Courses in ASL

This module equips program managers in Washington State with the knowledge and skills to lead trauma-informed teams and cultivate workplaces that prioritize safety, trust, and well-being. You’ll explore what “trauma” means in everyday language, see how it influences staff behavior and team dynamics, and practice simple strategies to spot and address stress and burnout. Through real-world examples and reflection prompts, you’ll gain concrete tools to support your team, foster inclusion, and build a culture of care.

Learning Objectives

• Learn how trauma and chronic stress can show up in workplace behaviors, communication patterns, and team dynamics. 
• Apply core trauma-informed principles (safety, trust, support, empowerment, and inclusion) to everyday management practices. 
• Identify signs of vicarious trauma and burnout in staff and implement supportive strategies and resources to address them.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This course introduces program managers to the role and function of nonprofit boards of directors. You’ll learn what boards do (and don’t do), how their decisions affect your work, and how to prepare when asked to attend or present at a board meeting. This training will help you feel more confident navigating board interactions and understand how your program’s successes contribute to big-picture decision-making.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the purpose and responsibilities of a nonprofit board of directors. 
• Explain how board decisions can impact staff, funding, and program direction. 
• Learn how to prepare for and participate in board-related communication and meetings.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This training introduces new leaders in small to mid-sized community-based organizations to the essential concepts of organizational risk and insurance. Designed for those stepping into leadership roles, the module explores how risk can impact service delivery, funding, staffing, and compliance—and how proactive strategies can safeguard your mission. Participants will learn to identify common types of risk, apply practical mitigation techniques, and make informed decisions about when and how to transfer risk through insurance coverage. Emphasizing real-world examples and nonprofit-specific considerations, this course equips new leaders with the tools to lead with foresight and accountability.

Learning Objectives

• Identify common risks facing community-based organizations and assess their potential impact. 
• Apply practical strategies to reduce risk through policies, procedures, and internal controls. 
• Understand how insurance transfers risk and how to select coverage that protects the organization.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This course equips managers, grant writers, and executive leaders of community-based organizations with practical skills in grant writing and fund development. Participants will learn to craft compelling grant proposals, identify and pursue diverse funding opportunities, and cultivate lasting donor relationships. The training emphasizes aligning funding strategies with organizational missions to ensure stability and sustainability.

Learning Objectives

• Explore the Grant Writing Process: Understand the essential components of grant proposals—including problem statements, objectives, budgets, and evaluations—and how to write clear, compelling applications. 
• Develop Fund Development Strategies: Identify diverse funding sources and learn how to integrate grant writing into broader fundraising plans to build long-term sustainability. 
• Cultivate Donor Relationships: Build effective communication, stewardship, and engagement practices that strengthen connections with funders and donors over time.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This is part of the Executive Training Series and equips executive directors of community-based nonprofits with the tools and knowledge to lead their agency’s financial strategy with confidence. Learners will explore oversight, risk management, board engagement, and sustainability planning. Participants will build their capacity to align financial systems with mission, navigate complex compliance requirements, and communicate transparently with boards and funders.

Learning Objectives

• Design and oversee financial systems that support strategic decision-making, regulatory compliance, and mission-aligned stewardship. 
• Develop internal controls and fiscal policies to prevent misuse, support transparency, and protect the organization during funding fluctuations. 
• Translate financial data into actionable insights for boards, funders, and stakeholders through clear, contextualized reporting.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This module introduces program managers in community-based organizations to foundational skills for planning, organizing, and overseeing survivor-centered services. Participants will explore strategies to lead programs with intention and impact—developing practical approaches for team coordination, communication, and resource management. Grounded in trauma-informed principles, the module emphasizes leadership practices that promote both service quality and staff well-being within the unique context of CBOs.

