Training seeks to improve effective communication at Community Missions

Community Missions of Niagara Frontier recently held an effective communication-training program for its supervisors as an initiative of its staff development program. The class met weekly for five sessions on Thursday mornings, with the aim of improving the communication skills of those within the agency.

"The objectives of the class are two-fold," said Keith Kuehlewind, the agency's human resource coordinator. "The initial objective is to bring awareness to what effective communication is, and the second is to learn and practice the skills of being an effective communicator in everyday situations."

Kuehlewind presented the class. Sessions focused on areas such as identifying different types of communications, the factors that influence communication, and the importance of listening in communication. In addition, an emphasis was placed on learning what skills are necessary to become an effective communicator. Role-playing scenarios then served as key opportunities for the attendees to put these learned skills into practice.

Ten of CMI's supervisory employees completed the training, which is an aspect of the agency's staff development program. Future sessions of the class are expected to be offered to the nearly 140 full- and part-time staff the agency employs.

In 2012, CMI surpassed 70,000 meals served, provided crisis housing to more than 600 individuals, and provided more than 9,000 nights of care to neglected or abused children and homeless adults. Additional agency programs serve adults and youth with psychiatric disabilities, parolees, at-risk youth and other underserved populations in both residential and recovery-orientated settings.

For more information on the services and programs provided by Community Missions, visit www.communitymissions.org or connect via Facebook or Twitter.