Community Education

The YWCA offers several educational programs to schools, churches, businesses, and other organizations, on a variety of topics.  Workshops can be tailored to fit the needs of your organization or group.  With the exception of In Her Shoes and Cut-Out Domestic Violence, all trainings can be customized for presentations lasting from 15 minutes to an hour and a half.  Workshops are free and are interactive and designed to work with large or small groups.

To schedule a training please phone the ywca during business hours, 743-1535.

Club Drugs/Date Rape Drugs  An overview of date rape drugs.  What they are and what they do.  How to protect yourself.

Crisis Intervention  People in a crisis or an emergency can experience a range of physical and psychological symptoms that affect their daily life and their relationships.  What you can do to help people in crisis and what services are available in our area.

Cultural Diversity  Designed to promote sensitivity to cultural differences and similarities.  How all cultures have "hidden rules" and how they affect our behavior.

Cut-Out Domestic Violence  Because salon professionals might be the only contact an abused woman has where she is not accompanied by her abuser, this workshop is designed to enable them to recognize the signs of domestic abuse, what to say, and where to send victims for help.

Cutting/Self-Injury  Why do people hurt themselves?  A discussion on the dynamics of self-injury, including what family or friends can do to help and ideas on how the self-injurer can develop healthier coping skills. 

Domestic Violence  What it is (types of abuse).  Dynamics of power and control.  Why women don't leave.  How to help someone that is a victim of domestic violence.

Domestic Violence in the Workplace  Awareness of DV issues and how they affect the workplace.  What employers can do.  The importance of safety planning.

Effects of Domestic Violence on Children  How children are used by the abuser.  Different parenting skills needed by a woman in an abuse relationship.  Discussion of solutions.

Gender Differences  Do men and women communicate differently?  Do women really have a sixth sense?  Do men and women laugh at the same things?  Includes a short video on the invisible rules that affect communication between the sexes.

Healthy Relationships for Teenagers  Mutual respect, honesty and trust are three of the most important aspects in a relationship.  How does your relationship rate?  Learn the warning signs you would see in a controlling and abusive relationship - and what keeps a relationship healthy.  What to say to a friend that is in an unhealthy relationship.

Homelessness  How and why people become homeless.  The effects of homelessness on families and children.  Are there homeless in our valley?  What services are available.  How you can help.

In Her Shoes I - Living with Domestic Violence  An interactive workshop where participants take the roles of diverse battered women as they seek assistance from a variety of resources.  Each resource represents an institution or service that women encounter when they attempt to escape, such as the court system, doctors and shelters.  Each "station" may be a resource, or a barrier.  The In Her Shoes workshops demonstrate that escape from abuse is often complicated, unpredictable and, sometimes, impossible.  Participants will be aware of the severe challenges faced when trying to leave an abusive situation and be able to answer for themselves, "why doesn't she just leave?".

In Her Shoes II - Economic Justice & Domestic Violence  This workshop focuses on women leaving an abusive situation who have no financial resources and how this impacts their decision and ability to leave their abuser.  The perspective of the batterer is also represented in this version.

National Hate Test - Erase the Hate  Originally run on the USA Network, Erase the Hate is a video with short vignettes exploring hidden prejudices on such topics as race, sexual orientation, disabilities, ageism and religion.  Gives participants the opportunity to compare their opinions and reactions with others around the country.

Religious Diversity  An overview of the major world religions, with a concentration on Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Buddhism.  What are their commonalities and differences?  To build an awareness of religious understanding and tolerance.

Sexual Assault  Sexual assault is an act of violence.  It is devastating to the victim and their family.  What are some of the reactions to being sexually assaulted?  How can you help a victim of sexual assault?

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace  Designed for businesses and organizations whose employees work closely with clients and the public and might be victims of sexual harassment.  What constitutes sexual harassment?  What is the best way to handle it?  What are employees rights and employer obligations?

White Privilege  "I can purchase a home or rent an apartment in any area of town I want to; my only limitation is money.  I know that the people that are making decisions that affect my life are the same race as I am."  White privilege is socially invisible and not something we think about in our everyday lives, but we should have an awareness of the benefits we receive by being white and how the rules of our society are stacked in our favor.

YWCA Services  Summary of all YWCA services that are available in a six-county area, including our emergency services, 24 hour help line and shelter programs.