Episode 117: Promoting the Coach Approach, Live at the 2025 CalWORKS Training Academy

In this episode of Keeping It Real with Tiff and Carl, recorded live from the California CalWORKs Training Academy in Sacramento, Tiff and Carl reflect on a powerful week of teaching, facilitating, and connecting with human services professionals, while serving as the co-emcees of the conference. They dive into the Academy’s focus on resiliency and client-centered service, exploring how shifting power, elevating participant voices, and moving beyond compliance-driven systems can remove barriers and create real impact. The episode then transitions into the first segment of their session, “Empowering Clients Through the Coach Approach,” where they begin unpacking how curiosity, trust, and coaching mindsets can transform service delivery. The full course description follows below.Case managers are not just service providers—they're partners in change. This session introduces the coach approach as a powerful way to engage CalWORKs clients, shift responsibility to them, and foster accountability. Instead of doing the thinking for clients, you'll learn to ask open-ended, thought-provoking questions that build confidence, inspire critical thinking, navigate potentially sensitive topics, and support long-term success. We’ll also explore how stepping out of Karpman’s Drama Triangle—especially the Rescuer role—helps clients take ownership of their choices and builds their capability for positive outcomes. Whether you're supporting clients with employment, housing, or parenting goals, this approach can reduce burnout and improve outcomes.