At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, all orientations and voluntary trainings were put on hold and the Training Fund temporarily closed its doors in March 2020. When the Training Fund reopened in August 2020, full priority was given to the Mandatory PCA New Hire Orientations.

As of September 6, 2022, the Voluntary Training Program resumed. Below is a listing of our current courses.

Care for the Caregiver Series

(virtual, 2-hour sessions)

Trained by Transformative Leadership Strategies

Navigating Change & Building Resilience through Self-Care

Participants will explore ways to practice self-care during times of change and learn strategies for creating habits of resilience. Building mental and emotional reserves of energy to utilize during times of transition will also be discussed.

Finding Calm in the Chaos: Decreasing Stress through Mindfulness

Participants will explore the connection between how worry creates a feeling of anxiety in the body and how to begin to shift negative thinking patterns through mindful attention and intention. They will also practice various centering and breathing exercises to deepen their awareness of how to create a sense of calm and peacefulness in their body, mind and heart. No prior experience in mindfulness practice is required.

Emotional Intelligence: Leading with Your Head and Your Heart

Participants will be supported in their ability to rationally make decisions while balancing the impact that positive and negative emotions can have on focus, energy and productivity. Strategies for addressing anxiety, fear, and overwhelm will be shared. Self-management techniques and interpersonal skills will be explored to strengthen one’s ability to cultivate meaningful relationships and decrease conflict with others.

***Participants do not have to take all Care for the Caregiver classes or take them in any particular order.***

Best Practice in Dementia Care

(virtual, 4-hour sessions)

Trained by The Alzheimer's Association - CT Chapter

The Alzheimer's Association Connecticut Chapter presents "Best Practices in Dementia Care" a 4-hour training detailing how to care for those with dementia.

American Heart Association’s CPR & Basic Life Support

(self-guided online course & in-person exam; sessions available by individual appointment)

Trained by CODE ONE

This hands-on course will teach the American Heart Association’s curriculum for CPR and BLS for healthcare workers.

Borrow My Glasses Courses

(virtual, 2-hour sessions)

Trained by Borrow My Glasses

Home Design Decisions that Improve Life for People with Dementia

Life can be easier or harder for people with dementia and for their caregivers based on the way space is set up inside and outside of the home. Join us for a photographic home tour sharing simple ideas to make the physical environment easier to navigate for people with Alzheimer's disease.

Successful Communication Given Alzheimer’s Logic

Changes in communication patterns can frustrate both individuals with Alzheimer's and the people around them. However, there's often more logic than it would first appear. This workshop is set in habilitation model of dementia care. It will help you crack the code in early to mid-stages of the illness, so you can continue to connect in meaningful and enriching ways.

Bringing Generations Together

Despite the myth of heightened competition between generations, interdependence and interest in more connection are often the reality. How can we engage people of varying ages to foster creative partnerships, build relationships and address community needs? During this program we will: Review the impact on families- from grandparents raising grandchildren to families looking to bridge a geographical distance from their relatives; Explore successful projects from around the country (and close to home) that build friendship and understanding as well as meeting the needs of young and old; Learn about artistic and memoir collaborations, successful models for mentoring and tutoring as well as ways of working together for better communities; Share local examples of improving life through generational solidarity.​ Examining real world examples will prepare you to expand intergenerational programs in your own community and organization.

Compassionate Communication with Older Adults

Compassionate communication combines what we say, how we say it, and what we communicate when we interact with consumers. The way we communicate with consumers says a lot about how we view them and who we are as an organization. Join us for a workshop that will help staff to: Approach communication with empathy; Communicate with visually- and hearing-impaired elders; Communicate on multiple levels; Listen for and address more than the simple task at hand.

***Participants do not have to take all Borrow My Glasses classes or take them in any particular order.***

PCA Tuition Reimbursement Program

ONLINE APPLICATION - NOT CURRENTLY OPEN

PCA Tuition Reimbursement Policy:

In order to be a PCA eligible for tuition reimbursement, you:

• must be working with a consumer-employer in Connecticut
• must have worked for at least 3 consecutive months prior to the application opening. (The Fund office receives monthly payroll reports which are used to verify eligibility.)
• must be enrolling in or enrolled in a healthcare related program (pre-requisite courses are also eligible).

Applications must be received by the deadline or they will not be reviewed and marked ineligible.

Within 60 days of class completion, all receipts and grades must be submitted to the Fund office to be considered for reimbursement. (Upon application, we will notify you how to get these documents to us.)

Tuition Reimbursement FAQs:

• After submitting your application, you will receive an email confirmation. (If you apply outside of the open enrollment timeframe, you will receive an email notifying you of your rejected application.)
• If you receive the aforementioned email this means that we received your application. At the time of your application we will not be able to confirm if you will be awarded the reimbursement.
• We require you to submit supporting documentation to us (your grades and your tuition expenses) before we can determine if you will receive the reimbursement. We require these within 60 days of the end of your term/course/certification. You will receive emails with the link to upload your forms and a few reminders so that you complete this in a timely manner.
• At the time of your reimbursment, we will review that you have been working over the past months. (Some short lapses in work history may be accepted.)
• We are only taking applications for current or near future tuition expenses. We are not considering applications that ask for reimbursement for past tuition costs.
• Lastly, your field of study must be health care related in order to be eligible.