SPARCS can be delivered in a variety of settings, including, but not limited to, the following: Outpatient Clinics, School-based Community Mental Health, Schools, Alternative Schools, Day Treatment, Shelters (Homeless, Domestic Violence, etc.), Substance Abuse Programs, Foster Care, Group Home, Residential, Detention Centers, and Corrections Centers.

How do I know if SPARCS is a good fit for my organization?
SPARCS is a good fit for agencies with:

• Leadership and staff who strive to provide trauma-informed services.
• Leadership and staff who are committed to using evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment.
• Access to a large population of adolescents who would benefit from SPARCS.
• Space, resources, and funding to provide group treatment.

SPARCS is a good fit for group facilitators who:

• Are committed to using trauma-informed best practices.
• Are interested in providing evidence-based and evidence-informed treatment in creative ways which may differ from their typical approach.
• Are comfortable with a strengths-based approach that incorporates mindfulness and skill-building.
• Are excited about professional education opportunities and are willing and able to put time and energy into learning a new intervention.
• Enjoy working with adolescents and are good at engaging this population.

Most trauma-informed evidence-based interventions require a master’s degree to be trained. The SPARCS group must be led by a master’s level clinician, and additional staff (e.g., residential staff, case workers, crisis workers, deans, teachers, aides, etc.), can be trained to be supports in the group as well as to reinforce SPARCS skills in the setting.

Organizations implementing SPARCS for the first time must send a team of at least 3 individuals, including one administrator/supervisor and two clinicians. It is important to have administrative support when implementing a new intervention so that the administrator can advocate for the appropriate allocation of resources required.

Organizations that are already actively implementing SPARCS by trained SPARCS clinicians may send individuals to continue the dissemination and fidelity of SPARCS to youth.

The Learning Collaborative model we use for SPARCS training is based on implementation science, which emphasizes on best practices for adult learning. Training participants in a SPARCS Learning Collaborative must attend the following to successfully be trained:

• Pre-work prior to Learning Session #1
• Two, 2-day in-person learning sessions (or two, 3 half days of virtual learning sessions) totaling approximately 24 hours.
• Regular support for implementation, evaluation, and sustainment to include 8 scheduled teleconferences over approximately 6-9 months.

Costs to host a SPARCS training is dependent on multiple factors, including the number of individuals to be trained and the location of the training.  Once we have that information, we can work with you on the most cost-effective way to host a SPARCS training.

Included in the costs are materials for each training participant, including training handouts, a SPARCS clinician manual, and one youth handout manual. In addition, there is 24 hours of direct training in SPARCS, plus at least 8 hours of consultation support with implementation and sustainment of the intervention.

Individuals or small teams who want to be trained, but not necessarily have enough people to host a SPARCS Learning Collaborative, can contact us to see if there is a SPARCS training scheduled that they can attend. If we do not have a training planned, we keep a list of names and contact information to pull small teams together to form a training.

Email training@mindshftcenter.org for more information on costs.

Besides the cost to attend training, there are ongoing expenses to offer SPARCS group sessions, such as providing youth workbooks, materials for activities, and snacks.