Being Well: Employer Engagement Toolkit

Overview

This toolkit is designed to support you in advocating for your attendance at the Being Well gathering on May 29-30. It contains resources to help you communicate the value of this experience to your employer and secure their support for your participation.

Email Template for Your Supervisor

Subject: Request to Attend Being Well Professional Development Gathering (May 29-30)

Dear [Supervisor's Name],

I've been selected to participate in the Being Well gathering on May 29-30, 2025, a specialized professional development opportunity for workers in the homeless response sector. I received this invitation based on my previous participation in [the Community Care Course/Racial Equity in Homelessness Fellowship] with Social Justice Partners LA (SJPLA), an organization dedicated to supporting systems change in our field. This invitation-only opportunity is specifically designed for workers like me who are committed to advancing wellbeing in the homeless response sector.

Being Well focuses on strategies to prevent burnout, enhance resilience, and develop sustainable practices for workers in the sector. Given the emotional demands of our work, I believe participating would strengthen my ability to:

  • Sustain my effectiveness in supporting our clients

  • Bring valuable wellbeing practices back to our team

  • Contribute to a healthier workplace culture

  • Prevent burnout and compassion fatigue

The gathering includes workshops on trauma-informed practices, peer support opportunities, and tools specifically designed for workers in our sector.

To attend, I would need to be away from the office on May 29th and May 30th. I'm happy to discuss arrangements for coverage of my responsibilities during this time and plan to share key learnings with our team afterward.

As this is an invitation-only event with limited registration spots, I would appreciate discussing this opportunity as soon as possible. Registration will close once capacity is reached, and I'm eager to secure my place. I'm happy to provide any additional information you might need.

Thank you for considering my request,

[Your Name]

Addressing Common Concerns

"We can't spare you for two full days"

Response: "I understand the timing concern. Would it be possible to discuss which client appointments are most critical during those days? I can work on rescheduling non-urgent matters and creating coverage plans for the essential ones. I'm also willing to put in some preparation time before the event to ensure everything is handled."

"We don't have budget for professional development right now"

Response: "I appreciate the budget constraints. The good news is that this event is fully funded for selected participants like me. There's no cost to our organization beyond the time investment."

"How is this directly relevant to your job?"

Response: "Work in the homeless response sector comes with unique challenges including vicarious trauma and high burnout rates. This gathering is specifically designed to address these issues, helping me develop sustainable practices that will make me more effective in my role long-term. The research shows that when staff wellbeing is supported, client outcomes improve."

"We need something measurable for our professional development investments"

Response: "I'm happy to create specific goals for this experience and measure the outcomes. I can track metrics like my stress levels, engagement with clients, and implementation of new practices. I'll also document specific tools I bring back that can benefit our team."