Course Descriptions - Equal Opportunity and Employee Development, Department of (DEP)

American English Pronunciation Skills

Do people often ask you to repeat yourself, especially on the telephone? Do you leave voicemail messages and wonder why people don't call you back? Do you sometimes feel "less than confident" when you speak in front of a group or meet someone new? If the answer is "yes," you can be on your way to pronouncing English "the American way" in just a few short weeks. In this fun, non threatening, highly interactive series of workshops, you'll gain the ability to ask and answer questions, give accurate information to others, leave concise messages that others can respond to, and become more confident and effective in your own business and casual communications.

This customized pronunciation course will teach you a few basic pronunciation rules that will increase your understanding, as well as production of fast American speech. Through extensive practice of pronunciation techniques and casual conversations, you will be speaking more clearly than ever before. The 6-week course will demonstrate clear speaking techniques as well as common communication practices with videos, music CD's, and role-playing. Through analyzing speech samples, you will become aware of simple corrections which can be made to improve communication in professional as well as casual situations. The instructor will review your recorded message so that you can learn how to monitor your own speech habits and growth.

This pronunciation and oral communications course consists of 2-hour workshops held twice weekly for 6 weeks. Attendance is required at all sessions. A certificate will be awarded upon completion of the course.

Assert Yourself

Ever felt guilty saying no to a request? Do you want to get your way more often without being a bully? Is there something you want to tell someone, but haven't figured out how to get the conversation started?

If you've said yes to any of these questions, this class can help you become more assertive without guilt or becoming a bully. You'll be taking the first steps toward what we call graceful and appropriate assertiveness.

Participants will learn through interactive discussion, demonstrations, practice techniques, and role-playing how they can effectively set boundaries, ask for what they need, and develop more effective assertive behaviors.

Asthma Care to Breathe Easier

Asthma is a scary disease. One minute you’re breathing well and feeling great, and the next minute a blast of cold air or a cloud of dust invades your lungs causing a coughing fit that won’t stop. Controlling asthma hinges on trigger control, monitoring lung function, exercise, and medication. Let us show you how it’s done.

Back Care

Proper care of your back isn’t just about workplace ergonomics. You need to make important adjustments in most ways that you move so you can fully function now and throughout your life. In this class, we highlight how to navigate your “activities of daily living” such as bending and lifting. We also discuss body mechanics for effective exercise – so important!

Bringing Your Strengths to Work

What if you were asked to do something you love to do each day? Imagine how rewarding your work would be. Is it possible? Yes! This class is the first step, clearly identifying your strengths. In 2 half days you will be able to test your own perceptions against the Gallup Strengths data base to identify your top 5 strengths, then make some choices on what you want to do to use them. Discover and use your talents to create greater satisfaction for yourself in the workplace and in your life.

Business Writing Certificate Program

Dramatically improve your business writing skills in this highly interactive, customized, business writing course. Learn the basics and master the skills of both the mechanics and processes of effective business writing.

•     The first two sessions of this workshop will provide an overview of the mechanics of Business Writing.
•     The second two sessions will provide an overview of the writing process for e-mail, memos, letters, and short reports.
•     The final two sessions will present an overview of the writing process and contents for strategic and persuasive documents with an emphasis on sharpening one's awareness of the reader's needs and attitudes.

This business writing course is comprised of six modules. Half-day sessions will be conducted once a week for six weeks. Attendance is required at all sessions. Participants in the program will have direct access to the instructor and will be required to submit samples of their work-related written documents by bringing them to the first two classes or via
e-mail or fax for proofreading, corrections, and coaching.

To earn a certificate, you must:
•     Complete homework assignments.
•     Prepare a portfolio of the finalized original documents as well as of those written during the workshops.
•     Meet the attendance requirements.

Conflict Skills Training

Conflict is normal between every two persons. Sometimes we disagree, sometimes we misunderstand each other, and sometimes we want different things. We learned ways of dealing with conflict in our families. We snap back, argue, confront, get silent or withdraw, compete, or use sarcasm or putdowns. In this class, we will learn how conflicts develop and practice ways to, "lower the temperature" and improve our chances of getting what we want.

Dealing with conflict skillfully is essential for being effective at work and a way to improve all of our relationships.

Conflict Skills Training for Managers and Supervisors: Better Working Relationships and Better Results

You have a challenging and often difficult job as a leader, and conflict comes with the territory. You’re caught by surprise and feelings run high. Or you’ve been frustrated and disappointed for a long time, and notice that dealing with conflicted work relationships is taking a lot of your time. What can you do?

This class is for experienced managers and supervisors who have completed Leadership Seminar Series and would like to go beyond progressive discipline in working with subordinates. In this class, you’ll learn (or remember) how to turn conflict – which is a normal part of life – into better results and lower stress. You can resort to discipline, but there is a lot you can and should do first. Often, having the right conversation with the right person can solve the problem.

Coping with Grief and Loss: Moving through loss in your life…. Letting go!

