Digital Commons Network^™

The Real Experts: Understanding Autism And Adhd Through The Lens Of The Individual, Mary Little

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation aims to spark intentional conversation and change geared towards shattering stigmas around the autistic and ADHD experience. Attendees will enhance their understanding of neuro-divergent populations in order to modify environments and provide interventions aligning with trauma informed care and inclusion. Attendees will also be given the opportunity to embrace the power of self disclosure and mentorship.

Amplify: Elevating Student Voice Of Youth Experiencing Homelessness Through Podcasting, Kimberley A. Silva

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Discover the synergy of student voice, podcasting, and equity. Empower the voices of students experiencing homelessness in your schools through podcasting with best practices and trauma-informed insights. Learn the basics of starting a podcast with students, access a comprehensive toolkit, and hear from youth speakers. Don't miss this opportunity to amplify diverse voices and break down educational barriers for students experiencing homelessness with podcasting.

Teaching Students About Trauma, Stress And Brain Regulation, Kathy J. Van Horn

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

All students are impacted by stress and can benefit by understanding their brains, their stress response, and strategies for regulation. This presentation will provide practical principles and ideas for teaching students strategies and skills for physical, emotional, and cortical regulation.

Helping All Herons - A School Based Mental Health Team Initiative, Kiersten H. Morgan, Erin Thrift, Teri Hendrix, Shannon Murray

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Our school system has experienced an increase in the number of students with significant mental health related issues. Interactions with these students were occuring on a crisis by crisis basis. Through a series of trial and error we developed Helping All Herons - A School Based Mental Health Team initiative. The team has regular contact with students, parents, outside counseling agencies and staffings to ensure that the needs of the students are being met. This team encourages a more proactive approach to student mental health compared to a reactive one.

Pathways To Resilience: Lessons Learned From Covid-19, Mary Ann Hollingsworth

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Out of the mouths of youth themselves while in the Covid-19 pandemic - pathways to build and sustain resilience in the life challenges that come our way at all stages of life.

Teaching Students About Trauma, Stress, And Brain Regulation, Kathy J. Van Horn

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

All students are impacted by stress and can improve learning through understanding the brain and brain regulation. For students who have experienced trauma this information is critical to their success. This presentation will provide guidelines, ideas, and strategies for teaching students key trauma-informed principles including strategies for physical, emotional, and cortical regulation. These principles and strategies can be taught to students individually or through group and classroom settings. Practical ideas and examples will be given along with feedback and lessons learned from the students we have taught.

Bars To Bridges: Culturally Responsive Education Advocacy, Micaella Flores, Christine Otto

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

We'll explore tangible ways to advocate for BIPOC students who've experienced educational disruptions. We’ll discuss the methods and model The Bars to Bridges Program uses to successfully transition justice involved youth into their academic settings and maintain engagement in education.

Together Yet Different: Youth Resilience Building Srtategies Post-Pandemic, Frank Kros

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The social isolation, economic stress, resource barriers, and enduring uncertainties of the COVID-19 interventions created a “perfect storm” for youth anxiety, depression, grief and trauma. To meet these unprecedented needs, adults can step-up to this new normal by boosting their youth resilience building skills. This workshop will show you how with practical, effective and immediately applicable tools. Learn seven (7) new strategies to support youth through the grief process; effectively manage significant stress; recover from trauma and build her/his personal resilience.

The Journey Of Life Before, During And After Foster Care And The Path To Resilience, Sara B. Wood

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Children who are impacted by abuse and situations that result in foster care have the ability to overcome trauma with the support of stable and nurturing adults. This presentation will take participants on a journey of the life of a foster child from the early years to adulthood from the point of view of a foster child, social worker, and teacher.

“Re/Imagining Culturally Responsive Educational Practices (Crep) And Effectively Implementing Crep To Meet The Needs Of A Diverse Student Population”, Rena' Glass-Dixon, Shelbie Dixon-Brown

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

The aim of this interactive workshop for educators and administrators is to promote cultural awareness and reflect on the impact that our own cultural influences have on the teaching and learning process. This interactive session will also allow professional educators and leaders to apply culturally informed practices to foster positive school climate, learning and academic achievement relevant to a widely diverse student population. The workshop strives to encourage dialogue between educators, administrators and interdisciplinary/inter-agency team members through the application of evidence-based practices for the development of a deeper understanding of ourselves and how our views as educators, schools and districts …

The Domino Effect: Lessons From The Prison Walls, Trent Grundmeyer, Jamie Ross

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation is designed to provide insight to those who serve at-risk populations. Participants will explore the risk factors and statistics around at-risk youth. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to hear first-hand from an incarcerated women who can testify to successful and unsuccessful interventions adults attempted to help her with. She is both a victim and success story that is the face of how education can indeed make a difference for kids.

After successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Build empathy for students who do not have support from parents.
2. Understand why attendance is often …

How To Make School-Based Mental Health Work, Jenny Wilhoite

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This session is designed to give an overview of how to create a School-Based Mental Health program that benefits students on all tiers, providing universal prevention, early intervention, and intensive services for at-risk students. Meeting the unmet needs of students with mental health challenges impacts student attendance, behavioral and academic outcomes, and discipline in a positive way.

Importance Of Consultation, Moya A. Pope Ncc, Monica Y. Pace Ed.S

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Consultation is an essential part of a professional school counselor's job responsibilities - falling under system support and responsive services of the ASCA Model. Effective consultation can be used to support teachers and increase/influence student achievement. If a school counselor is going to develop and maintain a viable comprehensive school counseling program, consultation has to an integral part of their program. This presentation will discuss the importance of consultation and several consultation models.

Georgia Department Of Juvenile Justice School System - Building A Better Future, Zane Shelfer

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Come see how the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) School System is Building a Better Future for students who enroll. The DJJ School System provides academic and career services to students from middle school through high school and up to enrollment in technical college and four-year universities. Highlights will include an overview of these services and best practice information for creating a similar school system.

Using Restorative Practices To Create A School District That Cares, Louis L. Fletcher Phd, Kim Boyd Psyd

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Zero-tolerance became the rule in many school districts due to an increase in school-based violence, which served to silence student voices and led to the overrepresentation of minority students in discipline situations. Schools could adopt restorative approaches, but change cannot be sustained without fair processes at the district level. Thus, district policies should be aligned to restorative practices to increase the probability of district-wide success.

Engaging Data-Based Problem-Solving To Address Chronic Absenteeism Among Prek-12 Students, Amber Brundage

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Each year approximately, 5-7.5 million students are chronically absent. Data necessary to assist educators in problem-solving chronic absenteeism are not widely available. This session focuses on the use of two instruments designed to inform problem-solving for PreK-12 students. A description of instrument administration, data analysis and real-life examples of designing and implementing interventions based on needs identified through the surveys will be provided.

Grief& At-Risk Behaviors: Through The Eyes Of A Teen, Kiana Battle

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation will explore the affects that grief has on adolescents, including at–risk behaviors, identity confusion, issues of self-worth, and many more. The presentation will illustrate the positive impact that grief counseling groups have among adolescents (with a special focus in the public school environment). Barriers that hinder the effective delivery of group counseling within the public school arena will also be addressed (such barriers are amount of time in the school day, student caseload, and administrative support). This presentation will also address the critical role that school social workers play, in effectively providing group counseling interventions to adolescents who …

Using The Cluster Support Team And Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support To Provide Wraparound Services In A Large Urban School District, Sarah E. Coffey, Lorraine Stallworth, Tony Majors, Kay Higgs, Letrecia Gloster, Yvette Carter, Keith Ekhator

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

In this presentation, participants will learn how a large, urban school district utilizes the Cluster Support Team model and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support to provide wraparound services to include school counselors, social workers, behavior analysts, restorative practitioners, and mental health specialists. Participants will receive an overview of support services, and review data from the district.

Holistic Advising: A Proactive Intervention For Success, Arion Jett-Seals

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This session will introduce the process and effectiveness of holistic advising. We will discuss meeting the whole student, considering the student’s personal, emotional, cultural, financial, and familial issues before any can become a barrier, and negatively influence their educational success. Student support personnel, advisors, and counselors will take away a plan of action in holistic advising.

