WEVAS® Working Effectively with Violent and Aggressive States
WEVAS® Works
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Q: I completed a WEVAS® course but I cannot find my certificate needed for a job.
A: Individual WEVAS® Facilitators and the organization for which they teach issue certificates to successful workshop participants. Contact them to obtain a copy of your certificate.
Q: What is the difference between WEVAS® and NCI?
A: WEVAS® and NCI - Nonviolent Crisis Intervention, both teach de-escalation skills, however, WEVAS® is a "hands-off" model which teaches protective skills rather than "restraints" or "holding skills." WEVAS® focuses on de-escalation of self and others by helping individuals to connect to their calming presence and using their awareness to shift out of fear and into peacefulness. WEVAS® is consistent with Manitoba Education's Policy Directive (2021) to minimize the use of seclusion and to avoid physical restraint. WEVAS® teaches debriefing skills and the connection to review and follow-up processes.
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Q: There are many training programs out there, why choose WEVAS®?
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A: WEVAS® is the only training program that teaches you to develop your awareness and presence, which is your most powerful tool to de-escalate yourself and others. WEVAS® helps you to close the "knowing/doing" gap by providing you with direct experiences during the training in order to feel the shift within yourself. This begins the process of change that will reduce and eventually eliminate out-of-control student behavior and educator burn-out.
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Q: Do I have to retake the WEVAS® course to renew my certification?
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A: The employer may determine the length of time between initial certification and the next time they would like employees to redo the course. WEVAS® offers the employer the flexibility to individualize according to their needs and the needs of their employees and clients. WEVAS® content also is flexible enough to allow employers / Facilitators to personalize to their situations (e.g., Workplace Health and Safety, Violence in the Workplace protocols, etc.) such that a recently certified participant may be asked to redo a WEVAS® course particular to their new work environment to allow time for team discussions and planning with regard to current situations they encounter. For example, teams have set up review times during which staff practice the approaches learned in the WEVAS® Assaultive State section.
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Q: Is there a one day WEVAS® "refesher" course?
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A: At this time, there is no shorter or "review" version of WEVAS®. We ask previously certified participants to work through the exercises and bring their new experiences forward to process with a different group of participants / Facilitators. Many new insights and solutions often are discovered by proceeding through the full course content, discussions, and activities to enable people to meet their current needs. Different Facilitator interaction styles and those who bring in relevant supplemental current material can make a difference.
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Q: How do I enroll in a WEVAS® course or workshop?
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A: Manitoba school divisions offer WEVAS® training on a regular basis, as do colleges, universities, and other service providers. Contact a school division's Student Services Administrator to find out information about WEVAS®, or contact a post-secondary institution directly.
FAQ: Contact WEVAS®
Q: Can anyone become a certified WEVAS® Facilitator?
A: WEVAS® Facilitators have been selected from their organizations for their leadership and other valued skills that will enable them to provide the WEVAS® training to others. They have successfully completed a 5-day intensive WEVAS® certification program. Contact the WEVAS® Clinical Director for more information about training of Facilitators.
Q: How often is WEVAS® Facilitator training offered?
A: WEVAS® Facilitator training is usually offered once every two years or when an organization has enough participants to proceed (typically 18-24). Contact the WEVAS® Clinical Director for more information about hosting a Facilitator course. 2023 Fall and 2024 Spring are the next possibilities for WEVAS® Facilitator training.
Q: How do I find a certified WEVAS® Facilitator to train my staff?
A: Contact your local school division to find out who the certified WEVAS® Facilitators are and to arrange a workshop directly with them. Some WEVAS® Facilitator contact information is listed on the Workshops section,
Q: Is there an online or "hybrid" training model for WEVAS®?
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A: During the COVID pandemic, WEVAS® tested an online format in order to deliver the high demand training. In-person training is the preferred and most beneficial model for WEVAS® courses due to the experiential activity-based nature of the training.