Keynotes | Site Visits | Workshops

Keynotes

Joan E. Ohl
Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families in the Administration for Children and Families,
Washington, DC

Joan E. Ohl was sworn in as Commissioner of the Administration for Children, Youth and Families in the Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in February 2002. This is the latest position of leadership that she has held in the public, private and nonprofit sectors over the past three decades. Prior to joining the Bush administration, Mrs. Ohl was West Virginia's Secretary of Health and Human Resources from 1997 to 2001. In administering the 5,300-employee agency, she emphasized effective and efficient programs, fiscal accountability and personnel development. Her previous work in the health-care field included serving as a board member of the West Virginia Health Care Cost Review Authority. She also worked as a private industry consultant on medical, nutrition and children issues in the state between 1984 and 1993.

In addition, Mrs. Ohl held a number of positions in higher education. Among these were vice president of the Independent College Fund of New Jersey and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in New Jersey. She also worked at five universities over a 15-year period. A hallmark of her career has been establishing new organizational structures, programs and services. Equally important, she has been actively engaged in building partnerships between the public and private sectors.

Mrs. Ohl, was born in Harrisburg, Pa., and raised in Lewes, Delaware. She received an undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware and a Master of Education degree from the State University of Buffalo, New York and did advanced graduate work at Pennsylvania State University. She is married to Dr. Ronald E. Ohl, retired president of Salem International University. She resides in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Regina Louise
Author, Somebody's Someone, Motivational Speaker, Child Advocate
Walnut Creek, CA

Regina Louise, in four short years, has delivered her message of hope, optimism and inspiration to millions of people. Her goal is to speak to every state in the nation on the significance of all children finding life-time connections. TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRIT is the only way to describe Regina Louise's trials as an orphan discarded by all the adults in her life. Her story depicts a life of one child who prevails against all odds, whose resilience shines through each attempt to break her, and whose sheer will to not only survive, but to thrive, is a beacon to us all. Regina Louise was 40 years old with a 17 year old son of her own when she became "somebody's someone" and was adopted by her previous counselor at the Contra Costa, CA, children's shelter where she returned after each failed placement as a child. The movie rights to Somebody's Someone are optioned and a film is currently in development. The book's stage adaptation, a one woman play, opened to sold-out performances and repeated standing ovations. Regina intends to tour the play across the nation. The memoir, Somebody's Someone, debuts in paperback Spring of 2008.

Regina Louise is a woman on the rise with a powerful message: LOVE IS NEVER WASTED.

Steve Trippe
President and Executive Director, New Ways to Work
San Francisco, CA

Steve Trippe has been involved with the development of youth employment, education, and workforce policy and implementation at the national, state, and local levels for the past 30 years. Steve has been with New Ways to Work for the past 23 years. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director in 1999, Steve served as Associate Director of New Ways to Work and the National Director of New Ways Workers, a nationally recognized technical assistance organization focused on youth development, school-to-work, and youth employment issues. Steve is a national leader in the youth workforce development field, sharing his vision and expertise in a variety of ways. He is an experienced facilitator and trainer as well as a frequent speaker at national conferences on the subjects of school-to-work, youth employment, workforce development, and education and training issues. He has served as consultant to many government agencies as well as to schools, businesses, foundations, and community organizations. Steve has consulted for numerous private industry councils, workforce boards, youth councils, the State of Idaho School to Work Office, the US Department of Labor, the Novato Unified School District and Sonoma County Schools, the Charles Schwab Corporation, Far West Educational Labs, the McKesson Corporation, the American Express Foundation, and the San Francisco Foundation as well as the National Governors' Association, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce, and community-based workforce preparation programs. Steve has designed and implemented a number of model programs, including the School to Work Intermediary Project, the Industry Education Council of California's Community Compact Project, and New Ways Workers, a national demonstration project currently being replicated across California and the country.

Rashida Jolley
Miss District of Columbia 2000, Recording Artist, Motivational Speaker
Washington, DC

Rashida Jolley, Miss District of Columbia 2000, has a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Nyack College. She is a national motivational speaker, harpist, vocalist, songwriter, composer, arranger, and recording artist who has appeared on television programs ranging from MTV to BET to TBN, FOX, C-Span and E! Cable Show. Rashida's goal is to continually empower and educate people on the benefits of abstinence. A speaker for Club Varsity, the Ambassador's Agency and Project Reality, Rashida combines her vast knowledge of pop culture with entertaining renditions of Top-40 music to expose the lies of our media saturated times. Her presentation includes her personal experience of making a decision at a young age to remain abstinent until marriage, while also providing STI statistics, discussing media influences, self esteem, self control, self respect, parental involvement, goal setting and lifestyle tips for healthy relationships. Aside from her national speaking, she successfully testified on abstinence education before the New Jersey Senate Education Committee. Rashida routinely briefs congressional representatives, congressional staffers, and political organizations on abstinence education. Rashida moderated the 2002 Black Women's Expo "Teen Seminar" with Jesse Jackson, Sr. and Judge Hatchett as panelists. She is a recipient of the 2001 Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award for Generations United as well as the 2004 Tomorrow's Leader Award from the Black America's Political Action Committee.

