Staff Training:

   COSA’s Mental Health Training was initiated in 2004 as a primary objective; providing skills in social work and psychology to staff members within local organizations.

  The project was set up in response to the large number of under skilled workers within local organizations. Staff often felt they did not have the knowledge to cope with the issues children within their organizations presented, or to provide them with adequate care. This resulted in staff members feeling redundant in their positions and unmotivated, as well as children not receiving the care they needed to achieve a more positive future.

  COSA’s Mental Health Training provides high quality workshops to staff members working within partner organizations and the community. Affiliated with a number of mental health institutes including West Virginia University, COSA is able to provide current information by expert mental health professionals.

  Quarterly workshops of 2-4 days are conducted where staffs receive training in various areas of mental health; including the effects of trauma on children, how to assist children suffering from trauma and abuse, self care and many other areas. COSA also encourages staff members to talk about their personal experience in working within their field. In this way COSA’s training continues to cover topics relevant to staff and address local issues within organization and the community.

  For more information on the effects of child trafficking and abuse on children, please refer to ‘mental health programs’ for victims.

Ms. Anna Hastings, COSA Director
receiving gifts from DEPDC member