Yvonne Dolan Peter de J

sponsored by
Columbia HeigHts/sHaw
Family support Collabor
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Washin
Creative Applications in Community-Based
Settings Training Institute
June 29 – July 2, 2010

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Those who Washington, DC
should attend
this event
include
For m
Social workers
School-based counselors
Ju
Parent coordinators
in schools
Leading thinkers and practitioners in the field will guide attendees through
Teachers

solution-f
workshops designed to build skills and knowledge and increase participant
Social service
agency personnel confidence in using this effective approach to working with families in communities
Professionals in where they live. Attendees will be exposed to successful implementation of
mediation and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy by community and government organizations.
restorative justice

brief ther
Juvenile justice and
criminal justice Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a unique, positive, and forward-thinking and
system professionals -moving approach to working with families that allow them to build on their innate
Outreach and resources and strengths. This strengths-based model has proven to be adaptable to
engagement staff
many different populations, environments, and cultures. This will be demonstrated
Therapists, counselors,
throughout the three-day training institute.
and psychologists
Law enforcement
Youth/gang violence
Creative Applications in Com
This event will feature intermediate and advanced skill-building workshops.
Topics covered include using Solution-Focused skills with the coordination of
prevention and
intervention staff
Case managers in
Training Institute
Family Group Conferences, in direct supervision of line staff, transitional planning
with youth involved with the juvenile justice system, and combating gang violence.
all fields (including
health, mental health,
and social work)
 WORKSHOPS (TENTATIVE)
Workshops are divided into two tracks. “Skill-building workshops” are offered at the intermediate
and advanced levels and are designed to give participants hands-on experience through role-plays,
live demonstrations, coaching, and feedback and require participation from the participants.
“Knowledge workshops” are offered for attendees who are new to Solution-Focused Brief
Therapy or who are limited in their experience, and include a mix of live demonstrations
and presentation of models or lectures.

Tuesday, June 29 Wednesday, June 30

9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Pre-training session (Optional)
Solution-Focused Intensive Seminar
Peter De Jong, PhD, LMSW and Yvonne Dolan, M.A.
Seating is limited to 25 participants, so reserve your spot early.
This intensive, day-long seminar with Peter De Jong and
Yvonne Dolan is targeted toward participants who are
looking for an in-depth, skill-building experience to
challenge themselves and their clients. Solution-Focused
practitioners know how challenging it is “to get and stay
on a Solution-Focused track” in their conversations with
clients. Through demonstration and the use of ideas from
communications analysis, the trainers will take attendees
to the heart of how to do advanced Solution-Focused lis-
tening and responding. Participants will have the chance
to practice what they have just seen. Because of the small
group size, the trainers will also offer practical techniques
and coaching to individuals as they learn to help clients
foster hope, co-develop meaningful goals that are good for
themselves as well as their families and community, and
strengthen motivation and commitment to carry them out.
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Early Registration
6:30pm – 8:30pm
Meet and Greet, Location: TBA
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Continental Breakfast and Registration
9:30 – 10:30 am
Opening Session
Using a Solution-Focused Approach in Community-based
Settings
Yvonne Dolan, M.A. and Penny Griffith, MSW, LICSW, Co-
lumbia Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative
Yvonne Dolan will interview Penny Griffith, Executive
Director of the Collaborative, about how Solution-Focused
is integrated into the work of the Columbia Heights/Shaw
Family Support Collaborative—Family Group Conferences,
youth and gang violence prevention work, home-based
visitation, case management, and workforce development.
Morning Workshops
10:45 am - 12:45 pm
Intermediate Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Peter De Jong, PhD, LMSW (skill)
Asking Solution-Focused questions is a major part of
doing Solution-Focused Therapy.  This session explores
what we are learning from the “micro-analysis of therapy
conversations” about how Solution-Focused questions ac-
tually work and why they are so useful.  Participants will
also have opportunity to practice asking Solution-Focused
questions and observing the exciting results.

