Instructor:
, Phone: E-mail: grayoak2@msn.com My schedule is different every day so it is hard to say when is the best time to reach me during the day. I will respond when I am free. I am available most evenings. |
Instructor Level
| Master |
Education
| Master's degree in Art Therapy | |
| I have been working in social/child welfare in Vermont for 37 years. My Master's Degree is in Art Therapy and have worked in community mental health, Intensive Outpatient therapy with dually diagnosed adults, behavioral interventionist in a school setting and for the last 16 1/2 years I have been doing coaching, training and support for Vermont kinship, foster and adoptive families. I do the research and curriculum development affiliated with the trainings offered. I am also responsible for training and coaching our temporary employee trainers and coaches. I have also been trained in adult learning through Global Learning Partners and have completed training to become a coach. | |
| has received formal instruction in adult education or in the facilitation of learning for adults. |
Work Experience
| 2007-Present The Vermont Child Welfare Training Partnership/University of Vermont—Burlington, Vermont Outreach Professional Senior/Training Specialist responsible for designing, coordinating and implementing trauma informed foundational and advanced training for licensed kin/foster caregivers and adoptive parents. Responsible for hiring, training and supervising instructors and assistant instructors in three state district offices. Additionally, served as facilitator and liaison for several community partners including Vermont State Resource Coordinators (previous) and the Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association conference committee. Development, implementation, training and oversight of the statewide Kin and Foster Parent Mentor Program. Trained and competent in using online platforms: Moodle, SMORES, Articulate 360, Storyline, PowToons, Screencast-O-Matic, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and iMovie. 2003-2007 Howard Center—Burlington, Vermont and 1988-1994 Provided individual and group counseling to elementary-aged children and/or parents. Assessment, therapy and case management to youth with attachment/behavioral issues; abuse/neglect history; learning/developmental disabilities; developed behavior support and treatment plans; parental support and education; referral to community resources/service coordination/planning with school staff and community service providers. Collaboration with the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Chittenden County Child Protection Team, Casey Family Services, Community Resource Officer and the Vermont Adoption Consortium. Provided supervision and training to para-educators, teachers and graduate level student interns. 1994-2004 Northwest Counseling & Support Services—St. Albans, Vermont Shared Living Provider responsible for supporting a developmentally disabled man with autism after the closing of Brandon Training School. Provided home care, health care and coordination with community service providers. Encouraged independence. Maintained regular birth family connections and supervised individual care attendants. Cared for this person until his death in May 2004. 2001-2002 Continuum Program—Essex Junction, Vermont Art therapist as part of a multi-disciplinary team responsible for providing group art therapy in an intensive outpatient program setting with dually diagnosed youth and adults. Supported adults who had lost custody of their children due to the above noted history. Supported youth in DCF custody/protective services. 1987-1988 Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Facility—Colchester, Vermont Employee and student intern. Provided both individual and group art therapy. Focus on anger management, substance abuse, sexual and physical abuse and establishing self-esteem through developing healthy family and peer relationships. 1991-1992 Northeastern Family Institute—Colchester, Vermont Foster parent. 1996-2002 Bellows Free Academy—Fairfax, Vermont Instructor and coordinator for the Environmental Learning for the Future/Vermont Institute for Natural Science program. EDUCATION 1984-1987 Hartwick College—Oneonta, New York Bachelor of Arts, Summa Cum Laude. Emphasis on art and psychology. 1987-1989 Vermont College of Norwich University—Montpelier, Vermont Master of Arts in Art Therapy OTHER RELEVENT PROFESSIONAL CREDITS AND TRAINING: 2017-2018 Production Manager for “Say It Forward Productions” (SIF)— Burlington, Vermont Assist in the planning coordination and production of music and storytelling events that fundraise for local, social-justice minded, non-profit agencies. Work with our non-profit clients and SIF on development, planning, advertising, ticket sales, promotion and production on night of event. 2016-Present Tri-Founder and facilitator for Burlington-based Alateen program that supports youth ages 11 through 20 years of age who have a parent with substance use issues. 