Introduction
We have over 25 training topics (see below). They are all designed to help people understand and support healthy social-sexual behaviors and sexual self-determination within an ecological framework using innovative strategies, skills, and solutions.
The primary audiences for our trainings are people who support vulnerable individuals, such as someone with neurodiversity or intellectual/developmental diversity (disabilities). The topics are applicable to anyone, but are especially geared to parents and families, foster care providers, case management staff, direct support professionals, and special education teachers.
Please explore the sections of this page for more information, and if you have questions please contact our training coordinator Mel at: mel@among-friends.org.
Testimonials
"The most valuable thing is emphasizing what's normal and healthy, and the idea that rules shouldn't be different for individuals with disabilities in regards to relationships and sexuality is key." - They Did What?? How to Know When Sexual Behaviors are a Serious Problem
"Love all your trainings. I always walk away with something new to utilize. Thank you!" - Designing a Roadmap for Romantic and Sexual Relationships
"I appreciated the open format to ask questions and share what other organizations are doing to be more inclusive, and what to do next." - Creating Safer Spaces
"The real life examples that were used through the training were very significant to me on how to contextualize the information presented." - Sexual Self-Determination and Supported Decision Making
"All of this today was new knowledge and I am extremely thankful I was able to be part of this training, I thank you." - Diversity and Inclusion; Supporting Sexual and Gender Minorities
"I learned that support staff need to address very basic needs of relationships to those they support. Making sure they understand what is safe, who to ask with questions." - Designing a Roadmap for Romantic and Sexual Relationships
"The content was presented in an understandable and approachable manner which made discussing potentially uncomfortable and important topics much easier." - Digital Desires; Sexuality, Relationships, and Technology
More About Our Training Program
The goals of our trainings are:
- support the whole person and their full human experience
- promote safe, healthy, legal, and situationally appropriate behaviors
- help people meet their basic human needs and protect their legal rights
- improve their quality of life and increase their independence
We would like to thank our Training Partners who have hosted our trainings so far in 2022-2023:
- Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (Regions 1, 2, and 3) (21 in 2022 and 14 for 2023)
- The Arc of Oregon / OTAC (4 in 2022, and 9 in 2023)
- Bend/La Pine School District (1 in 2023)
- Independence NW (1 in 2022 and 1 in 2023)
- FACT Oregon (1 in 2022 and 1 in 2023)
- MV Advancements (3 in 2023)
- Oregon COAAST Network (2 in 2022)
- WISE (4 in 2022)
- SACU (2 in 2022)
- The ARC of Jackson County (1 in 2023)
- Multnomah County DD Services (4 in 2023)
- CASA California (1 in 2023)
- IDD Case Management Conference (2023)
- Listed below are all of our training titles (shown in alphabetical order).
- Our trainings have been approved for continuing education credits in multiple states.
- To inquire about booking a training, please fill out our short Training Inquiry Form
Check out our staff photos and bios for Our Training Program Team!
Training Formats
| FastTrack Training | Half Day Training | Full Day Training | |
| Duration: | 1.5 hours | 3 hours | 6 hours training |
| Time of Day: | Between 9am - 4pm PT
(excluding 12-1pm lunch) |
Between 9am - 4pm PT
(excluding 12-1pm lunch) |
Between 9am - 4pm PT
(excluding 12-1pm lunch) |
| Content: | Handouts, Resources | Handouts, Resources, Peer Learning Exercises | Handouts, Resources, Peer Learning Exercises, Case Studies |
| Overview: (durations are approx.) |
60 minutes of core training material and 30 minutes of Q&A discussion with trainer | additional 80 minutes of activities, peer learning exercises and discussion questions | additional 90 minutes of training material and 50 minutes of case studies |
| Training Format: | Live, Virtual via Zoom
Live, In-Person within 50 miles of McMinnville, OR Pre-Recorded Webinar: In development |
Live, Virtual via Zoom
Live, In-Person within 50 miles of McMinnville, OR |
Live, Virtual via Zoom
Live, In-Person |
Important Notes:
- Fast-Track Trainings can be adapted for presentation at conferences, conventions, & summits.
