Families & Schools Together (FAST) - An Evidence-Based approach to supporting children by empowering families, strengthening protective factors, and building meaningful connections (Live Online)

CEs/Contact Hours

Handouts

Trainer

Nichole Christiansen, M.S., C.A.S. Related Seminars and Products

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Nichole Christiansen graduated with a Master's degree in Education with a Certificate of Advanced Study in Counseling from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2007. Over the past 17 years, she has worked with youth, families, schools, and local agencies in a variety of different capacities. Nichole has been an agency counselor, director of counseling services, workforce development trainer, FAST trainer, crisis clinician and is currently a school counselor at a local high school in her community. Throughout her roles, Nichole has provided community and family education and counseling focused on family systems, trauma response, ecological systems of human development, and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Nichole is the mom of 2 amazing adult daughters, coaches cheerleading, and loves to travel in her free time.

Marlen Pérez, LMFT Related Seminars and Products

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Marlen Perez, LMFT, QS has a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Carlos Albizu University (2013), and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology from Florida International University (2008), Marlen has developed a deep understanding of mental health, counseling, and family systems. Currently, she serves as the Mental Health Coordinator for Miami Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS), providing counseling services to students, coordinating care, and ensuring access to appropriate resources. Previous roles included serving as the Program Manager for the Families and Schools Together (FAST) Program at Jewish Community Services of South Florida, and roles at Switchboard of Miami, Family Counseling Services of Greater Miami, and other organizations, where she provided individual, family, and couples therapy, coordinated care for children and families, and contributed to various prevention and intervention programs. Marlen holds certifications in several key programs, including FAST, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing, Trauma- Informed Care, and Crisis Intervention, further enhancing their expertise in managing complex behavioral health issues. Passionate about improving mental health access and education, Marlen continues to contribute to the well-being of individuals and families through therapy, program development, and leadership in community mental health services.

Equipment Requirements

Required Hardware
- A computer (desktop/laptop) or mobile device (smartphone/tablet).
- Speakers/headphones/earbuds OR access to a phone to call in to the Zoom room.

Strongly Encouraged Hardware
- Webcam or mobile device with a camera for interacting in course activities.

Internet Connection
- A stable Internet connection of 56K or greater is required. (However, please note that a 56K connection may degrade the quality of your experience.)

Any questions about these requirements or other technical questions can be directed to sw-ce@buffalo.edu.

Online Course Access

Upon successful registration of the course you will be able to access the course materials. 

How do I test my system / access the online training?

To access the program, please log into your account. Please plan to log in 10 minutes prior to the start time. Click on the Launch Viewer button next to your program title to confirm you can see video and hear audio. You will enter the room with your microphone muted and your camera off. For the best experience, please leave these settings as is unless instructed otherwise. 

How do I access the course materials

To download course materials, log into your account. Under the seminar name click on the Handouts button.

For some trainings, the course handouts may not be available until the morning of the program.

Agenda

AGENDA:

1. Introductions (Introduce trainers, FAST organization, today’s goals) (15 min)
2. Ice breaker- interactive activity to get to know each other (15 min)
3. Theoretical foundations of FAST: in-depth discussion of Family Systems Theory,other theories that support FAST, such as Family Stress, Social Capital Theories, etc.(30 min)
4. Family Systems Theory activity (& debrief, discussion of own experience) (30 min)

Break (15 min)

1. Discussion on FAST Research, including protective factors and ACES (45 min)
2. Family Stress Theory activity (& debrief, discussion of own experience) (30 min)

Lunch (30 min)

1. FAST values activity and discussion of trauma-informed approach (60 min)
2. Discussion of FAST Program components/strategies to supporting healthy familysystems & how to incorporate in your work - Buddy Time, Parent Group, SpecialPlay/One-on-One Time; Feeling Charades/Scribbles (30 min)

Break (15 min)