10:45 am - 12:45 pm
Advanced Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Yvonne Dolan, M.A. (skill)

This workshop will focus on fine points of the Solution-

Focused approach - small details that make big differences.
We will also spend time talking about ways to reach “chal-
lenging” clients.
2
 WORKSHOPS
10:45 am – 12:45 pm
Effective Youth Violence Prevention at the Community Level
Penny Griffith, MSW, LICSW, and Del McFadden, Columbia
Heights/Shaw Family Support Collaborative (knowledge)
For more than 10 years, Columbia Heights/Shaw Fam-
ily Support Collaborative (CH/SFSC) has been refining a
model of comprehensive and holistic services to youth
involved with or at risk of becoming involved with gangs.
Participants will be introduced to how Solution-Focused
Brief Therapy can be used to organize and coordinate
partner agencies/professionals to respond effectively to
community safety and family well-being. This workshop
uses lecture and role plays to demonstrate the basic steps
of the CH/SFSC model: assess strengths and liabilities,
identify and engage partners, convene critical incident
meetings, prevent retaliations, and connect victims to
services
10:45 am – 12:45 pm
Using Solution-Focused Interviewing in Family Group
Conferences, an Overview
Jacquelyn Horton, MSW, LICSW and
Athena Viscusi, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family
Support Collaborative (knowledge)
Family Group Conferencing (FGC) is an effective way to
bring together a family with their supports—other fam-
ily, friends, and professional people. It is based on the
philosophy that every family has the ability to plan for the
safety and well-being of their children with information
and resources. The key to a great conference in preparing
the family through coordination interviews using Solu-
tion-Focused questioning. In this workshop, participants
will be introduced to the Family Group Conference model
and philosophy and observe a coordination interview.
12:45pm – 2:00 pm
Lunch on Your Own
Afternoon Workshops
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Intermediate Solution Focused Brief Therapy
Peter De Jong, PhD, LMSW (skill)
Asking solution-focused questions is a major part of doing
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy.  This session explores what
we are learning from the “micro-analysis of therapy conver-
sations” about how solution-focused questions actually work
and why they are so useful.  Participants will also have op-
portunity to practice asking solution-focused questions and
observing the exciting results.
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Live Therapy Sessions using Two-way Mirror
Yvonne Dolan, M.A. (skill)
Yvonne will do a live demonstration in which she asks for di-
rect feed back from the client, followed by a group discussion.
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Working with Youth Aging out of the Child Welfare System
Jacquelyn Horton, MSW, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw
Family Support Collaborative (skill)
When young people emancipate from the child welfare
system, creating connections that will sustain them can be
challenging. Solution-Focused Brief Therapy together with
Family Group Conferences have been successfully used in
working with young people as they attempt to recreate natu-
ral support networks and redefine family after years of being
separated from family. This workshop will present informa-
tion on common issues facing youth who are emancipating
and demonstrate through case summaries and role plays how
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy can be a powerful tool in
helping youth focus on the future and solutions.
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Defining Outcomes, Defining Success: Solution-Focused and
Results-Based Accountability
Rose Gordy, MSW, LICSW, and Jessica Quaranto, B.S.,
Mathematics, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Support
Collaborative (knowledge)
Defining outcomes for programs is essential in measuring
success of programs, participants, and community change.
Results-based accountability (RBA) is inherently forward-
thinking and works well together with Solution-Focused
questions at the organizational level.
Dinner on your own
3
 WORKSHOPS
Thursday, July 1 and coordinate with partner agencies to ensure the continued
8:30am – 9:30am safety and well-being of the young person and their family.
Continental Breakfast 11:00am – 1:00 pm
Using Solution-Focused Interviewing in Direct Supervision
9:30 – 10:40 am
Jacquelyn Horton, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family
Opening Session Support Collaborative (skill)
Effective Youth Violence Prevention: An Overview
Penny Griffith, MSW, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Using SFBT in supervision sessions can be a useful way to
Family Support Collaborative help workers envision what has been going well for the fam-
ily/client and how they can build on future successes in their
Penny Griffith will lead a discussion on how Solution-Fo- on-going interactions. Through observing live examples, role
cused interviewing has been adapted to work at a commu- plays and the use of genograms and ecomaps, participants
nity level to prevent and intervene in youth violence. will learn how to use different techniques—such as scaling
questions and past successes—to help workers work more
Morning Workshops effectively with clients.
11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy in a Social Work Thursday lunch and afternoon sightseeing
Context on your own
Peter De Jong, PhD, LMSW (knowledge)

