PBS Trainings
The PBS program provides free trainings to build the skills and capacity necessary to better serve individuals with challenging behaviors and to improve their quality of life. The PBS program is excited to announce the launching of several free self-paced web courses. In addition to the webinars and self-paced courses, PBS offers multiple in person training opportunities throughout the year in Morgantown and Charleston for West Virginia social service providers and caregivers. If you are interested in attending a training or have any questions, please contact pbs@hsc.wvu.edu or 855-558-4692.
Upcoming Trainings
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Wed10June 10th-11th, 2026 @ 10:00am – 4:00pm
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Wed17June 17th, 2026 @ 11:00am – 12:00pm
Live Webinars
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A three-part series overview of ACEs and the impact it has on children and adults.
4.5 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Become familiar with the 10 types of ACES and the basic brain science behind it
- Introduce ways to overcome ACES
- Introduce steps individuals, families, schools, and providers can do to prevent ACES
- Learn ways to teach resiliency
- Understand variables related to resilience; protective factors; and safe, stable and nurturing relationships and environments
- Learn to identify some of the root causes of ACES
- Identify best practices for preventing ACES
- Identify what you and your organization can do to prevent ACES
2026 Schedule
- January 6th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- January 13th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- January 20th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- July 7th, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:30pm
- July 14th, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:30pm
- July 21st, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:30pm
- September 8th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- September 15th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- September 22nd, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
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A free, interactive training for youth to learn strategies to identify and cope with their anger in healthier ways and be the bigger person. No CEUs are available for this training as it is geared toward youth. A certificate of completion will be available.
Objectives
- Identify what it feels like to be angry
- Discuss stress reduction tactics
- Practice relaxation strategies such as progressive muscle relaxation
2026 Schedule
Please contact us at pbs@hsc.wvu.edu for registration information.
- January 27th, 2026 – 4:00pm–5:00pm
- March 24th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:00am
- April 28th, 2026 – 4:00pm–5:00pm
- July 28th, 2026 – 11:00am–12:00pm
- August 25th, 2026 – 4:00pm–5:00pm
- October 27th, 2026 – 5:00pm–6:00pm
- November 17th, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:00pm
- December 15th, 2026 – 4:00pm–5:00pm
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The De-Escalation training teaches participants how to recognize early signs of distress, remain regulated under pressure, and respond to crisis situations with empathy and effectiveness. Emphasis is placed on safety, communication, and trauma-informed strategies that reduce escalation and restore control.
2 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Differentiate between compassion fatigue and being burned-out.
- Discuss how stress and anger impacts us and the negative consequences.
- Examine the S.T.E.P program.
- Recognize a power struggle and ways to avoid it.
- Understand the risks of restraints
- List positive reactive strategies
- Identify ways to effectively de-escalate a situation
2025 Schedule
- November 18, 2025 10:00am-12:00pm
2026 Schedule
- January 26th, 2026 – 1:00pm–3:00pm
- February 18th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- March 11th, 2026 – 1:00pm–3:00pm
- April 7th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- June 4th, 2026 – 1:00pm–3:00pm
- September 3rd, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- October 7th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- November 3rd, 2026 – 1:00pm–3:00pm
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Increasing Social Awareness provides an overview of social learning theories and insight on the five areas of social awareness. Participants will learn how to identify social deficits and ways to help improve them. This training is intended for behavior support providers, therapists, counselors, educators, social workers. Though, we encourage parents, caregivers, foster parents, and kinship caregivers to join us as well!
1.5 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Understand why social skills are critical to overall development and quality of life.
- Recognize social deficits and ways to improve them.
- Understand the five areas of social awareness.
- Help parents and caregivers use social skills training at home.
2025 Schedule
- November 12, 2025 1:00pm – 2:30pm
- December 10, 2025 10:00am -11:30am
2026 Schedule
- February 9th, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:30pm
- April 15th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- July 30th, 2026 – 10:00am–11:30am
- October 20th, 2026 – 1:00pm–2:30pm
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The Parental Buy-In training helps professionals build trust, strengthen collaboration, and engage caregivers as active partners in the behavior support process. Participants learn strategies to address resistance with empathy, coach parents in emotional literacy and co-regulation, and co-create sustainable family-centered plans.
2 Social Work CEUs pending approval
Objectives
- Understand how trust, empathy, and collaboration influence caregiver engagement and long-term behavior change.
- Learn strategies to address resistance and build psychological safety through reflective, nonjudgmental communication.
- Practice coaching techniques that strengthen parents’ emotional literacy, co-regulation, and confidence.
- Apply family-centered approaches to co-create practical, sustainable behavior support plans.
2026 Schedule
- March 3rd, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- May 5th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- August 11th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
- November 11th, 2026 – 10:00am–12:00pm
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The Structure and Routines training highlights how consistency and predictability support emotional regulation, reduce power struggles, and promote positive behavior. Participants will learn practical ways to build daily structure and routines that foster safety, independence, and connection across home, school, and community settings.
1 Social Work CEUs pending approval
Objectives
- Understand how predictable routines reduce anxiety and behavioral challenges in children and families.