2008, 2016 Vermont Family Services Division Conference—Statewide Co-Chair/Coordinator responsible for all aspects of design and planning for this 2-day conference, which hosted 450 Vermont State employees. 2015-Present The Moth—Burlington Location/Production Monthly volunteer and Swing Producer. Work with local Producer to advertise, set up and run the local Moth Story Slam monthly and yearly Grand Slam events. Coordinate with venue, sound, audio, host and volunteers. 2007-2019 Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association Conference Committee— Burlington, Vermont Responsible for participating in the design/planning of all aspects of this 3-day conference, which hosts over 500, kin/foster/adoptive parents, child welfare professionals and other community professionals. January 2008—Training, Family Group Conferencing Facilitator March 2008—Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association Conference Presenter: “Openness in Adoption” June 2008—American Humane Conference with focus on Family Group Conferencing October 2008—Global Learning Partners training “Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach” focusing on developing curricula with an adult learning mode. December 2008—Family Safety Planning Training 2008—Reflective Supervision training 2009, 2010—Reclaiming Youth/Circle of Courage; conference/training; South Dakota 2010-Attachment, Self-Regulation and Competency (ARC) Train the Trainer series 2013—Presenter at Vermont Adoption Consortium; Art Therapy with Adoptive Families 2013-Present—Core member of the Placement Stability Project with focus on development of foster parent mentoring program July 2014—Global Learning Partners training: “SURE-Fire Meetings” May 2015—Creative Conflict Resolution Strategies training; UVM May 2015—Presented at Northeastern Family Institute staff development retreat June 2015—Children and Family Services Review; State reviewer partnered with federal oversight June 2015—Coaching Skills training March 2016—Presenter at Vermont Foster/Adoptive Family Association Conference: “Put Your Own Oxygen Mask On First” 2016-Present—Child and Family Services Review; State reviewer February-June 2017—Language Access Learning Community Course June 2017—Diligent Recruitment Training October 2017—International Mentoring Institute, University of New Mexico May 2018—Presented at Northeaster Family Institute staff development retreat July 2018—Art Therapy groups for Lamoille County Mental Health day camp for youth August 2018 and 2019—Presentation to Family Room staff in Burlington on “Trauma Informed Practice in Supporting Families” September 2018—professional paper “Promoting Placement Stability in Children and Youth through Foster Parent Mentoring” (published by University of New Mexico) October 2018—Presenter at International Mentoring Institute, University of New Mexico August 2019—Training in using Articulate 360 and Storyline March 2024—Advanced Facilitator Training through University of Denver, Butler Institute | ||||||||||
| More than 15 years instructing adults. | ||||||||||
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Additional Information
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| Child Development (Early Childhood) Families and Communities (Early Childhood) Teaching and Learning (Early Childhood) Healthy and Safe Environments (Early Childhood) Professionalism and Program Organization (Early Childhood) Child and Youth Development (Afterschool) Curriculum and Learning Environment (Afterschool) Families and Communities (Afterschool) Healthy and Safe Environments (Afterschool) Professionalism and Program Organization (Afterschool) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specific Curricula: | Recognized Community of Practice Facilitator | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Training Topics | How Children Develop Influences on Development Brain Development Temperament Resiliency Social/Emotional Development Addressing Challenges Supportive Interactions Building Relationships with Families Family Systems Respectful Communication Parenting Parent Involvement Community Resources Networking and Collaborations Curriculum Development Health and Safety Systems Resources Professional Growth Working with Staff and Colleagues How Adults Learn Leadership | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Adults have different learning styles so I design my curricula to engage learners on several different levels--visual, auditory and kinesthetic. *I believe that everyone has something to offer related to the topic through their experiences so I encourage interaction and dialogue in all of my trainings. *I believe that for learning to occur the trainer/facilitator needs to foster a safe learning environment through group agreements, validation and challenge by choice. This invites participants to be vulnerable in the learning process and fosters a sense of community in learning. |
Logistics
| $100 per hour | |
| Statewide | |
| 100 miles from , | |
| Extra fee may be necessary if agency is unable to provide training materials (markers, flip chart, handouts). |