Learning Objectives

• Develop strategic plans and work plans to effectively manage community-based services. .
• Implement communication and leadership strategies to build cohesive teams. 
• Apply quality assurance practices to evaluate and improve service outcomes.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This module for service providers will increase skills and offer a framework for crisis response and de-escalation. The workshop will define the cycle of escalation, threat responses, the spectrum of ideation to intent, and the process of de-escalation. Participants will explore strategies to assess, respond, and de-escalate situations focused on direct practice settings and programs using hands-off approaches.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn what is happening in the body-brain when someone becomes escalated or is having a threat response.
• Explore the process of de-escalation using the 3 A’s: Attunement, Assessment, Alignment.
• Apply de-escalation strategies to practice examples.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This module begins by exploring the Stages of Change theory and model of behavior change to deepen participant understanding of how people change and sustain new behaviors.   Then, participants will learn to identify each of the 6 stages and how to shape service interventions based on each stage.  Finally, practice exercises offer opportunities to apply new skills and knowledge about the Stages of Change. 
ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

Learning Objectives:

• Explore the Stages of Change: behavior change theory, model, and application.
• Learn how to recognize the six Stages of Change and target service responses to each stage.
• Practice identifying Stages of Change and apply model to service provider activities. 

This module covers both the legal definitions and the strategies for identifying and engaging with individuals affected by human trafficking. It begins by exploring the legal landscape, prevalence, and impact of trafficking, followed by practical approaches for identifying and engaging with survivors, particularly youth. Through a trauma-informed and victim-centered lens, service providers and first responders will be equipped to recognize, respond to, and support those impacted by trafficking, while learning methods to prevent further harm.

Learning Objectives:

• Learn the legal definitions of trafficking, the prevalence of exploitation, and where human trafficking occurs.
• Identify red flags of trafficking and understand the recruitment process to prevent or reduce further harm.
• Build relationships and apply engagement strategies to support survivors using trauma-informed approaches.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This module introduces key human resources (HR) concepts tailored for Washington State’s community-based sexual assault programs. Managers will learn how to align HR practices with mission and values, understand legal requirements, and implement effective strategies for recruitment, retention, and culture-building. Designed for all experience levels, this training centers trauma-informed, equitable, and community-rooted approaches to team leadership.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the main elements of human resources and their relevance to nonprofit settings. 
• Develop practical strategies for inclusive recruitment, onboarding, and staff retention. 
• Foster a workplace culture that supports equity, well-being, and organizational alignment.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This training is for housing case managers and service providers. It begins by exploring the definitions and foundational concepts of Motivational Interviewing (MI), which is an evidence-based approach to supporting people through change. The workshop begins with an overview of MI, then explores its specific techniques and skills. The training concludes with opportunities to practice the skills of Motivational Interviewing. This is an introductory training and does not require any prior clinical experience.

Learning Objectives

• Learn the foundational concepts of Motivational Interviewing and when to use this approach. 
• Explore the specific skills and OARS technique of Motivational Interviewing (open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, summarizing).
• Practice the skills of Motivational Interviewing applied to service provider scenarios

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This training equips advocates with the essential knowledge to uphold survivor privacy while ensuring compliance with legal and funding requirements. Participants will explore the importance of confidentiality in trauma-informed care, learn to apply best practices in handling sensitive information, and understand how privilege protects survivor communications. The training emphasizes strategies for maintaining confidentiality in diverse settings, including multidisciplinary teams and rural communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the core principles of confidentiality and its role in trauma-informed, survivor-centered advocacy. 
• Explain legal protections, including privileged communication laws, VOCA requirements, and mandatory reporting obligations. 
• Apply best practices for maintaining client confidentiality, including handling subpoenas, records management, and facilitating informed consent for information sharing.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC

This module introduces program managers in community-based organizations to the basics of nonprofit financial management. You don’t need to be an accountant to understand how your program’s budget works, what your funding can and can’t be used for, or how to spot when something’s off. This training walks through where nonprofit money comes from, how it’s spent, and how to stay in compliance with grant rules. You’ll learn how to read simple budgets, keep track of expenses, talk to your finance team, and play your part in building a transparent and sustainable organization.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the basic components of a nonprofit budget and how to interpret a financial report. 
• Accurately track program expenses and connect them to the correct funding sources. 
• Recognize common financial red flags and know when and how to raise concerns.

ASL Interpretation by: Puget Sound Interpreting, LLC