The 509 Public Sector
Training Program
The courses in our Training Program are free for SEIU Local 509 Public Sector state workers. We offer live trainings (in person or virtually) and self-paced learning on virtual platforms.
Register for a Live Training
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Click on the arrow next to the training name to open the description.
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Fill out the online registration form.
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email within one business day. Please note, ADA accommodations are available upon request. Simply indicate the accessibility services you need on the training registration form at least 2 weeks before the training date. Take the first step and explore upcoming trainings below!
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Advanced Practice Institute
Our Advanced Practice Institute offers career-focused programs that help workers access certifications, CEUs, PDPs, and other training and professional development focused on career specialization.
Open the description of the training to find the registration link.
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Date: February 25, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Trainer: Ayala Livny, M. Ed. and Liz Geisel, MSW
Location: Virtual on Zoom
For people experiencing homelessness or housing instability, and for the providers who support them, securing housing is often viewed as the ultimate goal. Yet once housing is obtained, the focus often narrows to physical preparations for moving, overlooking the psychological and emotional challenges that can surface. When the stress of daily survival lifts, trauma symptoms may emerge in new ways—such as anxiety, loneliness, substance use, or hoarding. These reactions are common during transitions from instability to stability but can catch both clients and staff by surprise. In this training, participants will learn to anticipate and normalize these experiences, use trauma-informed communication to validate concerns, and apply practical strategies to support clients in sustaining housing long-term.
Credits:
This training has been approved for 3 CE credits for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
Applications for CE credits for Licensed Social Workers and Licensed Mental Health Counselors have been submitted. Contact us at info@509training.org for more information.
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Date: March 25, 2026
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Trainer: Ayala Livny, M. Ed. and Liz Geisel, MSW
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Working in human services means consistently showing up for others in need - even while navigating systems that often fall short of meeting the demands and challenges of the work. This session explores the personal and systemic impacts of trauma-exposed work, including compassion fatigue, burnout, vicarious trauma, and moral injury. Participants will examine what is - and isn’t - within their control, and reflect on the emotional toll of caring in the face of systemic limitations. Through interactive activities, breakout discussions, and large-group conversations, participants will explore practical strategies for sustainability - fostering personal well-being and building the capacity to stay grounded and committed for the long haul.
Credits:
This training has been approved for 3 CE credits for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
Applications for CE credits for Licensed Social Workers and Licensed Mental Health Counselors have been submitted. Contact us at info@509training.org for more information.
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Date: March 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trainer: Suzy Langevin, LICSW, LADC I, Director of Training and Professional Development at Open Sky Community Services
Location: Virtual on Zoom
This is an intermediate level training that is designed to provide context and interventions based in CBT treatment model for practitioners working with individuals who experience co-occurring substance use and psychosis. This training is designed for practitioners with a foundational knowledge of CBT individual therapy. The training will provide attendees with the opportunity to think about the impact and intersections of the experiences of psychosis and substance use with considerations to specific substances of misuse.
Participants will learn about specific strategies to improve engagement as well as to collaboratively identify and address symptoms and challenges commonly reported by individuals who use substances and experience symptoms of psychosis. This training will incorporate role plays and real plays to help attendees solidify concepts reviewed in the training and to clarify anything they are unsure about.
Following this training the participants will understand:
The symptoms of psychosis and ways in which substance use and the symptoms of psychosis impact one another.
Identify strategies to improve engagement for individuals who experience co-occurring substance use and psychosis.
Identify strategies for responding to the experiences of psychosis when substance use is also present.
Credits:
3 CE credits approved for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors
2.5 credits approved for MA Social Workers; MA Licensed Mental Health Counselors; and MA Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselors
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Dates: April 2, 16, 30, & May 14, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Trainer: Elizabeth Korchari, M.A., LMHC, Certified DBT Provider and Founder of Lotus and Lion: Counseling and Wellness
Location: Virtual on Zoom
This training is an overview of Dialectical Behavior Therapy and the four skills modules taught in the DBT Skills group. This training will give participants an overview of what DBT is and how the skills fit into the treatment. Participants will gain an understanding of the four skills modules that target specific areas of dysregulation. Several skills are highlighted from each module along with how to coach the skills one-on-one. The format of this training is a mix of information sharing through lecture and audio/visual displays along with group discussion.
Part One: Foundations of DBT & Mindfulness
Describe the core principles of DBT, including the dialectical worldview, biosocial theory, and five areas of dysregulation.
Identify how DBT conceptualizes client behavior and why the model is effective for complex, high-acuity presentations.
Explain the purpose of mindfulness within DBT and differentiate between the What and How skills.
Guide clients through basic mindfulness practices that build awareness, presence, and nonjudgmental observation.
Apply Wise Mind strategies to help clients strengthen decision-making and emotional balance.
