Growing Equitable Library Services: Preparing Library Staff to Assist People Experiencing Homelessness - INTRODUCTION

Growing Equitable Library Services: Preparing Library Staff to Assist People Experiencing Homelessness - INTRODUCTION

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness is providing part 1 of a 2-day training* for library staff to build their toolkit as they potentially help people navigate their housing crisis. The training will provide an overview of the homeless response system and provide basic knowledge about available resources as well as focus on how to effectively intervene in a housing crisis and assist in connection to services. There will be an emphasis on the practice of Shelter Diversion, which is a strategy that prevents homelessness at the front door by helping people identify immediate alternative housing arrangements to shelter and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing. Diversion can reduce the number of households becoming homeless, the demand for shelter beds, and the size of program wait lists. This 2-day training will provide knowledge and resources and will also be interactive and engaging to coach you through having person-centered and respectable diversion conversations with those that are in the library and currently experiencing a housing crisis.

*Please note, part 2 is an advanced session on November 16 with more limited capacity as it will take a deeper dive, get into more specifics, and include practice work. Library staff are welcome to attend either or both sessions.

Presenters:

Amber Freeman, Interim Director of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, oversees training, technical assistance, community impact and financial assistance programs for CCEH. Amber comes to CCEH with over twenty years of experience in the human service and behavioral health field, with the last 10 years being in management positions. Amber has worked in various capacities with individuals and families in diverse settings. Amber has experience with compliance, working with and managing programs for individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring diagnoses as well as individuals experiencing homelessness and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Amber is a two-time graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, VA where she received her BA in Psychology Education and her MA in Community Agency Counseling.

Diana Berube, Program Manager for Prevention and Exit Strategies, began work in the homeless services field in Connecticut in 2015 as a Grant Coordinator providing McKinney-Vento services to unstably housed students and families for Bristol public schools. Diana previously was the Housing Coordinator for the task force to end homelessness in her hometown of Bristol as well as a Navigator for St. Vincent DePaul Emergency Shelter.  In both roles, she worked in the community identifying people experiencing homelessness and helping them navigate homeless and housing services. Her most recent position was conducting assessments as a Housing Support Specialist at the Central CT Coordinated Access Network Diversion Center.

REGISTER

Date:
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Time:
10:00am - 12:00pm
Location:
Online - at your computer
Categories:
DLD Online Webinar

Event Accessibility for Guests with Disabilities

We want to provide what you need to participate!

If you require access services to participate fully, please use the Accommodation Request Form at least 7 days prior to the event.

If you have any questions about accessibility, please contact Gail Hurley at gail.hurley@ct.gov or (860) 704-2223.

You can also see our Library and Accessibility LibGuide for more information.

Registration Eligibility

To register for a DLD workshop or webinar, you must be one of the following:

  • current library staff member
  • undergraduate or graduate library student
  • Friend or Board Member/Trustee*
  • retired or unemployed library staff

Please contact Gail Hurley at gail.hurley@ct.gov or (860) 704-2223 with registration questions.

*Unless otherwise specified that a Friend or Board Member/Trustee is not eligible for a training or workshop.

Note: paid consultants are not eligible to attend DLD workshops or webinars.

Cancellation Policy

If you cannot attend a workshop you have registered for, please remember to cancel at least 3 days in advance so we can give your spot to someone else. You can cancel via the link in your confirmation email, or by contacting Gail Hurley gail.hurley@ct.gov | (860) 704-2222.

Those who miss (without cancelling) 3 events within a 6-month period will be placed on the waiting list when registering for future events. Be sure to sign in when you arrive for any workshop.

Inclement Weather Policy

For all in-person workshops offered by the CT State Library, Division of Library Development:

If the public schools in the town where the workshop is to be held close due to weather, the workshop will be canceled. If the schools have a delay, the workshop will go on as scheduled.

For the most up-to-date information, call us at 860-704-2200.

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Continuing Education workshops and the professional development collection are funded in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the Connecticut State Library.