The Public Service Workshops Program (PSWP) is a statewide professional development program designed to meet the professional development needs of New York State employees who are represented by PEF as well as those who are Management/Confidential (M/C). PSWP utilizes private and public colleges and universities, professional associations, consultants, and for-profit companies to develop and deliver workshops. PWSP workshops help maintain and increase the professional competencies of employees and enhance preparation for employees’ promotional opportunities. For more information, read these Frequently Asked Questions. We will update this page as new workshops are added.
JULY
July 9 and 10: Investigation Documentation: Reports That Hold Up
In this two-session virtual workshop for inspectors and investigators, from 9 am. to noon July 9 and 10, participants will learn the importance of creating reliable and credible documentation that can be used when testifying in court.
Participants will also learn the elements of effective investigation documentation, best organizational flow, and items that should be included in an investigation report.
Register here by July 2.
July 10 and 11: Defensive Documentation for Counseling Professionals
This virtual workshop for counseling professionals, from 9 a.m. to noon July 10 and 11, teaches the legal and ethical aspects of case documentation and record-keeping with a focus on litigation preparation and understanding as it relates to fact-find and best practice strategies.
Topics include common errors in charting, what to include and omit in documentation, review of selected court cases, and the pros and cons of various methods of charting.
(6 approved Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Mental Health Counselor continuing education contact hours.)
Register here by July 3.
July 16 and 17: Motivational Interviewing
This virtual training on motivational interviewing, an evidence-based practice model of treatment designed to facilitate and engage intrinsic motivation within the client to change behavior, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon July 16 and 17.
Motivational interviewing is a goal-oriented, client-centered counseling style for eliciting behavior change by helping clients to explore and resolve ambivalence.
(6 approved Licensed Master Social Worker, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Licensed Mental Health Counselor continuing education contact hours)
Register here by July 9.
July 16 and 17: Data Analysis
This two-day workshop, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 16 and 17 in Buffalo, will help participants develop skills for visualizing and analyzing data. Topics will include descriptive statistics, histograms, cross tabulations and pivot tables, correlation and regression, and confidence intervals.
Use of graphs to explore patterns and relationships in the data is emphasized. Data sets are provided for practice in building statistical analysis skills. Microsoft Excel will be used as a tool for learning about data analysis. Each participant will be required to participate in all exercises using their computer.
Prerequisites: Familiarity with Excel, including knowing how to enter simple formulas and use built-in functions, and completion of the NYS GOER Working with Data (Online) course component prior to attending the workshop.
Register here by July 9.
July 23: Managing Dissociation Through the Use of Soothing and Grounding Skills
This workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 23 in Buffalo.
Social workers and mental health practitioners are often faced with attachment related concerns in their clients, which leads to dissociative symptoms. Practitioners struggle with keeping their clients grounded in order to effectively resolve traumatic experiences.
This training provides an opportunity for staff and clinicians working with children, adolescents, and young adults to increase their confidence in talking to clients about trauma, identifying dissociative symptoms, and how to effectively manage those symptoms through creative and play-based soothing and grounding tools.
This workshop will provide scripts, demonstration videos, and photographs of varied ways of using the techniques. Participants will practice a variety of the 30 soothing and grounding tools.
(NYSED LMSW & LCSW CEs/Contact Hours: 6.5 Live In-Person; NYSED LMHC CEs/Contact Hours: 6.5 Live In-Person; NYSED LMFT CEs/Contact Hours: 6.5 Live In-Person; NYSED LCAT CEs/Contact Hours: 6.5 Live In-Person; NYSED PSY CEs/Contact Hours: 6.5 Live In-Person; NYS OASAS Provider #0045: 6.5 hours for: CPP & CPS Initial, Section 1; CASAC, CPP & CPS Renewal)
Register here by July 15.
July 24 and 25: Legalized Cannabis in New York: Information for Healthcare Professionals
This virtual workshop, from 9:30 am. to 12:30 p.m., introduces the impact of legalized cannabis on healthcare practice in New York.
