Presenter: Sarah Allen, MSW, Director of Programs, National Runaway Safeline

This interactive workshop, led by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), focuses on preventing youth homelessness through trauma-informed, prevention-centered strategies. Participants will examine the diverse experiences of young people at risk, explore the impact of trauma on adolescent development, and learn communication approaches that center youth voice and choice. Using NRS’s Crisis Intervention Model, attendees will practice applying prevention and intervention techniques in realistic scenarios. Through role play, discussion, and reflection, participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to strengthen youth-centered, community-based prevention efforts and reduce risks of homelessness for young people and their families.

Participants will:

• Understand youth homelessness risk factors and prevention opportunities.
• Apply trauma-informed communication and prevention-focused strategies.
• Practice NRS’s Crisis Intervention Model to empower youth, explore safe options, and promote long-term stability.

Presenters: Sarah Allen, MSW, Director of Programs, National Runaway Safeline and Stacey Violante Cote, MSW, JD, Deputy Director, Center for Children's Advocacy

This interactive workshop, led by the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), focuses on preventing youth homelessness through trauma-informed, prevention-centered strategies. Participants will examine the diverse experiences of young people at risk, explore the impact of trauma on adolescent development, and learn communication approaches that center youth voice and choice. Using NRS’s Crisis Intervention Model, attendees will practice applying prevention and intervention techniques in realistic scenarios. Through role play, discussion, and reflection, participants will leave with practical tools and strategies to strengthen youth-centered, community-based prevention efforts and reduce risks of homelessness for young people and their families.

This session will also include an extended discussion facilitated by Stacey Violante Cote to expand on key topics such as McKinney-Vento protections, local considerations, and state-specific content.

Participants will:

• Understand youth homelessness risk factors and prevention opportunities.
• Apply trauma-informed communication and prevention-focused strategies.
• Practice NRS’s Crisis Intervention Model to empower youth, explore safe options, and promote long-term stability.
• Learn about state and federal protections for students experiencing homelessness.
• Learn about CT resources and laws impacting your work with youth experiencing housing instability & homelessness.

Presenter: Brian Pasqurell, Program Manager, CT Mental Health and Addiction Services, Disaster Behavioral Health Response Network (DBHRN)

Psychological First Aid (PFA) equips providers and frontline staff with practical tools to support individuals experiencing crisis, trauma, and acute distress. While widely used in disaster and emergency response settings, PFA is especially relevant for homeless response providers—including emergency shelter staff, outreach workers, housing case managers, and coordinated entry teams—who serve as everyday responders in moments of crisis.

In shelter, street outreach, and housing environments, staff regularly engage with individuals impacted by violence, loss, displacement, behavioral health crises, substance use, and chronic stress. This training focuses on applying PFA in these real-world settings, offering strategies that are trauma-informed, person-centered, and adaptable across diverse populations, including families, youth, veterans, and individuals with complex service needs.

Participants will learn the core PFA actions, approaches to stabilization and supportive engagement, and strategies for provider self-care and boundary setting. PFA is evidence-informed and designed to:

• Reduce immediate distress
• Promote safety and stabilization
• Strengthen coping and self-efficacy
• Support connection to services and natural supports
• Foster hope and forward movement

The approach is grounded in five guiding principles: safety, calm, self-efficacy, connectedness, and hope. PFA helps providers respond in ways that are supportive and non-intrusive—without requiring individuals to disclose or relive traumatic experiences.

This training will include discussion of trauma, loss, and crisis situations common in frontline service work. We recognize that these topics can feel personal or activating. Participants are encouraged to take breaks, step away if needed, and engage in ways that support their own well-being. Supporting others begins with caring for ourselves.

“Have you ever worked with someone with a brain injury? …How do you know?”

Presenter: Victor Darr, CBIS, Brain Injury Alliance of Connecticut

Brain injury is highly prevalent among people experiencing homelessness, yet it often goes unrecognized in housing and service settings. Cognitive and behavioral impacts can affect engagement, follow-through, and housing stability—frequently being misinterpreted as resistance or lack of motivation. This training provides a practical overview of brain injury and its intersection with homelessness, using case examples to illustrate how it may present in real-world settings. Participants will learn strategies to adapt trauma-informed approaches, strengthen engagement, and support accountability while accommodating cognitive challenges. Participants will also learn how BIAC can serve as an ongoing partner and resource to strengthen cross-system collaboration.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Describe brain injury and its impact on behavior and daily functioning
• Recognize how brain injury may present in homeless service settings
• Differentiate brain injury from mental health conditions, substance misuse, and other commonly overlapping concerns
• Apply practical, brain injury–informed engagement and case management strategies
• Adapt trauma-informed approaches to support follow-through and housing stability
• Identify available resources and supports for continued collaboration