https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnZhPnQRqRa5u06
Working in healthcare and behavioral health fields is harder than ever. The impact of cumulative impact from COVID-19, increased community needs, and a serious workforce shortage has created unprecedented stressors in the workplace. While we can’t change everything, we can support individual and team resilience to face stressors, and strengthen teams to help them identify and address unnecessary stressors.
The Wisdom, Wellbeing, and Peer Support Training (WWPST), developed by Dr. Richard Wesphal and Dr. Peggy Plews-Owens of UVA, helps to build a comprehensive approach to fostering resilience skills at the individual, workplace/practice setting and institution levels for healthcare teams. This 9-minute Orientation Video provides an overview of the training.
The Community Mental Health and Wellness Coalition is proud to partner with UVA, and to bring WWPST training opportunities to healthcare organizations throught our region. WWPST training is organized into three different tiers of training that are available at no cost to healthcare, behavioral health, and various human service teams in our community.
Tier 1: Individual Awareness
All workers in health care settings can increase awareness and skill building to develop insights and perspectives that can foster resilience and peer support, including the early recognition of potential stress injury in a peer or loved one. Coalition members are invited to access Tier 1 training via the WWPST on-line portal. Tier 1 training comes with CE Credit and is appropriate for 100% of our local healthcare workforce. To register for this training, complete the form found on: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnZhPnQRqRa5u06.
Tier 2: Workplace & Work Unit Peer / Team Member Support
This 4-hour training tier is for health system leaders or self-selected (or manager selected) team members who are interested in serving as a skilled resource or peer supporter for their colleagues and team. The training builds on the Tier 1 knowledge and skills to assess for gaps in resources and strengthen approaches that foster a peer support network in the workplace setting. These individuals can also become part of a regional (even national!) peer support network.
Tier 2: Leader Training
This 2-hour training focuses on the unique leadership tasks related to promoting wisdom and wellbeing, and ways to measure your team’s stress level.
Tier 3: Institutional Commitment to Peer / Team Member Support
The Train-the-Trainer (T3) program helps organizations and its workplace/work unit teams develop advanced WWPST skills, resources and develop a capacity building plan of action to sustain the WWPST model in the organization/institution.
How can my organization get more involved?
All coalition member organizations and participants are invited to participate in on-line training for Tier 1.
After completing the training, leaders of local organizations, and staff who are ready to go the extra-mile to support their teams, may be interested in pursuing Tier 2 training. Organizational leaders and Peer / Team Member Supporters need to know the basic concepts and the vocabulary of Stress First Aid and wisdom practices, and have a commitment to coordinating team support within your work sphere, receive ongoing training refreshers, and be part of a network of peer supporters. To register for future WWPST training opportunities, complete this training interest form.