Training

The Training Department at MORC has trained more than 50,000 individuals since 1979. People trained include direct care staff, vocational staff, community and in-home support staff, parents and foster parents, clinical staff, and administrative personnel.

There are two dedicated training locations, with a total of six classrooms, at the MORC Auburn Hills office and a satellite training location on the campus of Macomb Community College in Clinton Township. In addition to these locations, the Training Department also offers off-site training for many classes on request.

The majority of training participants are caregivers for people with disabilities. The Training Department has a wide variety of training approaches, including classroom instruction using the adult learning model, practica, hands-on workshops, and consultations and colloquiums. Training staff have made presentations at government and nonprofit agencies around the country and internationally.

Scheduled training is divided among four categories:

• Entry-Level Care Giver Training: providing the essential beginning skills, values, and knowledge for providing direct care.
• Enhancement Classes: including topics specific to the individual needs of people supported and the particular environment in which care is provided.
• Management Enhancement Training: designed to meet the needs of first-line supervisors in supporting people with disabilities.
• Key Health Support Training: including CPR, First Aid, Blood-Borne Pathogens, Infectious Disease Control, Hepatitis and Universal Precautions, Seizures and Epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Entry-Level Caregiver Training is required for caregivers to work independently in licensed home settings. The training consists of eight distinct units and three additional required classes which, when taken consecutively, last 11 training days. The typical training day is from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Twice yearly the Entry-Level Training is offered on an evening schedule, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The topics covered in the Entry-Level Caregiver Training include the following:

• Introduction to Community Residential Services and Your Role as Direct Care Staff.
• The Rights of Individual Receiving Mental Health Services.
• Providing Culturally Competent Services.
• Providing Services for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency.
• Due Process: The Grievance and Appeal System.
• Nutrition and Food Service.
• Environmental Emergencies: Preventing, Preparing, and Responding.
• Health.
• Medications.
• Working with People: Introduction.
• Working with People: Positive Techniques.

Enhancement Classes provide specialized or advanced classes on a variety of topics directed toward the specific needs of people. Topics include:

• Advanced Health and Medications.
• Back-Power: Back Injury Prevention.
• Communications Options for the Nonverbal.
• Fire Safety.
• First Aid for Laundry.
• Grief and Loss.
• In My Town: The Development of Community Participation.
• Individual Program Planning and Person-Centered Planning for Group Home Managers.
• Medication Update: Preventing and Responding to Medication Errors.
• Menu Planning for Group Home Managers.

The Management Enhancement Training classes were developed in response to suggestions and recommendations of managers, providers, and supervisors. These topics are:

• Building a Gentle Environment.
• Conflict Management.
• Home Organization and Scheduling.
• Problem Solving.
• Retraining the Experienced Employee.
• Stress Management.

In addition to the regularly scheduled classes, the Training Department is able to tailor topics to the specific needs of agencies and caregivers and to develop new classes on supporting individuals in their homes and in the community for requesting organizations.

For more information about MORC Training, please call (248) 276-8164.

Training Schedule