Hosted by Common Good Vermont
Join us for a prac tical, skills-focused limited series on de-escalation in critical conversa tions, designed to support direct service staff in safely navigating high- emotion, high-stakes interactions.
Date/Time:
Session 1: September 16, 2026 \; \;10 &ndash\; 11:15am
Session 2: September 23, 2026 \;10 &ndash\; 11:15am<
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Session 1 (75 minutes) &ndash\; 9/16/26
In moments of heightened fear, uncertainty, an d disruption&mdash\;such as the current climate of increased immigration e nforcement and rapid policy shifts&mdash\;direct service nonprofit staff a re often asked to hold space for intense emotions, deliver difficult updat es, and respond when clients are scared, angry, or overwhelmed. This inter active webinar focuses on \;how to stay steady, safe, and effe ctive in critical conversations with others \;when the stakes feel high and solutions may be limited.
Designed specifically for
nonprofit staff in direct service roles, this session will focus on \;
practical de‑escalation strategies and communication tools \;for navigating emotionally charged interactions. Participants wi
ll explore how to communicate clearly and compassionately, reduce escalati
on, and help people feel heard&mdash\;even when the answer is &ldquo\;no,&
rdquo\; &ldquo\;not yet,&rdquo\; or &ldquo\;I don&rsquo\;t know.&rdquo\; The emphasis is on \;real‑world application:
what to do and say in the moment, how to maintain safety, and how to respo
nd when fear, grief, anger, or urgency are driving the conversation.
Participants will leave with \;clear tools, sha red language, and increased confidence \;in their ability to engage in difficult external conversations while prioritizing safety, dign ity, and respect.
Audience:
Nonprofit staff in direct service roles, including frontline staff, case managers, advoca tes, support specialists, and supervisors.
\;
S ession 2 (75 minutes) &ndash\; 9/23/26
Practices, Team Support, and Organizational Structures That Sustain Direct Service Wo rk
In the current context of heightened immigration enforc ement and ongoing social and policy uncertainty, direct service staff are carrying more than individual difficult conversations&mdash\;they are oper ating within systems under strain, often absorbing emotional impact withou t clear structures to support them. This interactive session focuses on&nb sp\;what it takes to stay grounded and safe internally while doing demanding frontline work&mdash\;and how organizations and teams can share that responsibility.
Rather than framing self‑care as s omething staff must figure out on their own, this session emphasizes \ ;practical, collective approaches: how teams communicate across roles, how supervisors and peers can support one another in real ti me, and how organizations can put simple structures in place to reduce emo tional overload and isolation.
Participants will explore \;
This session will focus on:
Participants will work with \;realistic scenarios \;drawn from direct service settings and leave with \; concrete tools, shared language, and structural ideas \;they can bring back to their teams. The goal is not to eliminate difficulty, bu t to \;distribute it more fairly, so no one is carryi ng it alone.
Audience:
Nonprofit staff work ing in direct service roles, supervisors, and managers who support frontli ne teams, including case managers, advocates, program leads, and operation s or people managers seeking practical ways to support staff sustainabilit y.
Alliance for Nonprofit Impact members are eligible for the C ommon Good Vermont member rate.