación en español.

 

Topics we find challenging to discuss can include behaviors we find difficult, concerns about a child’s development, family relationships, and family well-being. What these topics have in common is they can make us uncomfortable. Come explore why these topics are hard not only for us but also for families, colleagues, and partners. Learn what we can do to promote productive and collaborative conversations about challenging topics.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain how our own perspective influences our interactions with others
  • Practice perspective taking to inform your approach to challenging conversations

 

The How of Challenging Conversations

 

This training was presented on

August 25, 2022

 

 

This workshop will be presented with Spanish interpretation. Los talleres se presentarán con interpretación en español.

 

Focusing on families’ strengths makes us more effective at navigating challenging conversations. Perspective-taking and having a strengths-based mindset help us recognize and elevate what each person brings to the conversation. Come explore strengths-based strategies we can use to better engage with families every day and during times when conversations may be challenging.

 

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify effective strategies for building trust
  • Practice strategies that support collaborative conversations

 

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

 

Kelly is a passionate educator who transcends traditional methods in instruction to build a workforce that is reflective, engaged, and innovative. Kelly joined the Brazelton Touchpoints Center as a National Facilitator in 2020 and has been facilitating Touchpoints training in her community of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma since 2015. Outside of her work with the Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Kelly is co-author of Families and Educators Together: Building Great Relationships that Support Young Children; the owner of Developing People, Inc.; and has spent the past 35 years in the field of early care and education as a classroom teacher, childcare center director, training coordinator, education manager, and college professor.

 

KELLY RAMSEY

National Facilitator,
Brazelton Touchpoints Center