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Site Visits to Local Programs

Conference participants will be able to sign up at the conference registration desk for site visits to the following local Pittsburgh area programs:

FamilyLinks Downtown Outreach
www.familylinks.org

FamilyLinks is a non-profit social services agency that provides mental health and mental retardation programs, youth and family development programs, adult community services, alcohol and other drug treatment, and school based prevention services to children, families, and individuals throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. Their Pittsburgh Downtown Outreach provides shelter for runaway and homeless youth, ages 15-21, with additional transitional housing support services.

The Bridge of Pittsburgh
www.thebridgeofpittsburgh.com

The Bridge of Pittsburgh is a new and exciting center designed for youth who are or have been in the Children, Youth and Families (CYF) system. The center helps young people transition into adulthood. Located on the 20th floor of the Regional Enterprise Tower in downtown Pittsburgh, the center offers youth help with securing employment, basic education, computer training, housing and medical assistance, courses in job readiness and interviewing skills, one-on-one mentoring, dinner and snacks nightly.

Three Rivers Youth
www.threeriversyouth.org

Three Rivers Youth is a private, non-profit agency providing services to abused, neglected, runaway, and homeless youth (between the ages of 12-21) and their families since 1880. These programs include The Loft Program for Runaway and Homeless Youth, The Transitional Living Program, Therapeutic Group Homes, and The Family Partnership Program.

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Workshops

Wednesday, May 14, 2008 | Workshop Session I | 2:00 pm — 3:30 pm

Creating Lifelong Connections for Foster/Homeless Youth With "No Fail" TLP Programs — "Go With–The–Flow" Best Practices

Lisa Arieta-Hayes, Director of Research, Training, and Quality Assurance, Bill Wilson Center, Santa Clara, CA

What happens when all best practices fail? You adapt to your clients needs. Come learn how to be creative in redesigning your transitional living programs for youth to improve your outcomes.

Is This Funding Opportunity Right For You?

Judith Clark, Executive Director, Hawaii Youth Services Network, Honolulu, H.

Just because you have the ability to seek grant funding from a specific foundation, corporation, or government funder doesn't mean the opportunity is a good fit for your organization. Maximize your chances of getting funded by finding funding opportunities that meet your needs and learn a system for rating funding opportunities.

Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care — Training To Empower Work With Youth

Dr. Maria Scannapieco, Professor; Dr. Kelli Connell-Carrick, Assistant Professor; Dr. Cache Steinberg, Researcher, University of Houston, Houston, TX

This training is focused on strengthening the foster parent, child welfare supervisor and workers' interventions with foster youth who age out of foster care. The curriculum incorporates the 4 core principles found in successful programs for youth: Positive Youth Development, Collaboration, Cultural Responsiveness, and Permanent Connections. Preliminary results from a statewide evaluation will also be presented, incorporating transfer of learning outcomes.

A Successful Approach To Delivering Transitional Services To Runaway/Homeless Youth

Patricia Johnson, RHY Services Coordinator; Melissa Woods, Assistant RHY Services Coordinator, The Center for Youth, Rochester, NY

This workshop will offer participants insight into building a Transitional Living Program model for runaway/homeless youth. Facilitators will share their experience in what keeps youth engaged and working toward self sufficiency in a voluntary program.

Youth Engaging Youth In The CSFR Process — Who Else Has The "Street Cred" To Get It Done?

Joanne Trinkle, Coordinator, Bridges to Health, Foster Care Waiver, and Youth in Progress, Albany, NY; Naomi Porter, Youth Educator; Zhai Yen White, Youth Educator, Youth in Progress, Albany, NY

Trained and paid Foster Care Youth Leaders have the access, credibility and "translation" skills necessary to connect administrators from areas of policy, evaluation, training, workforce development, and practice improvement to the voices of the nearly 27,000 youth in foster care across New York State. Meaningful engagement of Foster Care Youth Leaders provides each leader with service learning and career development experience while providing decision makers with authentic feedback from youth.