We all have experienced different losses in our lives. One of the most challenging losses is the loss of a loved one due to death, divorce or break up. There are different ways of mourning a loss and there is no one right or one wrong way. However, sometimes you may feel stuck or find the grieving process overwhelming. You are not alone.

If you have experienced a significant loss within the past year or two due to death, divorce, or break up, this workshop is for you. Attending this workshop will provide a safe and supportive environment to help you look at where you are in the grieving process and what tools will help you get through it.

During this two (2) hour experiential workshop you will:

•     Learn about the normal stages of grief and loss and recognize the symptoms of bereavement.

•     Explore your individual experience and learn where you are in your grief journey.

•     Develop new coping skills or enhance your existing ones to help you work through your own grief.

This workshop of twelve to fifteen (12-15) participants will combine teaching and hands-on exercises. Grief and loss is a process, not an event. Know that you are not alone in this journey!

County Specifics

This two-day course is designed for Managers, Supervisors and Leads. It is required to complete your certificate for the Leadership Seminar Series. You will learn the skills needed to navigate County programs and processes, for OSEC (Safety in the Workplace), Human Resources, Labor Relations, Wellness, Workers Compensation, Benefits and OBA.

Coworker Today: Boss Tomorrow

One of the most difficult transitions in any career is when you are promoted to lead, supervise or manage the group in which you previously were a group member. Your personal relationships change, your work responsibilities change, and your working relationship with your former coworkers changes. This is no small test of your abilities!

In this class we will look at some of the challenges and changes required for your success in a new role. What guidelines are needed as a new leader? Why can’t you work with coworkers in the same way? How can you minimize the negative effects of change for you and your new group?

Customer Satisfaction

This class presents ideas from the book, “Customer Satisfaction - Practical Tools for Employees of the County of Santa Clara.” It explains why satisfying customers, the people part of your job, is as important as doing the technical part of your job. It provides techniques for overcoming barriers to customer satisfaction. It also includes how to deal with difficult people, avoid burnout and the secret to getting more cooperation. In short, it is a complete tool kit for satisfying customers - including yourself.

Dealing with Change

Learn how to develop skills to proactively address change and meet the challenges of transitions in the work place. This class will help you identify personal and organizational challenges as they pertain to change, and give you greater insight to your own attitude towards change. In our group format you’ll benefit from the perspectives of others, and learn practical techniques for overcoming many of the challenges that hinder productivity and growth.

Dealing with Difficult People

When someone doesn't change their position on an issue, are they being difficult or firm? Labeling people doesn't help us deal with the behavior or the situation. In this interactive class you will be able to identify strategies that you can try in various situations.

By using your own situations, you will look at four different perspectives for dealing with difficult people: personal style, conflict mode, "I" messages and "You" messages, and other language strategies for identifying and dealing with difficult situations.

Delegating for Managers

Delegating tasks and projects is a signature skill for managers and supervisors - the link between you, your employees, and your shared success.
Poor delegation hurts the productivity by frustrating employees, in effect, setting them up for failure. Thoughtful delegation focuses their capabilities and builds their confidence, not to mention their respect for you.
When you’re able to delegate effectively, you can focus your attention on high-priority tasks such as planning, removing performance barriers, and making process improvements.

The following topics will be covered:
     * Barriers to successful delegation
     * Delegation Styles
     * Delegation Planning: Task and Staff Analysis
     * Key actions for conducting a delegation conversation
     * Delegation follow through
    * Action Planning
this class is exclusively for those in managerial or supervisorial positions.

DiSC Personal Profile System

The DiSC Personal Profile System presents a plan to help you understand self and others in a specific environment. You are the central focus as you heighten understanding of your behavioral profile and identify the environment most conducive to your success. At the same time, you learn about the differences of others and the environment they require for maximum productivity and teamwork in the organization.

The Personal Profile System enables you to:

      Identify your behavioral profile

      Capitalize on your behavioral strengths

      Increase your appreciation of different profiles

      Anticipate and minimize potential conflicts with others

Diversity

Learning about differences is a lifelong process that begins with learning about ourselves. This workshop is a facilitated process in which participants explore what divides us in our society and the process of conditioning that we all go through and how that affects us in dealing with each other. Every employee must attend a Level I Workshop.

Note: All participants must be on time for all Diversity Classes. Any participant arriving after the beginning of the class will need to register for a future class.

Dread Speaking No More

Reduce the anxiety that comes with speaking in front of a group.
Nearly everyone, about 85% of the population, experiences some sort of fear when called upon to talk in front of a group. Learn critical steps in reducing public speaking anxiety before your next engagement.
By exploring the contributing factors and learning several different treatment approaches, you'll be on your way to being a more competent speaker.

E Mail Etiquette

E-mail has certainly made communicating easier, but it also presents communication challenges. Participants work through the critical steps of creating e-mail messages that have the right tone. They also learn to avoid e-mail pitfalls, and to polish their "cybergrammar" skills. This course is designed to give participants the basic rules of business etiquette in e-mail messages.

