Training for people-serving professionals
Mental health organizations, youth-serving programs, local and state government agencies, businesses, and community organizations understand that professional development is key to empowering staff and service providers. Ophelia’s Place offers robust and research-driven equity-focused trainings for teams who work with and serve their communities.
Take advantage of professional development packages customized to address your organization’s needs and goals. Whether it’s your leadership or direct-service staff, OP can help you learn best practices for developing the skills to work together, connect and communicate effectively with diverse clients and communities, and stay engaged.
Tiered pricing is available, so whether you’re a multi-team organization or a small nonprofit, OP is here to support your team’s learning and growth.
Training Packages & Topics
Topics are available individually, as packages, or a mix & match. All trainings include an optional 1-hour follow-up to help support implementation at your organization.
Team-Building Trainings
Relational Aggression and Healthy Communication
Mindfulness for Professionals
Leadership Skills for Changing Times
Collective Trauma & Community Care
Youth Engagement & Support
Adultism & Being An Adult Ally
Adolescent Sexuality
Working with Girls on the Autism Spectrum
Gender Bias for Educators
Equity-Focused Trainings
Basics of Anti-Oppression Work
Multiculturalism in the Workplace
Creating a Disability Inclusive Workplace
Poverty 101: Becoming Poverty Informed
Weight Bias and Body Diversity
About the Trainer
River Aaland has more than 15 years of expertise in positive youth development, poverty, body positivity and Health at Every Size (HAES), anti-oppression practice, healthy communication, and mentorship. Before coming to Ophelia’s Place in 2011, she worked at Options Counseling and Family Services and St. Vincent de Paul’s First Place Family Center, working with families experiencing various forms of stress and marginalization. She is an experienced and capable public speaker and facilitator, who enjoys connecting with her audiences through relatable, humorous, and thoughtful exchange.
River is dedicated to the belief that it is possible to change systems of power that exploit and isolate into spaces rooted in relationship and reciprocity. River is committed to approaching everyone she works with from a human-centered, compassionate, and respectful viewpoint and feels especially fortunate to be able to support adolescents and those who work with them.
In her personal life, River is a writer, fiber and mixed-media artist, forager, forest wanderer, potion-maker, and tiny-bird enthusiast. She lives with a bossy cat in a house full of books.
What People Are Saying
“Many staff noted that River’s trainings offered them language to use with clients, families, and community members that is inclusive and flexible… We look forward to many more trainings with River.”
—Alison Canino, South Lane County Mental Health
“River was so engaging without being over the top. You can tell there was confidence in the preachings and teachings. I can't wait for the other trainings.”
— Weight Bias & Body Diversity Training Recipient
“River Aaland presented to our school community on the topic of gender bias in education. She navigated this tricky topic with apparent ease, while simultaneously leading our group of teachers, administrators, support staff, and parents toward deep introspection and reflection, motivation to continue the conversation, and the beginnings of a plan for moving forward. We appreciated River's style, which incorporated humor, acuity, and warmth alongside well researched data and tools for change. River is a great speaker and we highly recommend her service. ”
—Roz Romatz, Eugene Village School Co-Principal