It Takes a System to Transition Youth and Young Adults

Mark Kroner, Training Institute Director, Lighthouse Youth Services Inc., Cincinnati, OH

The presenter will describe the components of a comprehensive transition system that has served thousands of youth and young adults for over a 25 year period. Learn what one agency has done to continually upgrade services for both youth aging out of foster care and homeless young adults. Funding, necessary system changes and outcomes will be discussed.

How Do We Know If Our Programs and Services Are Effective?

Robin Nixon, Executive Director, National Foster Care Coalition, Washington, DC

As practitioners, we want to ensure that our services and programs are effective. We hear lots of discussion about evidence-based practice, but do we really know what it is and how to use it in our programs? Workshop participants will have the opportunity to learn about and discuss standards for evidence based practice as well as federal efforts to promote evidence-based practice and policy.

American Bar Association Youth At Risk Commission's Bar-Youth Empowerment Project: Advocacy for Young Adults Aging/Aged Out of Foster Care

Andrea Khoury, Assistant Director of Child Welfare, Project Director, Bar-Youth Empowerment Project
ABA Center on Children and the Law, Washington, DC; David Ambroz, Executive Director, Los Angeles City College Foundation, Board Member, ABA Commission on Youth at Risk, Los Angeles, CA

The American Bar Association Youth at Risk Commission, in partnership with Casey Family Programs and the Eckerd Foundation, has begun an exciting new Bar–Youth Empowerment Project to improve outcomes for youth as they age out of foster care. A central goal of the project is to collaborate with pro bono attorneys and law students to provide legal advice and referrals to youth on the verge of aging out or to youth who have already aged out. Roll-out of the ABA project and strategies on how practitioners might leverage local resources to establish similar work in their own jurisdictions will be discussed.

Building A Virtual One Stop For Youth In Foster Care: Three Local Approaches

Ronald Spangler, Regional Director; Virginia William-Joyce, Senior Manager; Wendell Moore, Program Director, Arbor Education and Training, New York City, NY

This session will explore how to use shrinking resources to expand the range of services to youth transitioning out of foster care, integrating the role of employers with other partners. As state and national program strategies increasingly target the hardest to serve – youth who are in foster care – operators are experimenting with "virtual" one stop approaches that stress personal development services. This workshop will explore approaches underway in Allegheny and Philadelphia Counties and New York City that adapt elements common to foster youth centers.

After Care: Ensuring Successful Independence

Susan Spagnuolo, Director of Technical Assistance, Mid-Atlantic Network for Youth and Family Services, Pittsburgh, PA

Remember how someone that cared about you always made sure you wore a coat when you left for school on a chilly morning? They wanted to make sure you had what you'd need to get through your day. When youth leave our programs, they need a plan that is theirs and that will move them forward toward successful independence. This participatory workshop will explore the elements of effective aftercare planning so youth have a "warm coat" as they move forward.

Thursday May 15, 2008 | Workshop Session II | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Where Do I Go Now? YMCA Center For Young Adults

Julie Jacobson, Associate Director of Young Adult Services; Paul Abodeely, Career Development Coordinator; Zematra Bacom, Assistant Resource Specialist, YMCA Center for Young Adults, Seattle, WA

A new, innovative drop-in/resource center in Seattle, WA serves former and current foster youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness. "The Center" staff provides support to young adults to meet their individualized goals for their education, employment, housing and learning life skills. Community partnerships along with experiential learning, enrichment activities, service learning, leadership skills, cultural and personal identity opportunities, support their transition into adulthood.

Supervising, Motivating And Developing Staff

Jennifer Hitz, Director of Shelter and Independent Living Services, Centre County Youth Service Bureau, State College, PA; Bill Motsavage, Program Director, Valley Youth House, Allentown, PA

This workshop will prepare attendees to develop systems for hiring, evaluating, and supervising staff. Tips on good interview questions, when or when not to follow your gut instincts on staff selection, supervision formats/styles, and employee evaluation tools will all be reviewed and discussed. This workshop is both interactive and informative, with the sole goal to motivate current and future supervisors to be better mentors to staff who spend each day "in the trenches".

Permanence As The Pathway To Adulthood

David Johnston, Life Skills Coordinator; Susan King, Project Manager, Casey Family Services, New Haven, CT; Casey Family Services Alumni and Parents

The growing national awareness of the need for permanence for each youth in the child welfare system pushes us to examine our perceptions of what constitutes permanence, family, and lifelong connections. Through the eyes of two Casey Family Services alumni, their parents, and Casey staff, this workshop will examine the importance of both permanence and preparation for adulthood.