Creative practitioners are using Solution-Focused Therapy

Friday, July 2
8:30am – 9:30am
(SFT) in new and remarkable ways!  We will look at anti-
bullying and learning-enhancement initiatives in schools, Continental Breakfast
Solution-Focused tools for child welfare, and solution-fo-
cused ways to teach interviewing skills and conduct field 9:30 – 11:30 am
education for aspiring practitioners.  We will also get you Morning Plenary
started in applying SFT to your professional context. Using Solution-Focused Language Skills with Restorative
Interventions
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Lorenn Walker, J.D., MPH
Live Therapy Sessions using Two-way Mirror
Yvonne Dolan, M.A. (skill) Solution-Focused language skills enhance restorative justice
approaches for dealing with wrongdoing and social injustice.
Yvonne will do a live demonstration in which she asks Learn about the variety of programs and techniques devel-
for direct feed back from the client, followed by a group oped in Hawai’i.
discussion.
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
11:00 am – 1:00 pm Opening Session
Working with the Family: Effective Youth Violence Using Solution-Focused Interviewing with Workforce
Prevention Development Programs
Athena Viscusi, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Penny Griffith, MSW, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family
Support Collaborative (skill) Support Collaborative

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and the Family Group Penny will lead an interactive presentation on the way Solu-
Conference model can be used together to motivate tion-Focused can be used effectively in transitional employ-
families who have youth involved with or at risk of being ment programs.
involved with gangs to make changes. This workshop
is geared towards how providers who are working di- 12:30pm – 2:00pm
rectly with youth and their families use future talk to help Lunch on your own
families envision a preferred future, develop safety plans

