Workshop Descriptions
#1 Trauma 101: Ohio Developmental Disabilities Mental Health and Addiction Services
Most youth we encounter in our daily work have been victims of trauma. “They don’t listen”, “They are oppositional and defiant”, “They don’t pay attention”, “They create chaos”, “They don’t care about anything”. Have you heard these things said about the kids with whom you work? Even thought them yourself? Understanding trauma and its effects is vital in helping our youth stabilize and begin a life-long journey of healing. You will find your perspective altered and your approaches changing once you realize the impact trauma has on our youth.
Linda Kauffer, LSW
Treatment Foster Care Training Coordinator and Licensing Specialist
Oesterlen Services for Youth, Inc.
#2 Restorative Circles
We will begin to look at the importance of creating community and the use of restorative circles to strengthen that community within both school and residential centers. This workshop will teach the use of games and circles to not only build community but to also mediate conflict and restore relationships. Get ready for a fun hands on intro to putting circles into practice
Corrie Rafferty, MSW, LISW-S, CTP
Regional Director of Operations, Summit Academy
#3 Trauma Informed Addiction Recovery
What role does trauma play in the development of addiction to alcohol and other drugs? Most would agree that the correlation is significant. Do our current treatment practices effectively address trauma history? More importantly, do our typical interventions and programs address the trauma history and provide tools for the person in recovery. How can we effectively support the youth in recovery and help strengthen their mastery of recovery tools? And can effective addiction treatment approaches be translated into other therapeutic environments?
Timothy Schaffner, MEd.
Executive Director
Trumbull County Children Services
#4 Utilizing Developmental Assets in Youth Programs
At-risk youth are often deficient in the developmental assets that will help them develop into healthy functioning adults. Learn what current research has to say about improving these kids’ chances at success. As a youth worker, YOU are one of their developmental assets. Learn how tools like Search Institute and GRIT assessments can help you understand where your client’s baseline is and how you can help them make a plan to add assets to their lives.
Linda Kauffer, LSW
Treatment Foster Care Training Coordinator and Licensing Specialist
Oesterlen Services for Youth, Inc.
#5 Advocacy and Youth Programs
How do you take a moment and make it into a movement? High quality afterschool programs have amazing outcomes for school age children, but it’s up to us to showcase that data for decision makers who create policy and regulations. In this session we will explore how to engage stakeholders, how to utilize media and how to develop communications that will help you tell the story of the amazing therapeutic benefits of your program.
Nichelle Harris, BS
Ohio After- School Network Director
Corrie Rafferty, MSW, LISW-S, CTP
Regional Director of Operations
Summit Academy
#6 ODJFS Bridges Update-Supporting Ohio’s Youth Emancipating from Foster Care
In May of 2016, Substitute House Bill 50 passed into law which extends access to housing options and case management services through the allocation of federal and state funds to young adults 18-21 who have aged out of foster care in Ohio. This workshop will offer an overview of this new program, talk about how it differs from existing independent living services for young adults who have emancipated from foster care, and discuss the progress on the program’s development and implementation. The audience will also be provided information that outlines how they can play an important role in supporting former foster youth on the journey to reaching their goals to a successful and brighter future.
Chynna Kelley, esq.
Bridges Policy Developer
ODJFS, Office of Families and Children
#7 Relax, It’s Only a Crisis!
All Day Training. This lively course brings staff to a different level of understanding of their role in a crisis. Staff will learn to better manage their affective responses to the “crisis of the day”. Use of the professional self-care plan is central to this training. Participants will lean to manage the most “typical” crises faced in treatment programs. This program includes phases of crisis, healthy vs disorganized responses, utilization of resources, decreasing client helplessness, adaptation, de-escalation skills, Perry’s model of traumatic memory, and Choice theory.