Part Two: Distress Tolerance & Crisis Survival
Identify when crisis survival skills are clinically indicated and how to assess whether a situation qualifies as a crisis.
Teach clients core Distress Tolerance skills, including STOP, Pros and Cons, TIP, Distract, Self-Soothe, and IMPROVE.
Demonstrate the use of physiological regulation strategies through TIP skills and guided experiential practices.
Explain the purpose and principles of Radical Acceptance, Turning the Mind, and Willingness.
Coach clients in balancing short-term stabilization with long-term reality acceptance to reduce suffering and build resilience.
Part Three: Emotion Regulation & Managing Intense Emotions
Describe the functions of emotions and the common barriers that make regulation difficult for clients.
Teach the DBT model for observing, describing, and naming emotional experiences accurately.
Apply Emotion Regulation skills such as Check the Facts, Opposite Action, PLEASE, Build Mastery, and Cope Ahead.
Support clients in reducing vulnerability to emotion mind through lifestyle and behavioral strategies.
Implement mindfulness-based strategies for managing extremely intense or painful emotions without avoidance.
Part Four: Interpersonal Effectiveness & Coaching Strategies
Explain the goals of DBT Interpersonal Effectiveness and the factors that reduce interpersonal effectiveness.
Teach and model DEAR MAN, GIVE, and FAST skills to help clients increase assertiveness, express needs, and maintain self-respect.
Assist clients in evaluating priorities and choosing the most effective interpersonal strategy for a given situation.
Demonstrate foundational DBT coaching skills, with an emphasis on accurate validation and supportive guidance.
Apply structured coaching strategies to help clients generalize new skills to real-world interpersonal challenges.
Credits:
This training has been approved for 16 CE credits for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
This training has been approved for 15 CE credits for Licensed Mental Health Counselors..
Application for CE credits for Licensed Social Workers has been submitted. Contact us at info@509training.org for more information.
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Date: May 5, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trainer: Suzy Langevin, LICSW, LADC I, Director of Training and Professional Development at Open Sky Community Services
Location: Virtual on Zoom
This training will provide clinicians with an understanding of the issues individuals face with maintaining safe and appropriate housing with substance use disorder, as well as an overview of the Housing First model to address these concerns. Massachusetts is in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, making serving individuals in need of safe and secure housing more challenging than ever. This training will provide an overview of the Housing First model, along with practical guidance for clinicians and case managers navigating the complex and often opaque world of housing assistance and support.
Following this training the participants will understand:
The rationale, principles and practical supports provided in a Housing First model
Strategies for addressing common barriers in maintaining housing
The relationship between harm reduction and housing, and practical strategies to reduce both individual and community harms.
Credits:
3 CE credits approved for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors
2.5 credits approved for MA Social Workers; MA Licensed Mental Health Counselors; and MA Licensed Alcohol Drug Counselors
Languages and Cultures
Trainings in this category aim to expand workers’ awareness of the languages and cultures represented in the Commonwealth.
Open the description of the training to find the registration link.
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Dates: April 9 and 16, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trainer: Theresa King, Signing Basics
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Overview: In this two-part workshop, participants will learn more about the culture of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community and some functional signs to effectively communicate with Deaf and Hard of Hearing clients and their families.
Part 1: Deaf Culture: An overview of the culture and the unique characteristics found among people within the D/deaf community. Also, you will learn about the ADA, legal issues and deaf patient rights. Participants will practice with role plays on engaging with people in the D/deaf community.
Part 2: Functional Sign Language for Human Services Staff: Train with a live, experienced ASL instructor with a focus on the signs you need to communicate with colleagues and clients.
Credits: This training has been approved for 4 CEs for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
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Dates: Tuesdays & Thursdays, April 17 - June 4, 2026
Time: 4:15 - 5:15 p.m.
Trainer: Jaclyn Browning, M. Ed.
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Overview: This 16-hour course is an introductory Spanish course that does not require any background knowledge in the Spanish language. The course is focused on practicing speaking and listening skills in Spanish in human service settings, general community outreach, and developing cultural competency for engaging with people who speak Spanish.
Attendance at 13 of 16 classes is required to earn a certificate.
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Dates: May 1, 8, 15, and 22, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trainer: Yvonne Brown, Signing Basics
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Overview:
In this 8-hour course, participants will learn the basics of American Sign Language, including finger lettering and common signs for communicating in human services settings.
Train with a live, experienced ASL instructor with a focus on the signs you need to communicate with colleagues and clients. This training is highly interactive and requires participants to have their cameras on to receive feedback from the instructor.
Credits: This training has been approved for 8 CEs for Certified Rehabilitation Counselors.
Wellness and Sustainability
Our Wellness and Sustainability program is focused on workers’ personal growth and development. Centered on sustainability amid trauma stewardship and stressful caseloads, the program aims to prevent burnout and support workers in the vital work that they do.