4
 WORKSHOPS
Afternoon Workshops
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Effective Youth Violence Prevention: Youth Outreach
Rose Gordy, MSW, LICSW and Del McFadden, Columbia Heights/
Shaw Family Support Collaborative, and Maia Shanklin
Roberts, Executive Director, Peaceoholics, Inc. (knowledge)
Youth outreach is an important component to the CH/SFSC’s
model of comprehensive and holistic services to youth
involved with or at-risk of becoming involved with gangs.
Participants will be introduced to how Solution-Focused Brief
Therapy can be used to conduct outreach with at-risk youth
and engage them and their parents. This workshop uses lec-
ture and role plays to demonstrate basic steps.
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Building Awareness and Partnerships: the School, the Police,
and the Parents
Athena Viscusi, LICSW, Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Sup-
port Collaborative (knowledge)
This workshop will explore how young people can benefit
when partnerships are nurtured between parents, school staff,
and law enforcement. Using a Solution-Focused frame, CH/
SFSC works to build relationships through parent awareness
workshops, school staff training, and follow-up referrals and
one-on-one sessions with parents.
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Leading and Following: Solution-Focused Tango
Cynthia K. Hansen, PhD (invited) (skill)
The nuances of leading and following between client and
therapist, maybe one step behind, maybe tapping on a shoul-
der, will take a lifetime to master. These skills are essential
to co-creating solutions with the clients we serve. In this
workshop, the metaphor of tango will allow participants to
experiment with these dynamics and share insights that can
be immediately applied to the next therapy session.
2:00 – 4:00 pm
Using Solution Focused Interviewing and Transition Planning
with the Juvenile Justice System
Lorenn Walker, JD, MPH (knowledge)
Homeless youth, incarcerated youth, youth emancipating
from foster care and youth charged with status offenses have
benefited from transition planning processes that apply
Solution-Focused.
Dinner on your own
THE TRAINERS
Peter De Jong, PhD, LMSW
Dr. De Jong is an emeritus professor of
social work at Calvin College in Grand
Rapids, MI and former adjunct at the
Brief Family Therapy Center in Mil-
waukee, WI where solution-focused
practices (SFT) originally were devel-
oped.  Dr. De Jong has been an outpa-
tient therapist, case worker, and led many trainings with
practitioners working in mental health, family services,
juvenile corrections and school settings.  He has conduct-
ed outcome research on SFT and written a SFT training
program for the Department of Human Services of Michi-
gan.  He and Insoo Kim Berg are the co-authors of many
journal articles, book chapters, and the book Interviewing
for Solutions 3e, a 2008 publication now translated into
eleven languages.  Dr. De Jong is a board member of the
Solution-focused Brief Therapy Association (http://www.
sfbta.org) and chairs their training committee.
Dr. De Jong currently works as a therapist, consults, and
offers trainings (including online courses in basic SFT
and advanced SF peer consultation/supervision for CEUs
through the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee).  He also
conducts micro-analysis research on the co-construction
of meaning in therapeutic conversations.
Yvonne Dolan, M.A.
Ms. Dolan has been a psychotherapist
for 30 years.  She is co-founder and
past-president of the Solution-focused
Brief Therapy Association (http://
www.sfbta.org) and conducts train-
ing seminars on SFBT throughout the
U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia, and South
America.  Her work is an integration of solution-focused
therapy and Ericksonian hypnotherapy and reflects a life
long interest in the linguistics of hope and its practical
applications to clinical and everyday life situations.  In
workshop settings, Ms. Dolan is known for her unique
combination of practical techniques, detailed handouts,
hands-on practice sessions and lively demonstrations,
punctuated by gentle humor.
Among other works, Ms. Dolan co-authored with the late
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg and colleagues More
than Miracles:  The State of the Art of Solution-focused
Brief Therapy, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy:  It’s
Effective Use in Agency Settings with Teri Pichot.  She also
has authored numerous journal articles and book chap
5
 THE TRAINERS
ters.  Ms. Dolan studied for over 20 years with the late
Steve de Shazer and Insoo Kim Berg, original developers
of the SBTA approach, and taught the Advanced Inten-
sives in SFBTA and “Train the SFBT Trainers” Seminars
at their Brief Family Therapy Center in Milwaukee, WI
regularly over the past dozen years.
Lorenn Walker, JD, MPH
Ms. Walker is a Hawai’i-based health
educator with extensive legal and
social service experience.  She uses a
public health approach with organiza-
tions and individuals in finding posi-
tive solutions for problem solving.  degree from Howard University and has worked as a social
Ms. Walker is an expert in designing
and facilitating effective learning programs.  Her recent
work has focused on reentry for incarcerated people,
substance abuse, violence prevention, and reconciliation
for people harmed by wrongdoing and social injustice.
She has worked with a wide variety of organizations
including schools, courts, prisons, businesses, and the
police.  Ms. Walker has coached individuals in personal
and professional matters including employment, health
and fitness, and finding more happiness in life.
Penelope Griffith, MSW, LICSW
Ms. Griffith is the Executive Direc-
tor of the Columbia Heights/Shaw
Family Support Collaborative (http://
www.chsfsc.org) a child-, family-, and
community-serving nonprofit in the
District of Columbia.  She received a
Master of Social Work degree from the
University of Maryland.  Ms. Griffith has worked exten-
sively with families and children for over eighteen years
and has been at the Collaborative since 1998.  Over the
past decade Ms. Griffith’s training expertise positioned
her as one of the leading experts in the field of Gang
Violence Intervention and Prevention Methods.  In 2008,
Ms. Griffith assisted the District of Columbia govern-
ment design and pilot a city-wide response to youth
violence in the city and neighboring states.
Ms. Griffith has been intensively trained in solution-
focused interviewing by the Solution-Focused Brief
Therapy Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Her mentor,
