If you’ve been considering Validation certification but were not sure what to expect, the Validation Training Institute’s (VTI) free “teaser” course on Sept. 19 is for you. Attendees will also receive a discount coupon code for an Oct. 3 Validation course. The 30-minute session is just one of the highlights of VTI’s first fundraising and awareness campaign, which launches Sept. 15.
VTI is offering a special, free “teaser” course open to 47 lucky attendees. The online event will be a preview of the “Validation Internet-Supported Level 1 Worker Course” (hosted in partnership with Alzheimer’s Orange County) that begins Oct. 3 in Irvine, Calif., and runs through August 2017.
While the longer Internet-Supported Level 1 Worker class spans nearly a year in duration, the “teaser” course is just 30 minutes in length. Despite its abbreviated format, the shorter course will reveal many of the elements that the longer curriculum contains.
“The ‘teaser’ course on Sept 19 is a great opportunity for people to learn a little bit more about how certification can help them become better caregivers for older adults experiencing dementia, all in about a half hour,” said Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, VTI Executive Director.
As an added bonus, teaser class attendees will also receive a 15 percent discount coupon code that can be applied to the Oct. 3 course.
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Special Notes: With approximately 20 spots available for students, enrollment in the “Internet-Supported Level 1 Worker Course” starting Oct. 3 is first-come, first serve. In other words, sign up before the spots fill up! The coupon code must be used by Sept. 26, 2016 for discount to apply.
Additionally, the teaser class will be a first-come, first-serve signup process limited to approximately 47 students (21 online, 26 via phone). We recommend setting up your free “Zoom” online meeting software (https://zoom.us/) in advance of the meeting and logging in at least 10-15 minutes prior to the meeting’s startup time. Questions? Contact VTI Manager Jana Stoddard at info (at) vfvalidation (dot) org or phone 717-903-4854.
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“The Irvine course is only the second online Validation course we’ve been able to offer specifically for residents of the U.S. West Coast, and we’re hoping to draw interest from caregivers in surrounding areas, such as Arizona and Nevada,” said de Klerk-Rubin. “We are grateful to Alzheimer’s Orange County for their willingness to partner with us on the project. While most of the course is online, it does entail some required face-to-face time with the teachers.”
The course includes two webinars per month, two live, in-person meetings in Irvine and weekly practicum sessions with elders in various phases of resolution, as well as written homework.
“We’re excited to have two accomplished Validation teachers in Eric Portnoff and Odile LaVault — as well as Validation Presenter Stacey Hand—overseeing instruction,” de Klerk-Rubin said. “With their passion, experience and knowledge, I think this will be a wonderful opportunity for West Coast caregivers.”
As a lead up to the Sept. 19 teaser event and Oct. 3 course kickoff, VTI blog readers will get to know Eric, Odile and Stacey over the next few weeks as we share stories about how they became involved with Validation and how it has helped them. Stay tuned!
For more information on these classes, contact VTI Manager Jana Stoddard at jana (at) vfvalidation (dot) org or visit https://vfvalidation.org/new-internet-supported-course .
Fundraising and awareness campaign launches next week
The “Validation Internet-Supported Level 1 Worker Course” offerings on Sept. 19 and Oct. 3 are actually cornerstone events of VTI’s first annual fundraising and awareness campaign, which is slated to launch Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C. and run until Oct. 15.
The name of the campaign is “I Validate to Connect.” (#IValidate2Connect)
Next week’s campaign kickoff event on Sept. 15 will feature VTI Founder Naomi Feil as well as de Klerk-Rubin presenting an exclusive workshop at George Washington University in the U.S. capitol. We wrote about it last month, and urged Validation supporters to contact their lawmakers to attend.
Good news: there is still time to act!
Supporters who wish to contact their representatives should visit www.house.gov. Simply input your zip code to find contact information for your local representatives. Senatorial information can be found at www.senate.gov.
Let them know about the event and then tell them you care about issues related to dementia and that they should, too. Even if they don’t attend, we can make sure our voices are heard!
Be ready for more information on the campaign, when we launch next week.
