NYC Shelter Health
Health Trainings
Ongoing trainings offered by the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Health Services Office are listed below.
Overdose Response & Harm Reduction
- Harm Reduction Training: Required training for shelter and safe haven staff on substance use risk reduction for people experiencing homelessness. Register
- Harm Reduction E-Learning: Self-paced online training for shelter and safe haven staff on how to use a substance use risk reduction approach in shelters. Register
- Overdose Response Policy Training: Training on the DHS overdose response policy and procedure how and when to administer naloxone. This training is required for a shelter and safe haven staff within the first week of starting work in shelter. Register
- Overdose Prevention Champion Train-the-Trainer: Required training for shelter and safe haven staff who are Overdose Prevention Champions or Naloxone Trainers in shelters and safe havens. All shelters and safe havens must have at least one Overdose Prevention Champion. Register
- Harm Reduction Skills Share: Open to shelter and safe haven staff who have completed DHS Harm Reduction Training. These interactive sessions explore topics like risk reduction counseling, safety planning, K2 risk reduction, alcohol risk reduction, medications for addiction treatment, and effective treatment referrals in depth. Register
Trauma-Informed Family Care
- Understanding Trauma & Building Positive Environments in Shelter: Recommended for all Families with Children (FWC) shelter front-line staff. This training will provide an overview of childhood trauma, Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), and how to recognize signs of stress in children. Participants will learn tips and strategies to use a mentoring approach to support positive childhood experiences in shelter to strengthen family resilience and improve health outcomes. Register
- Child Health & Safety Campaign Training: Recommended for all Families with Children (FWC) shelter front-line staff. This training will provide an overview of the Child Health & Safety Campaign and how staff can use the Campaign to strengthen family resources and improve health outcomes. Register
Mental Health Crisis Response & Prevention
- Mental Health Single Point of Access (SPOA) Training for DHS Shelters: This training provides an overview of NYC Mental Health Single Point of Access (SPOA) services such as Shelter Partnered Assertive Community Treatment (SPACT), Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) and non-Medicaid Care Coordination, as well as instructions to apply for services and coordinate care for enrolled clients. Register
- Verbal Intervention Crisis De-escalation: This 8-hour, in-person training provides shelter and safe haven staff a framework for preventing, de-escalating, and safely responding to a behavioral health crisis. Staff will learn to identify escalating behaviors and practice effective approaches to intervene at different crisis levels. Register
- Hospital Coordination for Shelters. This training provides shelter and safe haven staff guidance and tools to advocate for hospital admission for people who are a danger to self or others, and coordinate a safe discharge plan to shelter or higher level of care if needed.
- Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention E-Learning: This online course will equip shelter and safe haven staff to identify clients and risk for self harm or suicide, provide safety planning and linkage to care. Register