Insoo Kim Berg, trained and closely followed Ms. Grif-
fith’s professional and clinical growth as she integrated
solution-focused methodology throughout the organiza-
6
tion.  She is an expert in the field of Family Group Con-
ferencing and solution-focused interviewing; she also
provides ongoing training and consultation to partner
agencies in the Columbia Heights and Shaw communities.
Jacquelyn Horton, LICSW
Ms. Horton is the Associate Director
of Family Services at the Columbia
Heights/Shaw Family Support Collabo-
rative (http:// www.chsfsc.org) a child-,
family-, and community-serving
nonprofit in the District of Columbia. 
She earned her Master of Social Work
worker in the DC metropolitan area for 20 years.  She has
worked in the capacity of clinical therapist, social services
administrator, and in a variety of schools and community
settings.  Ms. Horton came to the Collaborative in 2004 in-
itially in the capacity of Family Services Coordinator.  She
was trained in Solution-Focused Brief Therapy initially
by Penny Griffith and later participated in more intensive
training in Milwaukee with Insoo Kim Berg and Steven
de Shazar.  Ms. Horton continues to develop her skills
through her work: as a trainer for SFBT for staff, commu-
nity partners, and government agency employees; super-
vision of staff and peer case review; staff and community
meetings; counseling with clients; and the coordination
and facilitation of Family Group Conferences.
Athena Viscusi, LICSW
Ms. Viscusi is Senior Clinician at the
Columbia Heights/Shaw Family Sup-
port Collaborative (http:// www.chsfsc.
org) a child-, family-, and community-
serving nonprofit in the District of Co-
lumbia.  She has 20 years of experience
as a Clinical Social Worker working
with disadvantaged communities in Washington, DC and
particularly the Latino community.  She earned her Master
of Social Work degree from Howard University’s School of
Social Work and completed her undergraduate BA degree
at Barnard College in New York.  Ms. Viscusi has been with
the Collaborative since October 2006.  Prior to her work
with CH/SFSC, she worked in a mental health clinic, a do-
mestic violence program, and directed a substance abuse
treatment program.  Ms. Viscusi uses Solution-Focused
Brief Therapy to focus on clients’ strengths while working
together to implement pragmatic solutions to the chal-
lenges her clients face.  Ms. Viscusi is a skilled trainer and
group leader and is certified to teach several parent educa
 THE TRAINERS
tion models including Systematic Training for Effective
Parenting (STEP) and ACT against Violence (American
Psychological Association).  Athena is fluent in English,
Spanish, and French.
Rose Gordy, MSW, LICSW
Ms. Gordy is the Director of Family
Services at the Columbia Heights/
Shaw Family Support Collaborative and
has been with the agency since Octo-
ber 2005.  She has over fifteen years
experience working in child welfare
systems, social services, and in social
science research settings.  Ms. Gordy served as a volunteer
in the United States Peace Corps in both Paraguay and El
Salvador where she worked with families, children, and
youth in direct services and in developing and implement-
ing programs with local organizations.   Ms. Gordy holds a
Master of Social Work degree with a concentration in Plan-
ning, Administration, and Community from Arizona State
University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology
from the University of Arizona.  She is a Licensed Inde-
pendent Clinical Social Worker in the District of Columbia.  Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA)
Initially trained in SFBT by Insoo Kim Berg, Ms. Gordy con-
tinues to use the model in leadership and organizational
settings and in the facilitation of Family Group Confer-
ences. Ms. Gordy is bilingual Spanish-English.
COST AND REGISTRATION
10% discount for those who
register by May 28!
If you register by May 28, you will receive a 10% discount
on the registration fee! The discount applies to the insti-
tute from June 30 - July 2.
Optional pre-training session with Yvonne
Dolan and Peter De Jong
(June 29)
$125 for members of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Association (SFBTA)
$150 for people who are not members of the Solution-
Focused Brief Therapy Association (SFBTA)
Training Institute
(June 30-July 2)
$450 for members of the Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Association (SFBTA)
$500 for people who are not members of the Solution-
Continuing Education Units
Continuing Education Units (CEU) will be available for the
training institute through the DC Metro Chapter of Na-
tional Association of Social Workers. The price of CEUs is
$10.00 and is payable directly to NASW-DC Metro Chapter
at the end of the training. Details will be posted at http://
solutionfocuseddc.blogspot.com.
7
HOTEL INFORMATION
As a corporate sponsor of the training institute, the
Beacon Hotel is the preferred hotel of Columbia Heights/
Shaw Family Support Collaborative.  support services, community capacity building and
Note that this time of year is especially busy in Washington,
DC so we encourage you to make your hotel arrangements
as soon as possible.
For more information about the Beacon Hotel, please see
http://www.capitalhotelswdc.com/BeaconHotelWDC_
com/index.htm
Additional hotels are listed on the web:
http://solutionfocuseddc.blogspot.com.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Washington, DC is accessible by air, train, automobile,
and rail. The three major airports—Baltimore/Washing-
ton International, Dulles, and Ronald Reagan—are inter-
national airports and Washington, DC is only hours from
New York City and the airports in the greater New York/
New Jersey area.
ABOUT CHSFSC
Mission
Families stay connected and strong through family
advocacy.
Board of Directors
Beatriz Otero Chair
CentroNia
Brenda Williams Secretary
Nile Valley Business Association
Shireen Mitchell Treasurer
Digital Sisters
Rosemary Akinmboni, Arose Youth Development Inc.
Brenda Barron, USAction
Priscilla Francis, United Planning Organization
Troy K. Green, Community Representative
George Moment, Jr., Community Representative
Barrie Lynn Tapia, Attorney-at-Law
Harold Valentine, Community Representative

More information about getting to and around in the

District are listed on the web, http://solutionfocuseddc.
blogspot.com.

The Beacon Hotel is an official corporate sponsor of the

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy Training Institute.

1816 12th Street, NW, Suite 201 Washington, DC 20009

Phone (202) 518-6737 International 00-1-202-518-6737
Fax (202) 518-6742
www.chsfsc.org