- We are in the process of building our pre-recorded webinar library, Trainings-On-Demand. Please email us to find out if the topic you are requesting has been recorded yet.
- Live, In-Person trainings are subject to health and safety considerations, restriction, and regulations.
- Live, In-Person FastTrack and Half Day Trainings are limited to a 50 mile radius of McMinnville, OR.
Training Fees
| 2024 Base Training Fees | Audiences up to 50 | Audiences of 51+ | |
| Fast-Track (1.5 hrs) | Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $600
Governmental Organizations = $700 |
Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $700
Governmental Organizations = $800 |
|
| Half Day (3 hrs) | Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $800
Governmental Organizations = $900 |
Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $900
Governmental Organizations = $1000 |
|
| Full Day (6 hrs) | Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $1100
Governmental Organizations = $1300 |
Non-Profits and Small Businesses = $1200
Governmental Organizations = $1400 |
Trainings can be adapted for presentation at conferences, conventions, and summit gatherings.
To request a quote for custom content presentations, email our training coordinator, Mel at: mel@among-friends.org
Multi-Training Discount:
Discounts are available for hosting multiple trainings in the same calendar year, booked at the same time (see the chart below). Email us with any questions about training fees.
| For 2-3 Trainings | 10% off each training | ||
| For 4+ Trainings | 15% off each training | ||
Travel Fees:
- For In-Person Trainings further than 50 miles of McMinnville, OR, the following fees also apply:
| 2023 Travel Fees | Per Mile Charge | Meals Allowance | AccommodationsPer Diem |
| Less than 50 miles | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| 51-75 miles | $1.30 per mile, one-way | $10 | $0 |
| 76-100 miles | $1.30 per mile, one-way | $30 | $0 |
| 101+ miles | $1.30 per mile, one-way OR cost of airfare | $30 per day | $150 per night |
Potential Additional Training Costs:
- Among Friends, LLC carries professional and general liability insurance. If your organization requires additional insurance, or requires to be listed as “additionally insured”, please let us know when submitting your Training Inquiry / Proposal Form. Charges incurred for additional insurance are the host organization’s responsibility and will be added to your training fees.
- All self-advocates involved in our trainings are compensated for their time and experience. Additional training fees apply if you choose a training co-facilitated by self-advocate(s).
- If the Host Organization cannot provide someone to run the virtual training, Among Friends, LLC will provide one at an additional cost.
- Additional fees may apply if you want to record the training.
- A minimum $50 late fee will be assessed if your balance payment is not received by the due date.
- Trainings requested outside of designated hours (9am - 4pm) are subject to a $100 after hours fee.
Training Terms and Conditions
All trainings with Among Friends, LLC are subject to the following terms and conditions unless otherwise agreed upon in writing prior to signing the training service agreement. Please review them and if you have any questions about the conditions outlined below, please contact us by email.
Coordination of Training
Among Friends, LLC has a training coordinator who is the primary contact for all communications regarding training contracts.
The Host Organization will provide Among Friends, LLC the name, phone number, and email of one primary contact person who will coordinate all communications regarding the training contract.
Fees and Deposits
A 50% non-refundable deposit, plus the cost of any additional insurance, is due from the Host Organization in order to reserve training date(s).
The remaining balance is due on or before the date of the training, unless otherwise negotiated with Among Friends, LLC in writing, in advance.
A minimum $50 late fee will be added to the invoice if the balance is not received by the due date.
Cancellation Policy
If the Host Organization needs to cancel the training for any reason after the service agreement is signed, the 50% deposit and cost of any additional insurance is non-refundable.
If Among Friends, LLC has to cancel the training after the service agreement is signed due to illness or emergency, 100% of the training fees will be applied to a rescheduled date or refunded in full.
If the training has to be cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions or other emergencies (ie: fire, earthquake, national or state health restrictions), the 50% deposit and cost of additional insurance will be applied to a rescheduled date within 6 months of the original training date.