- Learn to design structured environments that balance flexibility with consistency.
- Identify proactive strategies such as visual schedules, first/then plans, and connection-based transitions.
- Discover ways to collaborate with families to create sustainable daily routines that reflect individual needs and strengths.
2026 Schedule
- March 19th, 2026 — 11:00am to 12:00pm
- June 17th, 2026 — 11:00am to 12:00pm
- September 30th, 2026 — 11:00am to 12:00pm
- December 3rd, 2026 — 11:00am to 12:00pm
In-person Trainings
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The Facilitator Training in Anger Management for Youth provides the opportunity to acquire the necessary skills to facilitate the PBS Program’s Anger Management for Youth session. During this training, participants will learn to facilitate emotional awareness skills and coping strategies that are specifically created for youth. Upon completion of the training, participants will have access to the materials necessary for providing quality anger management sessions.
4.5 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Provide a quality training session
- Know how to facilitate emotional awareness with youth
- Acquire several coping strategies for youth
- Gain access to the training materials and presentation
2026 Schedule
- February 5th, 2026 – 10:00am–4:00pm
- October 15th, 2026 – 10:00am–4:00pm
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This two-day training will prepare participants to facilitate person-centered planning using MAPs (Making Action Plans) to help people create an action plan to help reach their dreams. The MAPs process will be detailed and participants will learn how to conduct a MAP. We will also discuss the differences between system-centered and person-centered approaches. This training is for individuals who have not previously facilitated a MAP. To receive CEUs, both days of the training must be attended.
9 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Explain at least three of the values on which person-centered planning is based.
- Identify the steps involved in each of the person-centered planning tools: Circle of Support, MAP, and PATH.
- Utilize person-centered planning techniques to involve individuals in planning for services and integration into community settings.
- Provide instruction and techniques to empower individuals and their teams in developing goals, identifying needs, and generating action plans
2026 Schedule
- June 10th–11th, 2026 – 10:00am–4:00pm
- October 13th–14th, 2026
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4 Social Work CEUs Pending
Participants will learn how to create trauma informed positive behavior support interventions by practicing an applying these philosophies to their own lives.
Objectives
- Develop proactive strategies to help someone go to individual calming techniques.
- Identify how to create a functionally equivalent replacement behavior.
- Create strategies in the 8 dimensions of wellness.
- Develop individualized positive behavior support interventions based on the person’s interests.
2026 Schedule
- May 14th, 2026 — 10:00am to 3:30pm
- August 5th, 2026 — 10:00am to 3:30pm
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6.5 Social Work CEUs pending approval
The Youth Mental Health First Aid training teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health or substance use challenges among adolescents. Using the nationally recognized MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE), this evidence-based course increases confidence in providing initial support and connecting youth to appropriate professional and self-help resources.
Objectives
- Increase understanding of common mental health challenges in adolescents, including depression, anxiety, trauma, psychosis, and substance use.
- Recognize early warning signs and risk factors for mental health or substance use concerns.
- Learn and practice the five-step MHFA Action Plan (ALGEE): Assess for risk of suicide or harm, Listen nonjudgmentally, Give reassurance and information, Encourage appropriate professional help, and Encourage self-help and other support strategies.
- Strengthen skills for approaching, supporting, and connecting youth to professional or peer supports during both crisis and non-crisis situations.
- Explore ways to reduce stigma and foster open conversations about mental health in schools, families, and communities.
- Build confidence in responding to youth experiencing distress while maintaining personal and professional boundaries.
2026 Schedule
- April 1st, 2026 — 8:30am to 5:00pm
- May 13th, 2026 — 8:30am to 5:00pm
Self Paced Webinars
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A free self-paced web course designed for parents, caregivers, foster parents, educators, day care providers, etc.
Objectives
- Understand positive parenting model.
- Strategies for creating structure in the home.
- De-escalation action steps to help child in crisis.
- Build resiliency.
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A free, self-paced, web course that incorporates the 8 dimensions of wellness and finding internal motivators to help others improve their quality of life.
2 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Define the quantitative versus qualitative measures to assess quality of life
- Examine different aspects that contribute to someone’s overall quality of life
- Give examples of quality of life interventions
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Participants will learn about how to create interventions by writing a trauma informed PBS plan for themselves.
2 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Recognize the impact of trauma on emotional and behavioral functioning and survival mechanisms.
- List ways to implement trauma informed positive behavior support.
- Identify how to create a functionally equivalent replacement behavior.
- List ways to improve quality of life.
- Develop ways to create individualized positive behavior support interventions.
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An overview of trauma and how it affects the brain, our survival reactions and how to build resiliency.
2 Social Work CEUs Approved
Objectives
- Identify sources of potential trauma and complex trauma for individuals served by child serving systems.
- Recognize the impact of trauma on emotional and behavioral functioning
- Describe principles of trauma-informed systems.
- List ways to provide trauma informed care.
Positive Behavior Support Program
855-558-4296
Fax: 877-706-4692
PBS@hsc.wvu.edu
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