Building Communities to Meet Crisis
Resourcing Our Relationships
Course Description
How can we build the capacity of our communities to meet a crisis before it arises, and support each other when it does? Too often, crisis intervention is outsourced to carceral systems, which reduce individual autonomy and further reinforce communities’ reliance on these structures. A person in crisis tends to be viewed in isolation, divorced from a wider social context that shapes every aspect of their well-being. By resisting the urge to see crises through an individualized lens, we can recognize the role a community plays before, during, and after a crisis. When we turn toward each other and cultivate networks of support, we can proactively create the conditions necessary for communities to become self-sufficient and meet the needs of a crisis head-on, reducing dependencies on systems that are both overburdened and can lead to more harm than healing.
This class provides a framework for the importance of community care, grounded in the ancestral wisdom and current practices of Black and Indigenous communities. Faculty members highlight transformative crisis prevention and intervention practices such as de-escalation, harm reduction, and safety planning – with an emphasis on strengthening interpersonal relationships and practicing mutual aid. Together, we can build community-based models of care that prioritize self-determination, healing, and compassion.
What you’ll learn
How resourced communities are essential to crisis prevention and management, in contrast with police/carceral systems
Why carceral systems are not suited to meet crisis in a healing, transformative, and justice-oriented way
Community-based strategies of what actually works to prevent and cope with crises
Pod mapping as one example of how care is practiced in a much larger network across individuals, collectives, organizations, and institutions
Tools and resources to build networks of care in your own community
Faculty
Allyson Inez Ford
Allyson Inez Ford, LPCC (she/her) is a multiracial, pan, neurodivergent mental health therapist specializing in Eating Disorders, OCD, and Trauma- with lived experience. Allyson is passionate about bringing in concepts of Transformative Justice, Anti-Oppression and Abolitionist care into the mental health space in both theory and praxis. Allyson is rooted in a deeply relational lens and enjoys providing education to community spaces.
Jason Sole
Jason Sole (he/they) is a formerly incarcerated abolitionist. He has been a criminal justice educator for 13 years and is currently an adjunct professor at Hamline University in the Criminal Justice & Forensic Science Department. He has facilitated hundreds of circles in jails, prisons, and communities across the nation. Jason is also the co-founder of the Humanize My Hoodie Movement in which he challenges threat perceptions of Black people through clothing, art exhibitions, documentary screenings, and workshops. He is a Core Member of a Relationships Evolving Possibilities (REP) where several abolitionists respond to community harms in the Twin Cities. In addition, he recently launched the Institute of Aspiring Abolitionists for people who’d like to learn more about abolitionist frameworks.
“I loved both of the instructors SO MUCH! Extremely informational and relatable. Such interesting perspectives, so well communicated about their living experiences. Great resources shared for future reference as well.”
What You Get
12 videos (2 hours of content) full of history, research, and unique perspectives
Exclusive readings and resources
Discussion with a creative community of professionals and advocates inside the course
A reference and resource list to aid ongoing learning and exploration on the course topics
Audience
This course is for:
Mental health and physical health professionals, including: clinicians, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, peer specialists, recovery support specialists, housing specialists, nurse practitioners, wellness support workers, coaches, holistic practitioners
Students
Activists
Family members and advocates
Anyone who works or plans to work with people experiencing mental health-related challenges
“I liked Allyson and Jason’s personal stories. They were impactful and really gave a good example of Transformative Justice and why it’s important. They were both super warm people and were riveting to listen to.”
Take the Class
This self-paced course is hosted on Mighty Networks, home to IDHA's School for Transformative Mental Health. This virtual community space supports sustained learning, engagement with other students, access to supplemental resources, and opportunities to interact with your faculty.
We provide the option of enrolling for at the general ($20) or supporter rate ($40) to ensure the sustainability of IDHA’s work and enable us to create more accessible, cutting-edge training content.
CLICK THE BUTTONS BELOW TO JOIN US ON MIGHTY NETWORKS!
If you already have an account, simply log in to proceed to the course.
If you’re new to IDHA’s Mighty Network, you will be prompted to create an account and then receive access to course content.
FAQ
When does the course start and finish?
This is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course, content, or platform?
We love hearing your feedback on what we can do to improve our efforts to bring transformative mental health to the public! Shoot us an email at contact@idha-nyc.org and let us know your thoughts. If you disagree with any of the perspectives shown in this course - that's great! We encourage differing perspectives, so feel free to leave a comment in the course - so long as your comments remain respectful and you speak from your own point of view.
I am a person struggling with mental health issues/a family member of someone who is struggling. Can I take the course?
Absolutely! Just note that this course is geared towards professionals in the field, and will speak mostly to those working in a formal support role. However, we welcome anyone who wants to join!
Are refunds available?
At this time, all sales are final, we cannot offer refunds after purchase.