Trust Building Tools For Talking With Youth During Times Of Conflict, Bonnie C. Springer, Andrea Crist

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation will provide tools and strategies for turning crisis into opportunity. The skills of Life Space Crisis Intervention provide helping adults faced with the extreme behavior of youth during times of crisis strategies which build trust and connections in meaningful and healing ways; turning crisis into opportunity for at risk youth to develop social responsibility and grow emotionally

‘Working With Kids At Risk And Making A Difference, On The Street’, Jim C. Taylor Mr., Briana A. Burney, Kianna M. Reid, Derrielle M. Brown

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

If you are an educator, a teacher, a student or a community leader you need NOT to miss this presentation. Learn how a group of Georgia Southern students are changing the lives of children at risk in their town, Statesboro, Georgia.

Why Peer Intervention Is Viable, Cynthia L. Morton, Antoinette Dunstan, Candice Anderson, Monica Seeley

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Welcome to the "Age of Indifference". Unfortunately, our culture is so busy looking at our own problems and issues that we have systematically stopped caring about others. However, if our culture would embrace a system based on collaboration and compassion, we may lessen many social and psychological issues that impact youth today.

Confessions Of A Recovering Disciplinarian, Craig Lockhart

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation discusses, exposes, and confronts how student achievement is negatively impacted by poor school culture and climate. Discipline practices will be reviewed, and methods for establishing and sustaining a viable school-wide behavior management plan will be provided. This presentation equips the audience with the strategies to improve conditions in schools wishing to move to a better state of performance.

Teen Court - Prevention Strategies That Foster Positive Youth Development For At-Risk Students, Sandra Porter-Phillips Mrs.

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Teen Court is a community-based partnership that provides an alternative to traditional disciplinary action designed to increase the positive outcomes for our at-risk youth as they transition into adulthood. The ultimate goal of Teen Court is to engage at-risk students through prevention strategies that foster positive youth development in an environment that is supported by internal and external stakeholders within our community.

Preparing For Excellence: Mentoring African American Girls To Encourage Positive Academic, Interpersonal, And Vocational Outcomes, Tera R. Reid

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

African American girls face significant barriers to educational and personal success. Mentoring has been shown to have a positive effect among youth. This workshop will explore the interventions of a mentoring program in Georgia.

This workshop targets anyone interested in practical solutions. Participants will be empowered and engaged to learn specific strategies, interventions, and develop solutions of their own.

Teaching The Value Of Work Through School And Community Integration, Sharon Singleton, Jason Bossart

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Bonnie Brae is a 100 year old residential treatment facility for youth at-risk. Recognizing a need to implement experiential learning into our school, we have effectively collaborated and partnered with numerous community non-profit organizations for work experience. Because of this integration, our boys are prepared to successfully transition from the residential environment knowing the importance of interpersonal skills and the value of work.

Strategies And Solutions For Implementing A Distinguished Success Ambassador Program To Promote Student Achievement, Ebony L. Payno

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Are you looking for a unique program designed to enhance your school’s learning environment and academic success? Come hear this dynamic and refreshing presentation to learn how to equip your students with the tools they need to make a positive change serving as Success Ambassadors. This session will offer you a wealth of invaluable information, creative resources and practical strategies.

Jack's Brain, Jill's Brain: Why Gender Differences Matter, Shauna F. King

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This workshop introduces participants to the rapidly emerging research on how the brains of females and males are developmentally, structurally and functionally different. Based on these differences, participants will learn academic approaches customized to the distinctly different learning styles of girls and boys.

Information Literacy And Critical Thinking: The Power Of Success, Cheryl A. Clayton-Molina Dr.

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Students and adults cannot just be excellent learners, but lifelong learners to keep pace in today’s world. Information literacy and critical thinking presentation provides skills for individuals to grow and develop as a person and professional. Individuals will learn:

Higher-Order Thinking

Problem solving

Effective and Positive Communication Skills

Setting Realistic Goals

Self-Development/Growth (Who are you)

Building Confidence

Grief & At-Risk Behavior: A Look At The Effectiveness Of Grief Counseling Groups For Adolescents In Public Schools, Kiana Battle

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

This presentation will explore the affects that grief has on adolescents, including at–risk behaviors, identity confusion, issues of self-worth, and many more. The presentation will illustrate the positive impact that grief counseling groups have among adolescents (with a special focus in the public school environment). Barriers that hinder the effective delivery of group counseling within the public school arena will also be addressed (such barriers are amount of time in the school day, student caseload, and administrative support). This presentation will also address the critical role that school social workers play, in effectively providing group counseling interventions to adolescents who …