On-Site Training | Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies

On-Site Training and Technical Assistance

In addition to conferences and virtual workshops, OCATO’s extensive training programs offer a variety of useful professional development and facilitated workshops that are effective for Community Action Agencies and other nonprofit organizations. Training courses and technical assistance are available at no cost* to OACAA members in good-standing.

Each training can be delivered on-site and is tailored to meet the needs of the organization requesting the training. OCATO will help the organization determine how to best meet their needs and ensure courses are productive and facilitated by the most appropriate consultants with relevant experience.

OCATO staff and Internal Consultants (ICs) who provide training are highly qualified with higher education degrees and several years of experience in the field which they are teaching. All ICs are vetted through a rigorous internal review process and must receive annual recommendations from supervisors within the Community Action Network.

Training Categories

Explore some of our various training career options!

Branding training and planning is a new on-site offering to OACAA members. Following the Brand IDEA Framework, this training reviews the theories of nonprofit branding and discusses how to implement the model within your agency to unify staff, reduce departmental silos, and enhance external communications with stakeholders. Training may also include a brief history of branding in the Community Action Network, considerations for rebranding, sub-branding strategies, and group activities and exercises.

Strategic branding plan and style guide development are also available to OACAA members. This process will be customized to meet the goals of your specific agency’s needs for internal or external branding or rebranding efforts.

Family Development is a case management curriculum and provides essential concepts and tools to assess, provide support, and create an action plan for customers. The certification course teaches case managers to ask different questions to gain a deeper level of understanding, help guide the customers to a deeper level of participation, and assist them in making their own decisions on their path to self-sufficiency.

*OCATO may charge a minimal fee for this certification course.

A poverty simulation is an interactive experience designed to help participants understand common situations faced by people living in poverty. Throughout the 2-hour event, participants are given real-life scenarios and situations and attempt to navigate through the system to meet the needs of their families.

The simulation is designed for a minimum of 30 participants and maximum of 148 participants. At least 17 volunteers are needed to act as resources providers. Following the 90-minute simulation, attendees participate in a 30-minute debriefing to discuss their experiences.

This multi-step process collects input from a variety of internal and external sources, including the Community Action Needs Assessment, to help your agency develop a strategic plan. The framework includes action steps, department assignments, and timelines that will guide your agency over the course of 3-5 years to meet the needs of your community.

The strategic planning process will be designed with your agency in mind and can range from a simple plan update or to accommodate a major organizational change. Staff or ICs will facilitate discussions, collect data and help the agency develop the final plan.