Innovative Approaches In Assisting Transition Aged Youth

Leah Cullen, Esq., Legal Resource Coordinator, KidsVoice, Pittsburgh, PA; JoAnn Heffron-Hanna, Transition Programs Coordinator, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh, PA

This presentation describes new initiatives and partnerships to assist transition aged youth in Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) Pennsylvania. The main focus is assisting youth who wish to attend college or post secondary training, and the conciliation process which supports each youth on an individual basis. The presentation also details new initiatives and enhanced services to this age group.

Teaming to Engage Resources: Public/Private Partnerships To Develop Effective Services For Transitioning Youth

Lane Simpson, Director of Interdependent Living, Department of Children's Services, Nashville, TN; Caroline Hanna, Director of Program Development and Community Support, Youth Villages , Nashville, TN

This workshop will demonstrate how the partnerships of public and private resources in Tennessee have joined to increase permanency options for youth transitioning into adulthood. Both the agency and provider perspectives of blending strengths and identifying good partners will be presented.

The Mental Health Of Vulnerable Youth And Their Transition To Adulthood: Examining The Role Of The Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, And Runaway/Homeless Systems

Dr. Elizabeth Hair, Program Area Director and Senior Research Scientist, Health, Child Trends, Washington, DC

By examining the predictors and outcomes of youth at various levels of risk and by paying particular attention to youth who have come in contact with multiple service systems, this workshop highlights the relationship between service system contact, mental health of youth, and the transition to adulthood.

"Empower, Engage, Educate" — Promoting Independence For Youth/ Building A Successful IL Program

Afrilasia Joseph-Phipps, Independent Living Coordinator/Supervisory Independent Living Specialist; Patty McNally, Supervisory Social Worker; Tracie Nelson, Independent Living Specialist, Child and Family Services Agency,
Washington, DC

This workshop will provide a brief overview on the development of a successful IL program. Strategies and approaches to empower and engage youth to successfully transition from foster care will be identified and discussed.

Hip Hop...A Tool For Engaging Youth

Michael Sanders, Consultant, Club 220, Columbus, OH

This powerful, hard-hitting workshop is designed to assist child welfare professionals, including resource families in developing a better understanding of hip-hop. Participants will be exposed to the idea of using this youth culture as a gateway to bridge cultural and generational gaps and to examine critical issues that impact today's youth. Come see how hip-hop can be an exciting framework to build relationships, assess and teach life skills to youth.

Promoting Resiliency With Youth At Risk

John Amato, Director of Training & Consultation Services, FamilyLinks, Pittsburgh, PA

The focus on resiliency is part of the shift from a deficit-centered view of health emphasizing risk factors, to individuals', families', and communities' capacity to respond and adapt to stressors by creating or utilizing protective factors. The level of resiliency depends on many factors and requires support both internally and externally in order to contribute to healthy development.

Helping At-Risk Youth Educationally: Information that Every ILP and TLP Program Staff and Manager Should Know

Jan Moore, Program Specialist, National Center for Homeless Education, Washington, DC; Gail Arden-Odorcich, Regional Site Coordinator, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Homestead, PA; Myra Powel, Director, Hub Outreach Center, Three Rivers Youth, Pittsburgh, PA

Obtaining educational services continues to be a significant barrier to overcome for at-risk and homeless youth and the programs that support them. Funded by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) serves as a clearinghouse on information for programs and services which seek to remove or overcome educational barriers for homeless and highly mobile youth. This workshop, will provide each participant with (1) an overview of the McKinney-Vento Act, federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness in U.S. public schools, and (2) several ways programs can strengthen their ability to address the educational needs of ILP and TLP youth. Informative publications, best practice models and free program staff trainings that are available through NCHE will be discussed along with helpful strategies to work with local education agencies.

Oklahoma's Employment and Education Initiatives

Nancy Mason, Program Development Specialist; Jessica Dobson, Program Development Specialist,
The University of Oklahoma OUTREACH National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK

Working with the Shared Youth Vision Initiative, Oklahoma has a pilot project that brings together state agencies to provide –training and employment for foster care youth focusing on youth in group homes. The presenters will share tools that were developed and strategies used to accomplish outcomes. Come hear the trials and tribulations of this collaboration as well as the successes and lessons learned.

