Restore Training

The RESTORE project aims to connect powerful and trusted community leaders—social workers, school counselors, healthcare professionals, faith leaders, therapists, teachers, and others—with evidence-based tools and methodologies for working with ideologically-motivated members of your communities. We believe local leaders have a crucial role to play in the work of supporting individuals to decide to reject hate, to abandon violence, to embrace new ways of thinking and acting; and ultimately, to prevent violent extremism in our communities.

Violent extremism is a growing concern in the US. Responding to violent extremism requires a “whole of society” approach calling on many different professions, institutions, and communities to take coordinated action. The response, whether from social workers, clergy, school counselors, or therapists, needs to be built, however, on a deep understanding of the drivers and mechanisms affecting individuals who are vulnerable to embracing violent extremist ideology, as well as grounded in the use of effective tools, and proven approaches and methodologies to help individuals leave hate and violence behind.

The RESTORE training offers insight on pathways to radicalization to your toolkit. The training will bolster the knowledge and experience you already carry, so necessary to the success of this work, with deeper understanding of violent ideologies and ways to engage individuals immersed in this mindset. Along the way, you’ll form connections with other community leaders doing this work and with our instructors, who have decades of experience working directly with people with violent extremist views as part of Violence Prevention Network.

Your role as a leader rooted in our communities is pivotal to the strength of the RESTORE model. The authentic trust relationships you have built are foundational. The RESTORE training will not mean an entirely new professional role. Instead, the training will imbue your current work with deeper understanding and new competencies to draw from.

The RESTORE training is for you, if:

  • You know or work with people who may be immersed in or exploring ideologies that justify hate and violence under the guise of protecting self, family, community or nation, or
  • You know or work with people who may be becoming convinced of conspiracy theories that can lead to hateful actions against certain groups of people, or
  • You feel called to join efforts to prevent radicalization to violence in your community and/or your professional context, and
  • You want support in learning how to make sure vulnerable individuals don’t give in to hate, and
  • You want to strengthen their ability to tolerate people who may not share their opinions.
  • You can imagine working with individuals who are vulnerable to extremist messaging without resorting to shaming or humiliation, and 
  • You are valued, supported, and trusted within your community and by the individuals and groups with whom you work.

If this sounds like you, we would love for you to apply for the RESTORE training!

The training will provide new methods and approaches to working with ideologically motivated individuals while building on your existing professional skills and experiences.

  • You will gain understanding of different possible paths of radicalization to violence, information about violent extremist groups and violent ideologies, and how to engage with individuals vulnerable or already ideologically committed to extremist views.
  • You will be introduced to proven approaches, tools, and methods by our trainers and coaches, who have decades of experience working directly with violent extremists.
  • You will gain a network of other professionals working in the field of preventing violent extremism.
  • The Need for Training
  • The Objective
  • Is It for Me?
  • What will I Learn?

Some
Quick facts

1

The training runs from May 19 to September 25, 2023, and consists of both in-person and online, synchronous and asynchronous components, with 10.5 days of full-time, in-person training as well as ten 2-hour online live training sessions (for a total of 104 “in-class” training hours).

2

The three in-person training modules will run from Friday to Monday. Location of in-person training days will be Pittsburgh, PA.

3

The training, all course materials, meals, and accommodation (if needed) are offered free of cost to a limited number of trainees. Additionally, both needs- and merit-based scholarships/sponsorships are available to compensate trainees (and/or their employers) for time spent in training.

4

A maximum of 15 trainees will be accepted to participate in the RESTORE training.

5

Trainees who successfully complete the training may be invited to join our 12-month RESTORE pilot project. Compensation for participating in the RESTORE pilot project will be offered to successful trainees and/or their employers based on case load and previous experience.

Application deadline to participate in the RESTORE training is extended to May 1, 2023.

Apply Now
Core Competencies Timeframe & Structure Training Program Content Learning Outcomes Pedagogical Values & Methods

Training
Instructors

The training program was developed and is conducted by Violence Prevention Network’s experienced specialist practitioners in the prevention of violent extremism with decades of combined experience working with ideologically motivated individuals. The training will also include guest lecturers, expert videos, and relevant readings that draw on the latest research findings.