Community Training
VATN offers live and virtual trainings for caregivers, professionals, and community groups who support neurodivergent and disabled individuals across Virginia. Sessions are offered throughout the year as both free events and private pay workshops so organizations of all sizes can access practical, evidence-based tools.
Community Training at VATN
Caregiver and family trainings
Interactive workshops on topics such as behavior supports, communication, safety and boundaries, daily living skills, and navigating systems, designed to give families and unpaid caregivers concrete strategies they can use right away.
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Professional and provider trainings
CEU-eligible events and custom trainings for group homes, residential providers, schools, and healthcare teams, covering areas like trauma-informed care, supporting autistic and ID/DD individuals, ethics, supervision, and collaborative care.
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Community and workplace trainings
Tailored sessions for employers, faith communities, recreation programs, and other community groups focused on inclusion, accessibility, communication, and practical supports for neurodivergent and disabled people in shared spaces.
Community Training Packages
Caregiver & Family Trainings
Professional & Provider Trainings
Community & Workplace Trainings
​Essential Skills Series (Safety Care Certification Package)
A foundational set of interactive workshops for families and unpaid caregivers who want practical tools they can use right away. Topics include understanding behavior and prevention strategies, supporting communication, building daily living skills, and creating predictable routines at home. Sessions include coaching, examples, and ready-to-use handouts so caregivers leave with clear next steps.
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Safety, Boundaries, and Advocacy Package: Physical Safety (Safety Care Certification Package)
A focused training package for families supporting children, teens, or adults who need extra guidance around safety and personal boundaries. Workshops cover teaching consent and body autonomy, online and community safety, recognizing and responding to risk, and advocating effectively in schools, programs, and healthcare settings. Caregivers practice language and strategies they can immediately apply in real-life situations.
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Systems Navigation and Teaming Package: Physical Management (Safety Care Certification Package)
Designed for caregivers who are juggling multiple services and systems. This series covers navigating waiver and Medicaid services, school and IEP collaboration, working with providers, and organizing information and supports. Families learn how to lead their support team, prepare for meetings, and align everyone around shared goals.
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Systems Navigation and Teaming Package:
Designed for caregivers who are juggling multiple services and systems. This series covers navigating waiver and Medicaid services, school and IEP collaboration, working with providers, and organizing information and supports. Families learn how to lead their support team, prepare for meetings, and align everyone around shared goals.
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Direct Support & Frontline Staff Core Training
A practical training package for DSPs, residential counselors, paraprofessionals, and classroom staff. Core modules emphasize trauma-informed support, understanding behavior through a functional lens, communication supports, and dignity of risk. Content is applied and scenario-based, with tools staff can use on the next shift.
Clinical, Leadership, and Supervisor Series (CEU-Eligible)
A deeper-dive training track for BCBAs, counselors, nurses, QDDPs, clinical directors, and supervisors. Topics can include ethics in ID/DD services, supervision and coaching of direct staff, collaborative care across agencies, and supporting autistic and intellectually disabled individuals in complex situations. Sessions can be customized to meet CEU requirements and organizational priorities.
Custom Agency Training & Consultation Package
Built for group homes, residential providers, schools, and healthcare teams looking for tailored training. We collaborate to identify needs (e.g., crisis prevention, restrictive procedures reduction, documentation, or culture change) and design a training and follow-up consultation plan. This package can include policy review, case consultation, and on-site or virtual training sessions.
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Inclusive Workplace Foundations
A training package for employers and HR teams who want to make their workplaces more welcoming to neurodivergent and disabled employees. Topics include inclusive hiring, reasonable accommodations, communication styles, sensory-friendly practices, and supporting coworkers as allies. Trainings can be paired with consultation on policies and physical space.
Faith, Recreation, and Community Program Inclusion Series
Created for churches, mosques, synagogues, youth leagues, parks and recreation, libraries, and community centers. Sessions focus on understanding disability and neurodivergence, adapting activities, communication strategies, and creating a culture of hospitality and belonging. Leaders leave with concrete changes they can make to programs, environments, and messaging.
Community Awareness & Accessibility Workshops
Short, high-impact workshops for any community group wanting to improve how they welcome and support disabled people. Content can cover disability etiquette, plain language communication, sensory and environmental considerations, and simple, low-cost accessibility changes. Ideal for boards, volunteers, and community organizers who want to “get it right” but don’t know where to start.
COMMUNITY TRAINING INTAKE PROCESS
Referral
Getting started with Virginia Therapeutic Network is simple and exciting! Begin by filling out our Referral Form, conveniently located at the top right corner of every page. This quick form helps us understand your needs and how we can best support you. Once submitted, our dedicated intake coordinator will promptly reach out to guide you through the next steps.
Contract
After submitting your referral a VATN team member will contact you to discuss needs and develop a service contract.
Intake Forms
After your referral is accepted, we’ll initiate the authorization process with your Support Coordinator by your side every step of the way! While waiting for approval, you’ll complete two essential forms: the Release of Information and the Service Intake Packet. These forms ensure we have everything needed to tailor our services to your unique goals.
Begin Services
​Once authorization is approved, your journey officially begins! Your clinician or clinical team (if receiving multiple services) will contact you to schedule an intake meeting. During the first few weeks, you’ll collaborate closely with your clinician to complete a thorough assessment and develop a personalized treatment plan designed to help you thrive.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who are these trainings for?
Our trainings are designed for three main groups: families and unpaid caregivers, professionals and providers (such as group homes, schools, and healthcare teams), and community partners like employers, faith communities, and recreation programs.
What topics can you cover?
We offer workshops on behavior supports, communication, safety and boundaries, daily living skills, trauma-informed care, supporting autistic and ID/DD individuals, ethics and supervision, inclusion, accessibility, and navigating systems. Topics can be combined or customized based on your needs.
Are the professional trainings CEU-eligible?
Yes. Many of our professional and provider trainings can be structured as CEU-eligible events. We work with your organization to meet documentation and content requirements for your specific discipline and licensing board.
How are the trainings delivered (in-person vs. virtual)?
We offer flexible delivery options, including in-person sessions, live virtual workshops, and hybrid formats. For larger organizations or geographically dispersed teams, we can design a series that blends live training with follow-up Q&A or consultation.
Can you customize a training for our agency, school, or community group?
Absolutely. We routinely tailor content, case examples, and activities to your setting, population, and goals. We can also build a package that includes training plus follow-up consultation, coaching, or policy review.