Attendance
The number of people allowed at a training is limited to the Host Organization’s online platform capacities for Live, Virtual trainings; and the venue’s max capacity for Live, In-Person trainings.
The Host Organization will provide 1 seat for Among Friends, LLC staff to attend at no cost.
The Host Organization will provide Among Friends, LLC the registration count one week before the training so the presentation and exercises can be adapted accordingly; and will provide the final registration count 24 hours before the training.
Materials
Among Friends, LLC will provide an electronic version of the handouts listed below via email a minimum of one week prior to the training date for the Host Organization to distribute to the participants.
Master handout of the presentation
Master handout of any resource or activity sheets, when applicable
Pre- and post-tests, when applicable
Presentation evaluation
If the Host Organization requires the electronic versions of the hand-outs further in advance, it is their responsibility to communicate that with Among Friends, LLC and have the due date specified in the signed service agreement.
All training materials remain the legal property of Among Friends, LLC and Shanya Luther and are only to be distributed to attendees of the training, unless otherwise negotiated with Among Friends, LLC in writing, in advance.
Promotional Materials
Closed Registration Trainings
Among Friends, LLC will list the training in our Monthly Announcements but will not include links to the promotional flyer or registration information.
Open Registration Trainings Among Friends, LLC will list the training in our Monthly Announcements including links to the promotional flyer and registration information.
The Host Organization will provide a draft of the promotion and registration flyer a minimum of 8 weeks before the training date for review by Among Friends, LLC.
Training Description
Registration link and details
Name and contact information for the Host Organization’s registrar (for participants who may have questions)
Logo of Among Friends, LLC
Trainer photo and bio
Among Friends, LLC website address
The final version of the Host Organization’s promotion and registration flyer is due a minimum of 6 weeks before the training date so Among Friends, LLC can include it in our Monthly Announcements.
Presentation Links or Venue Address
For Live, Virtual trainings, the Host Organization will provide Among Friends, LLC the presentation platform link(s) a minimum of 1 week before the training date.
For Live, In-Person trainings, the Host Organization will provide Among Friends, LLC the venue address a minimum of 4 weeks before the training date.
Preparation Time On Training Day
For all Live, Virtual trainings, Among Friends, LLC will log in a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the training start time to test the connection and all settings.
For all Live, In-Person trainings, Among Friends, LLC will need access to the training venue a minimum of 1 hour prior to the training start time.
Technology and Participant Support On Training Day
For all Live, Virtual trainings, the Host Organization must have one or more people to run the virtual training, support participant access, and address technology issues & concerns. The technology support person must be familiar with the Host Organization’s presentation platform. If the Host Organization cannot provide someone to run the virtual training,
Among Friends, LLC will provide one at an additional cost.
For all Live, In-Person trainings, the Host Organization must have one or more people on site to support participants and address any technology issues & concerns. The technology support person must be familiar with the devices supplied by the Host Organization or Venue.
Recording the Training
Recording trainings is prohibited without prior written authorization.
Authorization must be negotiated 4+ weeks in advance of the training and a written agreement must be signed by both the hosts and Among Friends, LLC.
Additional fees will apply and will vary based on use of the recording.
Evaluations
Among Friends, LLC provides an electronic link to a training evaluation for participants to complete, which is to be distributed with the training materials provided to participants by the Host Organization.
The Host Organization is responsible for providing a list of the attendees, with their phone number and email address, and a copy of all training evaluations (if using their own) to Among Friends, LLC no later than 1 week following the training date.
Training Certificates
The Host Organization is responsible for creating a providing their own Certificates of Attendance unless otherwise arranged in writing with Among Friends, LLC in advance.
In Oregon and Washington Continuing Education Units are available for most trainings. Check our CEU table for an up-to-date list. You can contact your state authorizing entity to get our trainings approved.
Among Friends, LLC can provide Certificates of Attendance for participants if requested in writing, in advance via the Service Agreement.
The Host Organization is responsible for providing the final attendance roster, with names and email addresses a maximum of 3 days following the training date in order to receive Certificates.
Among Friends, LLC will send Certificates within 2 weeks of receiving the final attendance roster.