Open Doors Launches First Virtual Core Training

Written by Crystal Blanton, Open Doors Deputy Director

This past June, Open Doors launched its first virtual Core Training to expand access and create more opportunities for youth-serving adults throughout California to participate in the program.

Open Doors’ Core Training program equips youth-serving adults with tools to engage young people in supportive, nonjudgmental conversations about substance use and other behavioral health concerns. Grounded in harm reduction, restorative practices, cultural humility, and youth autonomy, the training helps adults build stronger relationships with youth while promoting safety, trust, and meaningful connection.

This virtual offering is another way Open Doors can provide high-quality training that supports the needs of youth across the state. By bringing the Core Training online, we can reach more communities, including those that may not have had access to in-person training.

Our First Virtual Training

The first Open Doors Virtual Core Training took place on June 17 and 18, with 14 participants joining us for two half-day sessions of interactive dialogue and learning.

Together, we explored ways to center relationships and youth autonomy in conversations related to substance use and other behavioral health concerns. Participants joined from across California and beyond, bringing a wide range of knowledge, lived experience, and professional expertise into the training space.

The group included adults with experience in child welfare, behavioral health, youth development, and faith-based youth services. This diversity of perspectives helped create meaningful conversations about how we can better support young people in our communities.

Recreating Connection in a Virtual Space

In adapting the Core Training for a virtual format, the Open Doors team worked intentionally to recreate the same interactive, inclusive, supportive, and community-minded environment that is central to the in-person training.

This included integrating interactive tools, small-group conversations, and opportunities for participants to contribute thoughtfully throughout the training. A huge part of the Open Doors approach centers around relational connection within the training space. These connections allow us not only to have supportive conversations with youth but also to practice the same values we hope participants will bring into their own work.

Our team was intentional about carrying this experience into the virtual setting, just as we do in our live trainings.

A Facilitator’s Reflection

As one of the senior facilitators on the team, I will admit that I was not fully confident we could create a virtual training environment that would foster connection and maintain people’s attention online for more than seven hours.

To my surprise, many participants expressed feeling present, connected, and excited about the virtual training experience.

I enjoyed supporting a space that brought together people from very different corners of the state, all in one training session, to discuss topics that are vital to supporting our youth. The depth of care and compassion these adults had for young people was apparent throughout the training.

A Step Toward Greater Reach

After facilitating this training virtually for the first time, I feel excited and grateful for the opportunity to bring Open Doors to communities that may otherwise lack access.

This virtual launch feels like a meaningful step forward in expanding the reach of Open Doors and helping shift the conversations adults can have with youth about substance use and other behavioral health concerns on a larger scale.