1. Planning time - focus on developing action steps for participants to incorporate newstrategies and tools learned today into their own work; developed collaborativelywith trainers and other attendees (45 min)
2. String exercise (closing activity) (15 min)
3. Closing - evaluation etc. (15 min)

OMH Cancellation Policy

Please notify us by email at least five business days before the scheduled training for anticipated cancellations.  All emergency cancellations must also be reported by email.  Contact us at sw-ebp@buffalo.edu.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Cancellation Policy:

Live (In-Person, Online, and Hybrid) Trainings

The cancellation and refund policy below applies to individual courses. If you purchased multiple courses at one time they may be subject to individual processing fees. Participants can make payment or refund inquiries by contacting the Office of Continuing Education by phone 716-829-5844 or by email at sw-ce@buffalo.edu. Standard business hours for the Office of Continuing Education are Monday – Friday 9:00am to 4:30pm. Any requests made outside of these days and times will default to the next business day.

Up to 3 CEs/Contact Hours

• Up to 30 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card in the full payment amount OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $15 processing fee 
• 29 days to 2 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card minus a $15 processing fee OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $25 processing fee 
• 24 hours or less prior to the training no gift cards or refunds will be issued

3.25 - 5.75 CEs/Contact Hours

• Up to 30 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card in the full payment amount OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $25 processing fee 
• 29 days to 2 days prior to the training date refunds will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card minus a $25 processing fee OR (2) a refund of 50% to original method of payment
• 24 hours or less prior to the training no gift cards or refunds will be issued

6-11.75 CEs/Contact Hours

• Up to 30 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card in the full payment amount OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $50 processing fee 
• 29 days to 2 days prior to the training date refunds will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card minus a $50 processing fee OR (2) a refund of 50% to original method of payment
• 24 hours or less prior to the training no gift cards or refunds will be issued

12 or more CEs/Contact Hours

• Up to 60 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card in the full payment amount OR (2) a refund to the original method of payment minus a $50 processing fee 
• 59 to 6 days prior to the training date refund will be issued in the form of (1) a gift card minus a $50 processing fee OR (2) a refund of 50% to original method of payment
• 5 days or less prior to the training      No gift cards or refunds will be issued
• Visit ubswce.ce21.com and refer to the "CEs/Contact Hours" tab on the respective training page to confirm the number of approved CEs/Contact Hours. There may be instances where a special workshop has additional cancellation rules that will be stated in the workshop description.

Cancellation of Group Purchases

• Cancellations of more than 5 staff members will incur the following additional fees: 

  • More than 30 days in advance will incur an additional 5% fee.

  • Less than 30 days but more than 15 days in advance will incur an additional 10% fee. 

  • Less than 15 days will incur an additional 20% fee. 

Online Self-Study Training

• Participants have up to 72 hours from purchase to contact the Office of Continuing Education by phone or email and request a refund for an online course.

Gift Cards

Gift cards can be used as payment toward future trainings. Gift cards never expire.

Loyalty Reward Points

• Participants who request a refund will forfeit any Loyalty Reward Points they may have received from that purchase.
• Participants who request a refund on a purchase paid for with Loyalty Reward Points will have those rewards credited back to their account within 5 business days of the refund being processed.

Substitute Attendance

If a registered participant is unable to attend a training and would like another individual to attend in their place the Office of Continuing Education must be called or emailed at least one full business day before the training. Substitution decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Check Refund

Any refund requests for a check payment may take up to 4 weeks to process.

UB Cancelled Trainings

• If the Office of Continuing Education cancels a training, participants will be notified via email and refunds will be paid in full.
• Please be aware that if the University at Buffalo is closed trainings and workshops may still be taking place.
• Please contact the Office of Continuing Education at sw-ce@buffalo.edu or 716-829-5841 if you have any questions or concerns regarding whether or not a training is still being held.

Additional questions and support?

Please email sw-ce@buffalo.edu or call 716-829-5841.