E-Personnel Action Request (e-PAR) Approver Training

This class provides an overview of the Liquid Office system, including a demonstration of the new e-PAR forms and the Employee Portal. Participants will have the opportunity to have hands-on practice using the Liquid Office system to approve and reject e-PAR forms in a development environment. This class will also demonstrate how to activate e-mail notification within the system.

E-Personnel Action Request (e-PAR) Originator Training

This class provides an overview of the Liquid Office system, including a demonstration of the new e-PAR forms and the Employee Portal. Participants will have the opportunity to have hands-on practice using the Liquid Office system and completing e-PAR forms in a development environment.

Emerging Leaders Certificate Program

This certificate program will help employees who are not now, but aspire to become, County Leaders in the roles of Managers, Supervisors and Leads. This program is designed for all 715 represented employees or other line staff who are interested in promoting within the county.

How does the Program work? First, sign up for the Emerging Leaders Class. The group attending this class will meet four times and review self-study material for developing supervisory skills.

Within two years of completing the Emerging Leaders Class, you will need to complete the following courses, which are offered at least once in every CountyWise catalog:

Working Together Workshop
DiSC Personal Profile System
Listening Skills
Time Mastery
Diversity
Successful Starting Supervisor

Managers and Supervisors: If you have observed leadership qualities in any of your employees that you would like to see developed, you are encouraged to register one or more of your staff for participation in this program.

Fitting In Fitness

Learn how to get fit by fitting it all in! This class combines lecture and easy-to-follow exercises that you can do anywhere, anytime. Find out about all the benefits of exercise and how to set up a well-rounded fitness program. Get the tools and the practice you need to add fitness into your day.

FMLA Training For Managers and Supervisors

This four hour training is designed to inform staff about making decisions regarding FMLA designations for leaves and about relevant laws in conjunction with County of Santa Clara Policy. The Federal Family Medical Leave Act, California Family Rights Act, Labor Code 233, and the County Family Medical Leave Policy will be reviewed in detail. The American Disabilities Act, Fair Employment and Housing Act, and Temporary Family Leave Insurance will be touched upon in terms of their relationship to FMLA, CFRA, LC 233 and County Policy.

This is a required class for supervisors and managers due to their personal liability under the law; Leads are welcome with approval of their supervisor and/or manager.

Healing Customer Relationships

Healing Customer Relationships is about finding the positive potential in negative customer experiences.

By dealing compassionately with frustrated or angry customers and taking action to fix their problems, you can restore their trust and confidence. You can even create a relationship that is stronger than it was before.

You will explore the following topics:
     * Four guidelines for healing customer relationships
     * Staying unhooked from negative feelings
     * Choosing productive responsses
     * Techniques for defusing negative emotions
     * Ways to regain customer trust and confidence
     * Action Planning

This class is for anyone who faces or manages challenging customer service situations.

Health Realization Training

Health Realization is a principle based model for understanding how human beings function psychologically. After taking this course, you will better understand yourself and others and become more compassionate with yourself and others. You will understand what is happening when you’re at your best and what is happening when you’re not. You will begin to see that people are not at the mercy of the circumstances in their lives. You will have less stress and more joy in your life and you will understand how to be more helpful to others. The program has successfully been used in personal lives, clinical settings, business settings, community settings, school settings and in correctional settings.

In a relaxed atmosphere, the training consists of large groups, small groups and exercises. It is encompasses five training days -- 2 1/2-days training on principles and logic followed by 2 1/2 days training on helping relationships.

Call Maria Contreras at 792-5237 for more information about the training dates and times.

Healthy Eating for the Holidays

Are you curious about how a balanced diet can help you to feel and look your best? Maybe you’re thinking about lowering your risk of developing certain health problems? In this program, you will explore subtle changes to recipes to avoid holiday weight gain.

Healthy Holiday Parties

How many parties have you left feeling bloated and overloaded? Learn appetizers and entrees that can liven up the festivities and flavor while balancing out the health. Handout addresses party and menu planning, table display, appetizer absolutes, and time saving tips.

HomeStudy Supervision

Are you interested in furthering your career with the County by becoming a supervisor? Do you have the desire, but not necessarily the skills needed to supervise? Do you want to know if being a supervisor is the right thing for you?

If the answer to any of these questions is “Yes,” then the HomeStudy Supervision course may be for you!

What Coaches and Students should expect: You will each receive materials at the orientation session. The program requires you to meet over the next few months discussing the material in depth. Students will complete a quiz for each unit which documents completion of the material. Aside from the reading (done on your own time), the meetings with your coach take a total of about 6-12 hours, (30 - 60 minutes for each unit).

There are three easy steps to enroll:

      1. Select a coach. You and your coach attend an orientation session. Your coach is someone in a leadership             role whose supervision style and leadership skills you admire and who can make a commitment to be your                   coach. If your coach is new to this class, he/she must attend an orientation session below.