David Zidar, LISW-S
Area Director
Ohio MENTOR
#8 ODJFS Prudent Parenting Rule
This workshop will review the ODJFS Prudent Parenting Rule, and the new Federal FFPSA guidelines. We will explore the theory, expectations, and practicality of its implementation within the structures of best practice for youth in our care. Learn what the standards are regarding the concepts of “normalcy” for youth in out-of-home placement. As youth workers, it is our responsibility to foster developmentally appropriate growth and social capital in the often traumatized youth that we serve.
George Purgert, LISW-S
Director
Safely Home
#9 Bullying Prevention and Intervention
This informative workshop will teach staff who work directly with children, foster parents, parents, adopted parents or caregivers how to teach their children to deal with bullying. Our certified trainer will use materials from the Otweus Bullying Prevention Program that have been designed to give participants a better awareness and understanding of their responsibility to provide safety to and for the youth they serve. Trainees will learn what and how to present this bullying information to school personnel, camp counselors, afterschool staff and other children/youth workers. Through this training you will learn to: Help children deal directly with bullies, Empower your staff, parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents to help children deal with bullies, Talk, share, inspire, and deal with problematic issues regarding bullying.
Sister Madeleine Rybicki, MS, CYC-P
Training Specialist
Holy Family Institute
#10 Certification Testing (no CEU’s)
We are offering the opportunity to complete testing under the new certification program at all three levels: CYC/Entry, CYC-A/ Associate, and CYC-P/Professional. OACYCP offers competency based training and certification in collaboration with the Child & Youth Care Certification Board (CYCCB) and the Child & Youth Care Certification Institute (CYC Institute). All exams are offered simultaneously during one testing session lasting up to 3 hours as needed. You may test at whichever level is the best fit for you. It is not necessary to complete testing at a lower level before taking a higher level exam. You can only become certified once you meet the requirements for a level and pass the exam. For a detailed brochure outlining the prerequisite experience, education, and training required, go to “Credentialing for Child and Youth Professionals” at cyccertification.org. Testing fees in addition to conference fees:
CYC Entry Level or CYC-Associate Level $50.00 or CYC-P Professional Level $135.00
#11 Supporting LGBTQ Youth and Parents
This workshop will utilize resources from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. We’ll begin with an NCTSN video to introduce the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth who have experienced trauma, followed by a discussion on how to create welcoming and inclusive environments for youth who have experienced trauma and identify as LGBTQ. We’ll review relevant terms and a chart delineating the continuums of sex, gender, and sexual orientation. This fact sheet also offers summaries of issues concerning LGBTQ youth and their parents related to sexual orientation and sexual abuse and a table of common myths and stereotypes about LGBTQ youth and sexual abuse. Attendees will have an opportunity to present scenarios and engage in peer consultation utilizing their new knowledge and resources.
Natalie Smith, LISW-S
Child and Family Program Director
Ravenwood Health
#12 Burnout Prevention
So you are tired, angry, and you think it is a good idea to get into a restraint? No you don’t -but at that moment you lack the tools to regain control of the situation and stop the scenario from spiraling toward restraint. However, restraint is not an inevitable outcome: restraints can be avoided. This workshop will provide common sense methods, techniques, and options to give you confidence in managing situations even when you think you have hit the wall.
A.M. Chip Bonsutto, Ed.D., LSW, CYC-P
Executive Director
Ohio MENTOR
#13 Actors and Factors-Program Sustainability
How about a new twist on sustainability? In this game-like interactive session participants willrole play various community players in a competition to establish sustainability for their youth program. Along the way players will practice active listening, effective communication, and advocacy skills as effective strategies to build partnerships and program sustainability. Come prepared to have fun and win some prizes!
Nichelle Shaskus
Director
Ohio Afterschool Network
Corrie Rafferty, LISW-S
Director
Summit Academy
#14 Trauma Informed Family Engagement
In this workshop, you will learn how trauma impacts all levels of the family. Family therapy has the unique capacity to assist families in coming together after traumatic experiences. Through participation in family-focused programs, families are allowed to process the traumatic events together while gaining a deeper understanding of the patterns, roles, rules and boundaries of their family system. They will better understand the impact that trauma has on each family member and assist each other in the healing process. After participating in this workshop, attendees will leave with enough knowledge to understand how trauma impacts all levels of the family. Attendees will know how to engage family members who have experienced trauma.
