Past Conferences

 

35th Annual Conference on Youth (2024)

SPEAKERS

Sajel Bellon
Opening Keynote Address: Live L.I.F.E. Unapologetically: Lean into the Full Experience of Being Human Mid-day Keynote Address: Talk More to Lose Less

Kendall Cotton Bronk, Ph.D. (Claremont Graduate University, School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation)
Helping Young People Cultivate their Purpose in Life and Thrive
Closing Keynote Address: Leading and Thriving with Purpose

Janine Halloran, LMHC
Helping Kids Cope with Frustration and Challenges
Coping Skills for Youth Experiencing Anxiety, ADHD, and Anger

Lorenzo Lewis
Beyond the Shop: An Evidenced-Based Approach to Community Mental Health
Download presentation.
Equipping Marginalized Women through Promising Mental Health Intervention Practices

Alive Community Outreach
Building Beloved Community: Empowering Youth Through Nonviolent Leadership
Hidden Victims: The Impact of Homicide on Youth and Families

Kerrie Fineran, Ph.D. & Brooke Sellhorn, M.A., LMFT
Creating a Culture of Care: Essential Skills and Instilling the 4 Cs
Supervision Skills 101: Developing Effective Practices

Dave Johnson, Ph.D.
Wonder, Awe, and Mindful Self-Care in an Era of Burnout
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34th Annual Conference on Youth (2023)
Go Be Great: COMMUNITIES Transforming Through Connection

SPEAKERS

Maurice Clarett
Opening Keynote: My Life. My Story. My Redemption. 

Kelly Ambriole (CEO of the Ox Agency, Optimizing People, Process, and Performance)
Generational Communication
Lead Yourself First

Monica Mendoza & August Haven
Growth Zone: Organizational Learning
Growth Zone: The Role of Vulnerability in Youth Work

Luke Niforatos (Executive Vice President, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions)
Hot Topics in the Efforts to Legalize All Drugs
Lessons Learned in Legalized States

Megan Helmen, Ph.D. (Developmental Discoveries Neuropsychology)
Neurodiversity: When Disability and Identity Intersect
Supporting Emotional Regulation in Neurodivergent Youth
Subtle but Significant: Autistic Individuals with Low Support Needs

Ericka Gergely (SPARK Learning Lab)
School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 1
School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 2
Emotion-Focused and Problem-Focused Coping Skills for School-Age Children
Help Me Get Unstuck
Tracking My Feelings
My Unstuck Wheel

Brant Hansen (STAR 88.3)
Unoffendable

Chynna Presley, BSW, MSOL (The Respect Team, STAR 88.3)
Goodbye, Imposter Syndrome!

Brant Hansen
Closing Keynote


33rd Annual Conference on Youth (2022):

“Moving Forward: Restoring Meaningful Engagement”

SPEAKERS

Carlos Whittaker, Author
Opening Keynote

Dr. Krista Mehari, Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama
See the Spark and Call it Out: How Communities Can Build Hope in Youth
Rolling with Adolescence: How to Help Teens Solve Problems

Juan Bendaña, Top Youth Speakers
Culture of Engagement
Influence is EVERYTHING

Dr. Annemarie Grassi Amefia, Argonaut
WHEN I GROW UP… CRADLE TO CAREER
Creating an Impactful Career Training Model: The Potential Impact of Partnering Core Education with Experiential Thematic Learning
Staff Burnout - It’s Not Just You!

Adam F. C. Fletcher, Freechild Institute for Youth Engagement
Radical Youth Engagement
Closing Keynote

Clinton Faupel, RemedyLIVE; Nate Moellering & Alicia Wells, Allendale Treatment and Fort Wayne Recovery
Escapism: The Pain/Pleasure Balance and Dopamine Dominance

Dr. Michelle Drouin, Department of Psychology, PFW; and Dr. Kimberly O’Connor, Chair, Department of Organizational and Leadership Studies, PFW
The Balancing Act: How to Support Youth Mental Health and Development in A Tech-Fueled, Post-COVID World

Dr. Sandy Washburn & Ms. Deanna Nibarger, Indiana University Center on Education and Lifelong Learning
SEL: Understanding Misconceptions, Finding Common Ground and Putting Kids First


Learning Objectives for the Annual Conference on Youth:

  • Identify best practices in working with youth

  • Understand the principles of positive youth development

  • Utilize new techniques in working with youth to increase mental and/or physical health and well-being of clients

  • Apply positive youth development concepts resulting in building resiliency factors

  • Have a working knowledge of the 40 Developmental Assets

  • Identify at least one community partner to rely on for related client services

  • Understand the benefits of using positive youth development concepts in working with youth and families

  • Understand how increasing assets in youth increases overall health and well-being

  • Apply prevention techniques to youth work and personal lives

Continuing Education Credits

Great KIDS is pleased to offer Continuing Education Units for LSW, LCSW, LMHC and LMFT licensure approved through Category One of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.