Open the description of the training to find the registration link.
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Date: March 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Trainer: Susan Buchholz, Executive Director, The HeartWell Institute, Public Health Bloomberg Fellow, & Former SEIU member
Location: Virtual on Zoom
This workshop is designed to introduce participants to the concept and benefits of mindfulness as a tool for well-being. This program aims to pique interest in mindfulness and encourage further exploration. It assumes that participants have no previous experience with mindfulness practices. Participants will be given tools they can use every day in a variety of settings.
Learning Outcomes:
Define mindfulness and understand its foundations in present-moment awareness and non-judgment.
Experience and reflect on core mindfulness practices (e.g., body scan, breath awareness).
Recognize the role of mindfulness in reducing stress and increasing emotional regulation.
Identify simple ways to integrate mindfulness into everyday life.
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Date: March 27, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Facilitator: Susan Buchholz, Executive Director, The HeartWell Institute, Public Health Bloomberg Fellow, & Former SEIU member
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Work can be demanding, especially in roles shaped by high expectations, limited resources, and ongoing uncertainty. Many workers experience stress, exhaustion, and emotional strain as part of their day-to-day lives, particularly in environments affected by systemic inequities. This one-hour session is designed as a supportive space that blends practical learning with shared reflection and acknowledging the real pressures human service workers face.
Rather than a traditional lecture, the session offers participants an opportunity to pause, connect, and access tools that support emotional regulation and well-being.
Using trauma-sensitive mindfulness practices, participants will be introduced to simple, accessible strategies for noticing stress responses, grounding in the present moment, and reducing emotional overwhelm. The session also emphasizes the role of collective care, recognizing that healing and resilience are often strengthened through connection, shared experience, and mutual support.
Participants are invited to engage at their own comfort level. The session functions both as a skills-based learning experience and a drop-in support space, honoring the realities of workers’ lives while offering practical tools that can be used on the job and beyond.
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Date: April 1, 2026
Time: 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Trainer: Deb Berglin, LICSW
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Do you find yourself puzzled or frustrated by your client/patient/student's unwillingness to trust you, their lack of follow through on simple tasks, their difficulty learning new things, their high emotions, neediness, reactivity or behavioral outbursts? That person may be experiencing effects from Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this workshop, you will learn more about PTSD and how it impacts individuals cognitively, emotionally, medically and behaviorally. In addition, you will learn strategies for creating a safe, trusting, and effective working relationship that can lead to more positive outcomes.
Learning Outcomes:
Deepen understanding of PTSD and its impacts on individuals.
Learn strategies for creating safe, trusting, and effective working relationships.
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Date: April 8, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Trainer: Amy Ebbeson, LCSW, Director of Worcester ACTs; and Kelsey Hopkins, Director of Operations and Outcomes, Worcester ACTs
Location: Virtual on Zoom
Designed to help participants learn about the fundamentals of mental health and trauma, this program integrates current trauma science and provides actionable knowledge on positive steps towards supporting mental health, with a focus on cultivating personal well-being strategies. This program is intended for people working in the public sector who are seeking a foundational understanding of how to maintain good mental health and develop resilience while balancing the stressors of vicarious trauma and providing high-quality service for people in need.
Learning Outcomes:
Analyze the role social forces such as family, abuse, culture and stigma play in mental health and illness
Use reflection to identify, evaluate and apply personal strategies for stress management, self-care and improved mental health
Understand the multidimensional and intersectional nature of diverse lived experiences and the ongoing, reciprocal, and transactional nature of the relationship between persons and their environments.
Understand the forms and mechanisms of oppression and power differences as they are manifest in theories and conceptual frameworks that provide ways to understand trauma, abuse and its manifestation in human behavior and group dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions
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There are no costs associated with these training sessions. All offerings are free to SEIU Local 509 Public Sector state workers.
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Members will not have to take personal time off for these training sessions. Please follow the guidelines of your agency for requesting time for professional development or training.
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It is always advisable to check in with your supervisor when planning to attend training. You may sign up for training in advance. If you are unable to attend for any reason, please let us know by contacting us at 509commtraining@seiuesf.org.
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Email confirmations will be sent by the end of the business day. If you register after 4 p.m. Eastern Time or on a weekend day, you will receive confirmation by the end of the following business day.
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Yes, all of the details needed for each session are contained within the confirmation. Please note that you may receive additional information from the training provider ahead of the training session.
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Yes, you can register for more than one course at a time. Please note that many of these courses will repeat as the training series continues, so we encourage you to spread out your participation over time. Spreading out participation will allow the most members to participate at one time.
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Yes, some trainings will offer CEUs. Please refer to specific training descriptions for CEU information.
“ It was a very good training and I loved the presenters!! I learned so much and it gave the a more more appreciation and understanding of the community and the language!! THANK YOU so much! "
- Local 509 Member