      2. Fill out the enrollment form below and fax it to 437-2414 by the “submit by” date.

      3. Attend the orientation meeting for which you applied.

* Unless otherwise notified, all who apply may attend.

ICMA/RC: 457 Deferred Compensation: “Managing & Navigating Online Account Access”

Course conducted by ICMA-RC Webmaster you will learn how to create a password; export to Quicken & MS Money; view fund balances, how to model a loan online, how to do a fund to fund transfer; change future allocations; personal information; how to use retirement planning tools. No computer experience required.

ICMA/RC: Basics of 457 Deferred Compensation/Express Enrollment Workshop

The benefits of a deferred compensation and investment options are discussed. Help with enrolling in the 457 program is provided during the session.

ICMA/RC: Building Your 457 Retirement Portfolio: Investing in Mutual Funds

Mutual funds are often the preferred investment vehicles for retirement investors because of their many benefits, such as “instant” diversification. With so many funds to choose from, determining which ones fit your needs is confusing. This program discusses how to distinguish between mutual funds to help you make sensible fund selections. Conducted by ICMA-RC Certified Financial Planner

ICMA/RC: Financial Planning for the Nearly Retired with an Introduction to Estate Planning

This program discusses strategies to consider when making investment decisions as you move closer to retirement. We will also examine some of the most common critical financial concerns that people face when nearing retirement. In addition, we will explore how to coordinate basic estate planning considerations with your retirement decisions. Conducted by ICMA-RC’s Certified Financial Planner

ICMA/RC: How Much Will Retirement Cost?

As you prepare for retirement, assessing your financial resources is critical in determining how to make them work for you during your later years. This workshop will help you answer the following questions: How much income will I need? Where will the income come from and how much can I expect? You will master some of the skills needed to take control of your finances in order to make your retirement a success. Presented by ICMA-RC’s CFP

ICMA/RC: Introduction to Planning for Retirement Investments

This program discusses essential investing concepts that should be understood as one builds their retirement portfolio. We also compare “traditional” taxed accounts to retirement savings to demonstrate the advantages of tax-deferral, growth, and compounding over time. Conducted by ICMA-RC’s Certified Financial Planner

Interpersonal Communication Skills

This class will introduce communication skills to strengthen workplace communication. We will cover:

(1) Understanding the basics of interpersonal communication.

(2) Preventing misunderstandings:
sending and receiving clear verbal and nonverbal messages.

(3) How to build effective and professional interpersonal relationships.

Introduction to Business Writing

This course is two half days. It will provide participants with overviews and details of both the mechanics and the processes of business writing.

Session I: The Mechanics
This workshop provides an overview of the mechanics of business writing. Through analyzing their responses to the Business English Pretest in the first session, other samples and hands-on exercises, participants will address the following topics:
•   Parts of Speech
•   The mechanics of sentence structure
•   Phrases and clauses
•   Structural flaws
•   Capitalization and punctuation
•   Commonly confused words and expressions
•   Paragraph Development

Session II: The Processes
In this interactive session, we will concentrate on paragraph construction, direct and indirect style, audience and tone in writing effective e-mail, letters and short reports.

Leadership

This program will increase your communication skills in everyday life as well as in difficult situations. It will help you build collaboration skills and develop personal initiative to be a strong leader. In our 'cohort' format, you will have an opportunity to meet and network with individuals from throughout the County whose responsibilities and experiences are similar to your own.

Leadership provides a solid foundation for a new manager as well a refresher for a more seasoned employee. In order to earn your Leadership Seminar Series certificate of completion, you will attend a core class below plus “Sexual Harassment Prevention for Managers, Supervisors & Leads” and “County Specifics” (separate enrollment).

Each cohort consists of multi-day sessions which you must attend.

Who should take this class? Leadership is required for all new managers, supervisors, leads and CEMA represented classifications within six months of taking a covered position. It is suggested that employees who took Leadership over five years ago, return to the program for a refresher.

Listening Skills

Good communication depends on both effective speakers and effective listeners. Discover ways to increase your listening skills using the Personal Listening Profile. Learn to listen with clarity, focus and attention for successful communication. Developing positive and effective listening approaches is an active-not a passive-process in which listeners share the responsibility for successful communications with speakers. Listen to learn and learn to listen.

Making Effective Presentations

This two-day class involves basic presentation skills. It will be a hands-on approach with video feedback on day two. Learn how to reduce presentation anxiety and how to organize your thoughts and information. Learn more about engaging the audience and being more persuasive. Also, learn how to use visual aids for impact. This class is for anyone who wants to learn how to give presentations or build confidence in their ability to do so.