Natalie Smith, LISW-S
Child and Family Program Director
Ravenwood Health
#15 Being a Supervisor and Being Happy
Being a supervisor comes with its rewards and challenges. This workshop is for any current supervisors or one who is transitioning to a new supervisory role within their organization. Regardless of your setting, there are theories and skills that can help you supervise more effectively. Come learn strategies for maintaining connections with colleagues, your personal passion for the work, and methods that work in the supervisor-supervisee relationship.
George Purgert, LISW-S
Executive Director
Safely Home
#16 Adolescent Depression and Suicide
Adolescent and youth care workers must appreciate the prevalence of depression and emotional issues affecting the youth in their charge, as well as the potential for suicide among this vulnerable population. This workshop will help you to: · Better understand the nature and incidence of depression and suicide among adolescents · Recognize and address your own issues around suicide in adolescent care settings · Assess suicide risk, address crisis intervention, and help with coping in the wake of suicide. · Address agencies’ policies and procedures, as well as reporting and documenting potential for suicide and in response to a suicide. CLINICAL PRACTICE · Develop a personal plan of action for working more effectively in these critical areas.
Sr. Madeleine Rybicki, CSFN, CYC-P
Training Specialist
Holy Family Institute
#17 Operation XXX-Collaboration between Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare
Operation XXX was a collaboration between the child welfare and juvenile justice agencies of Trumbull County who set out to create and implement a specialized trauma-informed treatment program for “XXX” – a specific youth with extensive histories with both agencies. XXX had been in different treatment programs for 10 years and none had shown to be successful. When the time came that no agency was willing or able to work with him, the two agencies worked together to create and implement a program specific to his needs. They utilized the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT) approach to clinical work and were able to deliver to him a treatment program that was not otherwise available in the community.
Nicole Hazlett
Residential Coordinator
Trumbull County Children Services
Corinne Milentijevic, MSSA,LISW-S
Administrator of Clinical Services
Trumbull County Children Services Residential Program
Jessica Rifle, MS
Trumbull County Juvenile Probation
#18 Juvenile Human Trafficking
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During this workshop, participants will learn how to identify and respond to trafficked youth and youth at risk of being trafficked. Presenters will provide an overview of what human trafficking is, relevant laws, risk factors and vulnerabilities. Participants will learn how to identify risk factors and strategies to engage with at risk youth. Participants will also learn how to utilize a multi-disciplinary approach to provide appropriate short-term and long-term care to trafficked youth. Participants will be able to practice identification and case collaboration strategies through interactive activities and case studies. Seth Boughton, MSW Rebekkah O’Bryan, LSW Patel Blumika , MA |
#19 Strengthening Connections between Schools and Youth After- School Programs
Join the Ohio Afterschool Network for a deep dive into the challenges Afterschool youth programs face in connecting and coordinating with school staff. Learn how to build bridges to provide better coordinated effort for the students you serve and how to use the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to open conversations with school administrators. This session will include effective communication and networking strategies and program evaluation skills. This workshop is also applicable for staff working in residential and group programs.
Nichelle Harris, BS
Ohio After School Network Director
Corrie Rafferty, MSW, LISW-S, CTP
Regional Director of Operations
Summit Academy
#20 Behavior Intervention Clinic
This interactive workshop is about learning to manage the most difficult emotional and behavioral issues that arise with youth in our care. Youth in treatment programs can display challenges like lying, stealing, and behavioral acting out. This forum is for staff to review difficult scenarios and work through effective, evidence based and trauma-informed interventions that decrease staff reactivity.
David Zidar, LISW-S
Area Director
Ohio MENTOR