The document provides an overview of an instructor orientation meeting for the Department of Social Services (DSS). The agenda includes reviewing past trainings, previewing upcoming fall courses, new policies and procedures, training site locations, continuing education units, and a question and answer session. New items include online CEU applications, a department preamble, and training sites in Fairfax and Virginia Beach. Instructors shared tips for engaging learners, using icebreakers, and making the training fun and interactive. Questions from instructors addressed person-centered care regulations and the leadership program requirements.

1. DSS Instructor Orientation
August 13, 2014
PANEL:
Jennifer Pryor, Training Coordinator
Jay White, CEU Contact, Content Development
Annette Kelley, DSS, Division of Licensing Programs
Dr. E. Ayn Welleford, Department of Gerontology Chair

2. Introductions
• Mary Beth Alford • Ellen Phipps
• Sonya Barsness • Lindsey Slaughter
• Annette Clark • Nakia Speller
• Ronda Greene • Stacy Sutherland
• Carolyn Merriman • Rhonda Whitmer
• Courtney Petley • Gail Ziemba
Welcome Returning and New Instructors!

3. Agenda
• Review of Spring 2014
• Fall 2014
• What’s New?
• Policy & Procedure Manual
• Department Preamble
• Fairfax/VA Beach Training Sites
• CEUs
• Questions from YOU!

4. Review: Spring 2014
• ISP
• Working With Families
• Organizational Diversity (new)
• Agitation and Aggression
Overall:
Well Received and very positive feedback (great tips/tricks/information)
Constructive Feedback:
Practice better time management and engage the group
– do not just read to them!

5. Looking Ahead: Fall 2014
• ISP
• Activities for the Cognitively Impaired: Part I
• Updates by Ellen Phipps
• Mental Health in Later Life Part I: Mood Disorders & Anxiety
• Updates by Jay White

6. What’s New?
Policy and Procedure Manual
New sections include information on:
 Mandatory Semiannual Webinar Meetings
 Department Preamble
 Enhanced Expectations of our Instructors
 New online CEU process
 Blackboard Training Summaries
 Conditions of Employment

7. Department Preamble
A dynamic program in place since 1976 in the School of Allied Health, the
Gerontology Program prepares students for a variety of capacities and settings
including allied health, public sector, education and research, as well as impact
in those professions serving senior consumers.
With a broad, integrated view of gerontology, our perspective is that whether
one is a degree/certificate seeking student, or pursuing continuing education,
the application of gerontological knowledge can support optimal aging.
What’s New?

8. What’s New?
• New Training Sites
New Fairfax
Training Site!
• Historic Blenheim (Fall only)
• There will be a new site in the Spring
New
VA Beach
Training Site!
• VA Department of Social Services,
Eastern Regional Licensing Office

9. What’s New?
Each trainer folder will continue to have
hard copy forms.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
NEW FOR FALL 2014
Online application and advance payment of CEU’s will now be accepted during online
registration for each training course. Upon registering for a training, you will be asked
to select if you want to receive CEU credit for the course. A $10 processing fee will
be added to your total. You must complete the online CEU application form during
registration. Refunds will not be given for no-show attendance. If you have any
questions, please email agingstudies@vcu.edu.

10. Hard Copy Online
+ $10 check or money order + $10 credit card payment
Turned in at training Completed before training
CEU Applications

11. How will we know if someone applied
for CEUs online?
Carolyn paid
with a check for
the class, and
did not apply for
CEUs online
Derrick paid with a
credit card for the
class, and applied
for CEUs online

12. What’s New:
CEUs
• Only those who register for the training online are able to apply
for CEUs online
• Online CEU applications cannot be completed at or after the
training
Questions?

13. Tips, Tricks, and
Fun Activities

14. “I always use tented
name cards…this helps
to keep the training
more personal. I can
reengage someone if I
feel that attention is
drifting”
– Annette Clark
“Establish up front
what they hope to gain
from the workshop and
then explain the goals
and objectives”
– Ellen Phipps
“Identify with specific
disciplines, how hard
they work at what they
do, and what motivates
them to do well at their
work (i.e., CNA versus
DON versus social
worker).”
– Lindsey Slaughter
“I use the agenda as my
nametags. It really helps
to have them. You can
call on people and
acknowledge them
when they engage”
–Carolyn Merriman

15. Making
It Fun!
“I always have
some type of ice
breaker even if
one is not
included in the
training”
– Annette Clark
“Playing an ice breaker game for the
attendees to get to know each other a little
but also to help them relax and make a fun
learning experience”
– Rhonda Whittmer
“Use humor/be personally accessible… use real-
life examples to engender a “group peer
supervision” feel. Make info meaningful to what
they really do and have folks learn from each
other and give tips.”
– Lindsey Slaughter
“I usually try to
come up with an
exercise relative to
the topic of the
class or just a fun
ice breaker”
– Gail Ziemba

16. M&M ICE BREAKER
shared by Rhonda
• Give each participant a fun size bag of M&Ms
• Have them select 2 or 3 colors from the bag
• During introductions have them introduce themselves by using the color of the M&Ms
as follows:
Red
Describe
your
personality
in one word.
Orange
What is
your
favorite
food?
Blue
What is one
thing your
parents
taught you?
Brown
What is one
thing you
want to learn
today?
Yellow
What do you
like the most
about your
job?
Green
Which cartoon
character best
describes you?

17. Making the Best of Group Activities!
• “Group activities are key in making the program more
interesting. They are heavily encouraged to do these activities
with attendees that they do not work with or know.”
– Annette Clark
• “The group counted off by 6, which helped get a balance of
experienced and inexperienced participants in the group, and
mixed up the different facilities.”
– Carolyn Merriman

18. Bringing it all Home!
• “If time allows, I always attempt to let the attendees discuss
best practices, tips, and tools that they use. It promotes
engagement, self-esteem, etc. and others always learn from the
shared information.”
– Annette Clark

19. Questions from YOU!
For Annette Kelley:
“What is going on with Person-Centered Care related to the
regs that DSS is trying to get though our state government?
Annette spoke about that sometime this past year.”
For Gerontology:
“What exactly is needed for the Leadership Program [CEGL]
that is being offered?”

20. Questions from YOU!
• How can we better engage adult day centers?
• Could we have prizes or candy to hand out?
• Is it possible for the department to provide laptops to
instructors in addition to projectors?
• Can we have a one day conference for all the trainers so that we
can meet one another?

21. Questions from YOU!
“Some attendees seem to register for all of the training sessions
regardless if they have attended them in the past. I know and
understand that they need the training hours and many of them
are engaged in the repeat session, but some seem to be less
interested. I do attempt to use other examples and change up
activities as much as possible, but feel a responsibility to keep
true to the curriculum… any one else have suggestions?”–
Submitted by Annette Clark

22. Wrap Up Questions and Comments
Jennifer Pryor – pryorjm@vcu.edu
Jay White – whitejt2@vcu.edu
Department of Gerontology
804-828-1565 | http://www.sahp.vcu.edu/gerontology/
Department of Social Services
http://www.dss.virginia.gov/