Managing Upset Customers

Everyone who faces the public on a daily basis has faced challenging situations and customers. This class is designed to improve your skills in managing upset customers. This class is 2 half-day sessions, and is based on the book ‘Calming Upset Customers.” You will develop your skills in personal presentation, non-verbal communication, and language that can make a difference. This class will use real examples from real situations in Santa Clara County.
Session 1 will cover the basics of things you can do.
Homework will be to practice in real life the things learned in the class, and prepare a learning journal based one your practice.
Session 2, one week later will review and discuss progress and learning from applying the principles.   You will have the opportunity to demonstrate what worked through role play.

To earn your certificate you must:
•        Attend both classes
•        Complete the homework and journal
•        Participate in the class activities

Managing Work Expectations

Why are understanding and managing one’s work expectations important? Whether spoken or unspoken, expectations have a powerful impact on our thoughts, feelings and behaviors and play a key role in driving our attitudes. Research shows that people who have clearly defined, well-communicated expectations find more satisfaction and success in their work than people whose expectations remain unspoken or unrealized. Companies that employ satisfied, successful people reap the rewards of increased productivity and reduced turnover in their workforce.

“Managing Work Expectations*Transforming Attitudes” is a self-assessment tool that helps individuals explore ten work expectations that impact today’s employment relationships.

Medical Qigong for Beginners I

Qigong is an ancient Chinese healing art that involves movement and meditation. Its function is to bring balance back into your body and mind. Consistent practice over time can enhance well being, improve blood circulation, reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and decrease symptoms from chronic problems such as asthma, migraine headaches, stomach problems, and neck, shoulder and back pain. In this six week class, participants will learn the techniques and theories of Medical Qigong, stress physiology, Chinese Medicine concepts, and recent Western research findings regarding stress and qigong. The class will be facilitated by Millie Tseng, Public Health Nurse for the Employee Wellness Program and a Medical Qigong Master, who has been teaching Medical Qigong for the last five years.

Medical Qigong for Beginners II

This class is for employees who have taken the Medical Qigong for Beginners class in the past and want to refresh their practice. Participants will have opportunities to ask questions, renew, and refine their qigong practice.

Microsoft Access 2003, Level 1 Executrain

Learn how to maintain and manage large amounts of information, using a very efficient and powerful information management computer application, the Access 2003 relational database. explore the functions of tables and queries. Create and modify simple forms and reports.

Microsoft Access 2003, Level 2 Executrain

Learn how to design and create a new Access database, improve queries, forms and reports and integrate Microsoft Office 2003 with other applications. Topics covered by this course also include customizing database components and sharing Access data with other applications.

Microsoft Access 2007, Level 1 Computer Magic Training

This class is designed for the beginning Access user. Participants will learn to design and create tables and to enter and manipulate data. The class covers how to filter and sort records and to use queries to select and analyze data.

Microsoft Access 2007, Level 1 Workforce Institute

Learn how to use this powerful and award-winning database to store, locate, print, and automate access to just about any type of important information. This course covers basic commands and features including designing databases; creating & working with tables, select queries, forms; creating & enhancing reports; and importing and exporting objects.

Microsoft Access 2007, Level 2 Computer Magic Training

This class is designed for people who are familiar with Access. Participants will learn to design multiple-table queries and to create expressions and parameters. The class covers optimizing tables for efficiency as well as importing and exporting data. The class teaches participants to use Access commands rather than wizards. 6 hours.

Microsoft Access 2007, Level 2 Workforce Institute

Learn how to build a fully automated database management system; creating relational databases, working with related tables, defining data entry rules; using advanced query features; creating advanced queries; enhancing forms; using advanced report features; creating charts.

Microsoft Excel 2003, Level 1 Executrain

This class is for new of self-taught Excel users who want to learn to create and modify a spreadsheet, enter text and values into cells, create formulas and functions, use Autofill, format, insert and delete columns and rows, and to format, print and save documents. Even if you have used Excel for a while or are a self-taught user, you will learn a variety of short cuts and time saving tricks to enhance your spreadsheet use.

Microsoft Excel 2003, Level 2 Executrain

Expand your knowledge of the management of larger spreadsheets, working with range names and use of special functions. Students should have completed the Excel 101 and be confident with creating basic spreadsheets, writing basic formulas, copying and moving data, saving and retrieving worksheets and printing.

Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 1 Computer Magic Training

This class is designed for the beginning Excel user; no previous experience with Excel is needed. Participants will learn to create worksheets and to enter and format numbers and text. The class covers basic Excel functions and formulas, simple charts, and printing reports from Excel.

Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 1 Workforce Institute

Learn how to create fully formatted worksheets quickly and efficiently. This course will focus on creating, modifying, formatting & printing worksheets; using basic formulas & functions; creating and modifying charts; web features.

Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 2 Computer Magic Training

This class is designed for people who are familiar with Excel who need to go beyond the basics. Participants will learn to create and use complex formulas, define and name tables and ranges, and to link multiple worksheets and workbooks to each other. The class covers grouping datasets, subtotaling and showing and hiding detail data in grouped datasets.

Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 2 Workforce Institute

Master the skills for advanced techniques in working with large and multiple worksheets and workbooks; building links using 3D formulas; creating lists; consolidating, merging, sorting and analyzing data; customizing changing options, toolbars, and menus; advanced charting and formatting techniques; list management; documenting and auditing; using templates.

Microsoft Excel 2007, Level 3 Executrain

Apply conditional formatting to highlight data based on specified criteria. Create and apply data validation rules to help ensure accurate data entry. Create and apply custom date and number formatting. Move and copy worksheets and export data from Excel for use in Word. Create pivot table reports. Password protect at the worksheet and workbook level. Record and run macros and view and edit VBA code.

Microsoft Outlook 2003, Level 1 Executrain

This class covers the fundamentals of using Outlook E-mail including sending, reading, attaching files, creating and using distribution lists, making folders, replying to and forwarding messages. Learn to use the calendaring and scheduling functions of this powerful tool. Learn to schedule conference rooms, plan for meeting attendees and more.

Microsoft Outlook 2003, Level 2 Executrain

This class teaches you to get organized using Outlook's task lists, journal and notes features. Other areas of customization are also included as well as file and folder management. Learn to manage multiple e-mail accounts, work with junk mail, add shortcuts to the navigation pane and more.

Microsoft Outlook 2007, Level 1 Computer Magic Training

Become familiar with Outlook's mail and calendar features. In Mail, learn how to create and read mail, prepare and set special mail features, handle file attachments, and manage mailbox folders. In Calendar, learn to schedule and modify appointments, create and modify recurring appointments, and plan and modify meetings.

Microsoft Outlook 2007, Level 2 Computer Magic Training

Become familiar with the higher level skills in Outlook. Learn how to automate email, customize Outlook, use advanced email functions, and use advanced calendaring functions. Also, learn how to manage tasks, manage contacts, and work with journaling.

Microsoft Powerpoint 2003, Level 1 Executrain

Learn how to create and edit individual slides in your presentation, format text, bulleted lists, work with Clip Art and AutoShapes, and build your own slide shows. The class will cover how to create new presentations using templates and different template styles. We will cover how to format text using character and paragraph techniques, and how to change the size of graphic and character bullets to emphasize specific points. Using a variety of graphic techniques will enhance any presentation.

Microsoft Powerpoint 2003, Level 2 Executrain

Improve your presentations with better slide masters. Learn to use design templates, and add special animation effects. The master slide will allow you to make a single change to an object or format on every page. The class will cover how to use design templates more effectively and apply them to multiple slide masters. Animation is a major part of this class and will make presentations come alive on the screen. Also, we will use the tools and techniques to view the animation in the presentation mode.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, Level 1 Workforce Institute

Learn how to create a polished and professional presentation with this robust software tool. This "basic training" workshop covers exploring the PowerPoint environment; building a new presentation; formatting and proofing; using the drawing tools; working with Wordart and clip art; using tables and charts; enhancing a presentation.

Microsoft PowerPoint 2007, Level 2 Workforce Institute

Microsoft Publisher 2007, Level 1 Computer Magic Training

Learn how to create a one-page publication, modify a publication's layout and structure, edit content in a publication, format pictures in a publication, and identify options for distributing a publication.

Microsoft Word 2007, Level 1 Workforce Institute

Learn to generate professionally rendered documents. This class will teach you to create, edit, format, save, and print documents and tables; control page layout and appearance using headers and footers, margins, and page orientation; use proofing tools including spelling and grammar checks, using the thesaurus; web features including saving and opening a document as a web page, inserting a hyperlink in a document, and sending word documents via email.

Microsoft Word 2007, Level 2 Workforce Institute

Explore some of the more sophisticated features of Word. This course includes working with sections and columns; formatting and working with tables; using styles and Autotext, working with headers and footers; introduction to templates; and printing options.

Organize Yourself and Your Office

Most people waste several hours each month trying to locate things on their desk or in their filing system. If this describes you, then this is a workshop you won’t want to miss. This course teaches essential organizational skills. You can expect to gain knowledge that will increase your productivity and effectiveness. Emphasis will be placed on creating and maintaining a productive work environment.

Objectives:
At the completion of this session, participants will have a workable understanding of the following:

      Identify important vs. urgent priorities
      Generate ways to conquer procrastination
      Classify file information for easy retrieval
      Create a plan to remove unnecessary clutter from desk and                   surrounding area

Performance Appraisal for SEIU Local 521

Are you a 521 member? Do you supervise a 521 member? If so, you need this class! The 521 Performance Appraisal is a negotiated requirement - it is also an excellent communication and management tool for both the supervisor and employee!

We will address the purpose, the process and how it relates to the County ‘s Mission Statement, your agency’s goals and objectives, and your professional development.

This class will include a review of the materials as well as exercises to make sure each participant has a solid understanding of the appraisal process, the roles involved, and the benefits.