Topics include an overview of cannabis regulation in New York under the Marihuana Regulations and Taxation Act, including the intersection between state and federal law; an overview of the evidence base for the risks, benefits, side effects, and drug interactions in marijuana use; and ethical and legal considerations.
Register here by July 17.
July 31: Professional Writing: Mechanics
This full-day workshop, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 31 at the Capital Region Language Center in New York City, provides participants with a review of the mechanics of writing, including word choice and sentence structure.
The workshop includes review of the parts of speech, phrases and clauses, and the use of modifiers. Participants will also review the rules of punctuation. Participants must complete the New York State GOER Writing of Mechanics virtual course component prior to attending the virtual portion of this workshop.
Register here by July 24.
AUGUST
August 1: Professional Writing: Composition
This full-day workshop, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. August 1 at the Capital Region Language Center in New York City, provides an overview of essential writing skills, including developing and organizing ideas, choosing a focus for writing, and using appropriate language for the audience.
Participants will focus on writing skills within the context of the larger writing process and approaching a writing task from pre-writing through revisions. Writing tone, style, and technique will also be addressed.
Register here by July 25.
August 1: Audit Report Writing
This in-person workshop, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. August 1 in Cheektowaga, provides auditors with the skills to produce clear and objective audit reports.
Participants will learn how to organize information (facts, conclusions, inferences, and judgments) from audits into reports that are understandable and objective to the reader.
This workshop will assist auditors in developing properly written and supported audit findings and will provide a template of an audit report.
Register here by July 25.
August 8: Preparing Written Communication for Executives
This six-hour workshop, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Capital Region Language Center in Cheektowaga, will provide participants with techniques for improving written communications to executive management, including strategies for preparing high level communications in a clear, concise, grammatically correct (including sentence structure) format.
The use of persuasive writing skills such as diplomacy, tact, and appropriate level of detail when communicating with executive leadership will also be covered.
This workshop is designed for employees who regularly communicate with executive leadership in written form. It will be interactive, where participants will have the opportunity to practice writing techniques and receive feedback from the instructor or another subject-matter expert.
Focus will include the importance of proofreading communications to avoid typos and basic grammatical errors.
Register here by August 1.
August 13 and 14: Professional Writing: Mechanics for Non-Native English Speakers- Virtual
This two-session, from 9 a.m. to noon August 13 and 14, virtual workshop provides non-native English-speaking participants with a review of the mechanics of writing.
Strategies for improving written communication in a clear, concise, and grammatically correct format. Workshop topics include parts of speech, sentence structure, phrases and clauses, the use of modifiers, rules of punctuation, and proofreading effectively.
Register here by August 6.
August 14: Adapting to Change
This in-person workshop, August 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Cheektowaga, NY, allows participants to learn skills that are needed to adjust to constantly shifting workplace demands.
Topics include viewing change as an opportunity; understanding the physical impact of change; developing “change hardiness”; achieving flexibility in the face of new demands; and predicting the paths of change.
Register here by August 7.
August 19: Managing Multiple Priorities
This workshop, August 19 in Albany, NY from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed to help develop skills in setting goals, prioritizing, and managing simultaneous responsibilities and activities in today’s fast-paced work environments. Participants will learn how to take control of their workday to help enhance productivity and success while minimizing stress.
Register here by August 8.
August 21: Preparing Written Communication for Executives
This full day workshop, in New York City on August 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will provide participants with techniques for improving written communications to executive management, including strategies for preparing high level communications in a clear, concise, grammatically correct (including sentence structure) format.
The use of persuasive writing skills such as diplomacy, tact, and appropriate level of detail when communicating with executives and leadership will also be covered. This workshop is designed for employees who regularly communicate with executive leadership in written form. This workshop will be interactive, where participants will have the opportunity to practice writing techniques taught and receive feedback from the instructor or another subject matter expert.
This workshop will include a focus on the importance of proofreading communications to avoid typos and basic grammatical errors.
Register here by August 14.