A new Relational Health Certificate Program, "Promoting a Positive Workplace and Community Culture," will be offered in six daylong sessions, Oct. 14-March 10, at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center. Educational leaders, executive directors, administrators, elected officials,select and school boardmembers, nonprofit leaders, human resource professionals, and those interested in developing skills to create a more positive community, are invited to register. Organizations are encouraged to send small groups of employees.

Participants will earn a University of Maine Certificate in Relational Health; 3.6 CEUs/36 contact hours are also available. To register contact Kim Raymond, kim.raymond@maine.edu 338.8034.

Workshop topics include introduction to relational health, creating a healthywork culture and civility, conflict resolution/management, mediation, nonviolent communication, restorative practices, critical conversations, and forgiveness.

Participants will become proficient in developing strategies to promote a positive workplace culture using best practices, including learning how to create and maintain an efficient, productive and diverse team; having critical and crucial conversations; and working through difficult team dynamics.

Relational Health Certificate Program faculty and facilitators include Barbara Blazej, UMaine educator and trainer in restorative practices; Joanne Boynton, UMaine educator for Peace and Reconciliation Program; WillGalloway, Head of the Watershed School, Camden; Peggy Smith, certified non-violent communication trainer and cofounder of the MaineNVCNetwork; Fran Sulinski, Assistant Director of UMaine Cooperative Extension and Larraine Brown, Executive Director of the Restorative Justice Project.

The Hutchinson Center, an outreach center of the University of Maine, is committed to offering high-quality professional development programs to the greater midcoast Maine community.

For more information or to request a disability accommodation, visit hutchinsoncenter.umaine.edu or contact Kim Raymond, kim.raymond@maine.edu, 338.8034.