Performance Appraisal Training for CEMA Employees

Are you a CEMA member? Do you supervise a CEMA member? If so, you need this class! The CEMA Performance Appraisal is a negotiated requirement - it is also an excellent communication and management tool for both the supervisor and employee!

We will address the purpose, the process, and how it relates to the County starting with the County Mission Statement through to your Agency's mission and goals.

This class will include a review of the materials as well as exercises to make sure each participant has a solid understanding of the appraisal process, the roles involved, and the benefits.

Pilates

Pilates is a form of exercises that focuses on improving core strength, increasing flexibility and building long and lean muscles. Using your own body resistance and weight to increase strength and flexibility, all movements in Pilates center through your core which then strengthen back and posture alignment. Open to all fitness levels - instructor will demonstrate exercises to appropriate skill level of participants.

Preventing Diabetes

Is there diabetes in your family? Do you think that you are at risk for developing diabetes? Did you have a baby that was more than 9 pounds at birth? Diabetes can be a silent disease, going undetected and damaging your body. But the good news is that there are some things that YOU can do not only to help yourself but also your family members and friends. Come and learn what diabetes is, how it is diagnosed, and how you may be able to prevent or delay the start of diabetes by eating healthier and starting an exercise plan. We will help you figure out how to add these to your busy schedule and put the odds more in your favor to delay or prevent diabetes.

Principles of Effective Website Design Computer Magic Training

Theory plus hands-on design practice. Learn concepts for creating aesthetic, functional, focused websites. Compare websites with good or bad design. Discuss website planning, defining website goals and understanding users' needs, effective text and graphics, posting on search engines. Then, own your own, use HTML, Dreamweaver or FrontPage to create your own website

Retirement Planning Workshop

Getting ready to retire? Thinking about retiring? Want to plan in advance for your retirement? Let us help you get prepared for this important event in your career with the County. This 4-hour workshop will provide useful information to assist you on the decisions that you will have to take prior to your retirement. It will cover topics related to County Employee Benefits, how to calculate your pension benefits, coping with retired life, 457 Deferred Compensation planning with ideas on managing your assets prior and during retirement, and how to become a part of the Retired Public Employees' Association (RPEA).

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination / Reasonable Accommodation Training Managers/Supervisors/Leads
The first half of this class is Sexual Harassment Prevention

This class will inform you of the County Policies, your responsibilities under the law, the potential liability for the organization and for yourself as a manager, supervisor or lead. The training includes guidelines on how to respond to a notice or a complaint of sexual harassment/discrimination, steps to appropriately respond, how to prevent, recognize, and correct sexual harassment/discrimination. The primary duty of preventing and correcting sexual harassment and discrimination is the responsibility of managers, supervisors and leads. In accordance with California Government Code, Managers, Supervisors and leads are required to attend to Sexual Harassment Training every two years.

The second half of this class is Reasonable Accommodation.

Acquaint yourself with the County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and Procedures, California Department of Fair Employment and Housing Regulations, Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s Guidelines, and legal updates. This class provides instruction on how to respond to employee request for accommodation, and Managers’ and Supervisors’ responsibilities

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention for Managers, Supervisor & /Leads

This class will inform you of the County Policies, your responsibilities under the law, the potential liability for the organization and for yourself as a manager, supervisor or lead. The training includes guidelines on how to respond to a notice or a complaint of sexual harassment/discrimination, steps to appropriately respond, how to prevent, recognize, and correct sexual harassment/discrimination. The primary duty of preventing and correcting sexual harassment and discrimination is the responsibility of managers, supervisors and leads. In accordance with California Government Code, Managers, Supervisors and leads are required to attend to Sexual Harassment Training every two years.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Prevention for Non-Supervisors

This interactive workshop will inform participants through lecture, audiovisual, materials, and group exercise as to what laws and policies say about sexual harassment and discrimination, what “Zero Tolerance” means, which behaviors may constitute sexual harassment/discrimination, how to report sexual harassment/discrimination incidents and provide participants practical skills to help stop offensive behavior which may lead to charges of sexual harassment/discrimination. EO

Skills Enrichment Program for Support Staff     This series of classes should be taken by Support Staff who are interested in enriching their professional skills. It is designed in a “cohort” format, meaning participants will attend all seven classes as a group. Topics include:

                        * Introduction to Business Writing (2 sessions)
                        * Customer Satisfaction
                        * e-mail Etiquette
                        * Interpersonal Communication Skills
                        * Managing Work Expectations
                        * Telephone Etiquette

Upon completion of all seven sessions, participants will receive a Certificate signifying their accomplishment.

Come and join us for a fun and informative series!

Strategic Communication

This workshop will facilitate the building of supportive communication
climates in the workplace. The course will focus on techniques for Acting instead of Reacting in difficult situations, initiating difficult conversations, organizing our internal thoughts and the effects of non-verbal behaviors in our messages.

Stretch and Relaxation

Most people know that stretching exercises improve flexibility. Fewer people know that stretching exercises have other benefits such as increasing muscle tone and strength; decrease aches and pains, and improve sleep. This four-session class will include warm up exercises, mild stretches for the whole body, and the use of stretch bands.

