Growing Great Connections is a Great Kids Inc. comprehensive training program designed to grow foundational skills for Home Visitors and other front-line family practitioners. Growing Great Connections is the updated training that replaces the discontinued Integrated Startegies and Parent Survey. 

Workshop Overview: 

This training program supports professionals to work with families by:

• Developing an understanding of the importance of relational communication in interactions and knowing how to use the tools provided in the course to communicate effectively with families to build relationship-based partnerships
• Providing an introduction to attachment theory, identification of characteristics of a secure attachment relationship, and learning how to foster secure attachments in visits
• In-depth exploration of a strengths-based approach, what it looks like in practice, and how the use of language can reflect this approach
• Expanding knowledge of trauma and its impacts, understanding a trauma-informed approach, and learning about resilience and ways to support its growth
• Demonstrating the importance and benefits of facilitating parent-child interactions, to promote, support, and document parent-child interactions

The Growing Great Connections training consists of 3 separate segments. Please plan the entire week for this training to accommodate all segments of the online course delivery.

Segment 1: Orientation

• The Orientation is a self-directed learning piece and must be completed before the commencement of Segment 2. The Orientation takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Segment 2: ENGAGE

• The interactive ENGAGE sessions are delivered virtually by a live facilitator. Virtual instruction is scheduled during morning hours with a self-directed component in the afternoon.

Segment 3: SOAR Series

• The SOAR Series is a set of 4 self-directed learning modules, with each module taking approximately 2 - 2 1/2 hours to complete.  
• The SOAR Series topics are:
  • A Strengths-Based Approach
  • Growing Resilience through a Trauma Informed Approach
  • The Science of Attachment
  • The Power of Observation: Strengthening the Parent-Child Bond 

Dates and Times:

• Dates:
  • September 22-26, 2025
• Times:
  • 9:00 am to 12:00 pm MT (virtual learning segment)
  • 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm MT (self-directed segment)

Registration Deadline:

• August 22, 2025 
• Advance registration is required.
• The GKI portal registration deadline is September 10.

Location:

• Virtual via Zoom

Requirements for Participation:

• For this interactive training, each attendee needs a computer with a camera, a microphone, and a stable internet connection.
• Registrants must complete the Orientation in order to participate in Segment 2 and 3.
• Participants must attend the entire training and complete all of the above Segments to receive a Certificate from Great Kids Inc.

Cost:

Family Resource Network team members and leadership - $0*

*The cost of this opportunity is covered by a grant for Family Resource Network team members and leadership.

If you are not an FRN team member, please contact the Training team for recommendations at training@ahvna.org.

Further helpful registration information:

• Please ensure that you will be able to attend upon registering for the training to avoid our cancellation fee.
• Each registrant must have a unique email address (emails cannot be re-used)
• Registrants will receive an email invitation from Great Kids Inc. to access their GKI Learner's Portal shortly after the registration deadline has passed.
  • AHVNA will also send an email with support documents and more details to prepare for the upcoming sessions.
• The 30-minute Orientation (Segment 1) in your Learner Portal will need to be completed no later than a week prior to the first day of training.
• If there are any changes that must be made to a registration, please let us know prior to the registration deadline. After this date has passed, it cannot be transferred or changed.
• For more information or to contact AHVNA, follow this link: [Contact us]

Cancellation Policy:

Please note that changes to registration cannot be made past the registration deadline as part of the requirement from Great Kids Inc.

After the registration deadline, no changes to the ticket can be made and participants will be charged the full cost of the training ($1000) if they do not attend.

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