This class is scheduled to fit the lunch hour for most employees. If the class falls within your lunch hour, it is considered your own time and your supervisor's signature is not required on the registration form.

Success Over Stress

This interactive class will provide information regarding successful strategies for dealing with stress. Participants will learn and practice several different methods of stress management techniques including mindfulness, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, guided visualization, and much more. Discover ways to incorporate these skills into your work and life in order to improve overall health and well-being.

Successful Interviewing Skills

If you are ever going to have another job interview, you owe it to yourself to take this class! The purpose of this workshop is to provide those being interviewed with the tools necessary to confidently, effectively, and legally encounter the interview process. This course will give practical experience in preparing for an oral board interview as well as an individual interview. We will discuss interview questions that are legal and illegal and have an actual opportunity to rehearse an oral board interview to demonstrate new skills. Class members will provide feedback and assist one another in correct interview procedures from the observer’s standpoint. Bring a job description of a job you desire.

Successful Starting Supervisor

What's your biggest supervisory challenge? It's the people, isn't it? Join us in this class and you will learn how to give effective feedback, track projects, run meetings, delegate and more! Supervision can be enjoyable as well as challenging.
This workshop is fun, interactive, and will help you develop tools to meet your challenges.

Tai Chi

An ancient Chinese art, which encompasses slow movements to improve balance and flexibility. It is also a vehicle to release stress and leading to better health. Through slow breathe work movements, it helps to relax the mind and further tone our body. This class is presented by Master Ron Lew from the Tibetan Martial and Healing Center, San Jose, CA.

Team Dynamics

Don’t you just hate to hear the work TEAM sometimes? We’ve all had the experience of working with successful teams and some of those ‘other’ ones. In really successful teams, people maximize use of their strengths to do the right thing at the right time. In this class you will discover the right roles for the right people. This will help the team work toward common goals while individuals play their parts in the process. Join us for a fun and interactive class!

Telephone Etiquette

This workshop provides an overview of basic techniques of telephone etiquette designed to achieve optimum customer service. Topics to be covered include how to be professional on the telephone; how to obtain information in a professional way so as not to appear confrontational; how to deal with difficult people on the telephone; how to build team awareness to work together on incoming calls; how to deal with multiple incoming calls; and how to identify priorities. ED

The Goof Proofer Whether you know it or to, the way you speak and write is a yardstick against which others measure you. This course is designed to help participants eliminate the most common and most flagrant grammatical goofs that make a poor impression, blemish their work, and act as a barrier to workplace success.

The Three Stages of ParentCare: What You'll Need to Know to Help Your Aging Parents and Yourself

Each class will be a combination of presentation of information and the opportunity for group sharing and problem-solving.
•     Participants need to commit to attending all three sessions.
•     Class size limited to 10 participants.
•     There will be two facilitators -Judy Davidson and Nicole Etemadieh
from the County of Santa Clara’s Employee Assistance Program.
For questions, contact them at 408-241-7772

Who Should Attend:    County Employees who are faced with the practical and emotional challenges of helping their aging parents

Time Mastery

Shorter deadlines, competing priorities, endless meetings, interruptions and ever higher quality expectations are just some of today’s time challenges. And yet the number of hours in the day remains the same. You can solve this dilemma by learning the practical, everyday skills revealed in this Time Mastery Profile.

Working Together Workshop

This program will increase your communication skills in everyday as well as in difficult situations. It will help you build collaboration skills and develop personal initiative. In our “cohort” format, you will have an opportunity to meet and network with individuals from throughout the County whose duties, responsibilities and challenges are similar to your own.

Working provides a solid foundation for a new employee as well as a refresher for someone more seasoned. In order to earn your certificate from the Working Together Workshop Series, you will need to attend a core class below, as well as “Sexual Harassment Prevention for Non-Supervisors” (separate enrollment).

Each class consists of multi-day sessions which you must attend.

Who should take this class? It is highly recommended for all line staff. It is suggested that employees who took the program more than five years ago return for a refresher. The class is ideal for all 715 members and all other line staff personnel.

Write On! Writing for Fun and Health

Instructor: Judy Davidson, MFT
Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP)
Lifelong Writer

Learn how to use writing to address life’s many challenges. Discover the clarity, joy and just plain fun that can come from personal expression.

This class, taught in an informal small-group format, will offer several individual writing exercises designed to help you enhance self-confidence, improve decision-making and sharpen goal-setting skills. You’ll learn techniques to capture important memories, sort out confusing issues, work on problematic interpersonal relationships and ventilate difficult feelings in a safe manner.

Although some sharing of your writing may be encouraged, you won’t be pressured to do so. Learn how to handle issues of privacy, self-criticism and procrastination. Don’t worry if spelling, grammar or punctuation is not your strong suit. This is not your Mother’s English class!