Workshop Session III | 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Sanctuary Program Model In A TLP Setting: From Residential Milieu To Personal Independence

Dr. Ozella R. Phillips, Clinical Director; Casey Holtschneider, Manager Stable Housing, Teen Living Programs, Chicago, IL

Youth who enter Teen Living Programs' milieu-based, RHY-funded Transitional Living Program find comprehensive, in-house resources are available within a positive youth development philosophy. Transition from this intense community environment to the agency's independent, permanent housing apartment program requires careful, interdisciplinary planning by the entire staff. The principles, design, and practice of residential milieu programming within a Sanctuary Program Model described by Bloom are presented and discussed.

"Keep Your Cool": Helping Youth Resolve Conflict Positively

Daisy Hicks, Youth Policy Associate, National Clearinghouse on Families and Youth, Silver Spring, MD; Dr. Darryl Sanders, Program Director, Sasha Bruce YouthWork, Washington, DC

Young people fight. Teaching them how to resolve their differences peacefully and productively is a crucial part of any youth worker's job. Through role play and discussion, learn strategies to empower young people to avoid conflict and respond appropriately when it arises.

Permanency Makes The Difference!

Erika Leveillee, Senior Education Specialist and Youth in Progress Coordinator, Professional Development Program, University at Albany, Albany, NY; John Amos, Independent Living Program Coordinator, Northeast Parent and Child Society, Schenectady, NY; Naomi Porter, Youth Advocate, Youth in Progress, Albany, NY

Anyone who works with teens knows there is much more to the job description than just providing basic needs. The job demands that you be a teacher of basic life skills, a compassionate listener, a mentor about life's lessons, and much more! New York State Office of Children and Family Services requires that specific services be provided to teens while in foster care regardless of where they live or their permanency goals. This session will prepare participants to provide these services to youth, to help youth achieve permanency and assist youth as they prepare for transition.

Teaching Youth Healthy Relationship Skills: The ACF Family And Youth Services Bureau And Healthy Marriage Initiative Working Together

Pamela Marr, Regional Youth Program Specialist, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Atlanta, GA

This workshop will provide an overview of the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB), Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) programs and Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs as they relate to the ACF Healthy Marriage Initiative (HMI). The focus will be on implementing youth programs that teach healthy relationship skills. Examples of healthy relationship/healthy marriage curricula will be discussed.

Transitions For Youth Summer Housing And Internship Program (TFY–SHIP): Addressing The Needs Of Aging–Out Youth Attending Post-Secondary Educational Programs

Donna Van Alst, Associate Director; Adam Staats, Project Coordinator; Treena Shivers, Project Coordinator,
Institute for Families/School of Social Work, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ

Transitions for Youth Summer Housing Internship Program (TFY-SHIP) provides short term housing, life skills training, internships and recreational activities for New Jersey foster youth that attend post-secondary educational programs and are in need of supportive living arrangements during summer breaks. Come hear about our program and identify strategies you can utilize on your programs.

A Shared Vision for Youth: Serving The Nation's Most Vulnerable Youth Through Collaboration

Clay Finck, Senior Program Development Specialist, The University of Oklahoma National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK

According to a 2003 report by the White House Task Force on Disadvantaged Youth, many of our nation's most vulnerable youth are being overlooked and not receiving the appropriate services needed to thrive. In response, the federal government has begun to promote collaborations among state and federal agencies to provide youth with the resources they need to succeed. This workshop will provide participants with a description of the Shared Vision for Youth and information on the collaborations taking place on a national and state level to serve our most vulnerable youth.

How Public And Private Organizations Can Communicate And Coordinate Care For Vulnerable Youth Transitioning To Adulthood

Donna Sabourin, Executive Director, Community Support and Treatment Services, Ypsilanti, MI; Katie Doyle, Project Director, Communities Empowering Youth, Ozone House Youth and Family Services, Ann Arbor, MI

This workshop will detail how one community coalition of public child welfare and mental health organizations have partnered with private youth-serving and advocacy organizations to achieve systemic improvements and coordinated care for homeless youth and youth aging out of foster care.

How To Engage Difficult Youth In Care And Transition

Shemille Brown, Clinical Coordinator, Children's Guild Group Home Academy, Baltimore, MD

Youth with depression, anxiety, learned helplessness, aggression and explosive behaviors can be difficult to engage and motivate. In this workshop we will explore some of the most challenging behaviors applying what we know about child development, learning and behavior, neuroscience and relationships. Participants will be provided with tools to restock their toolbox for effectively engaging youth with these behaviors. This workshop will be fun, active and informative.

Engaging Youth To Improve Child Welfare Outcomes: CFSR And Youth Involvement

Justin Lee, Practice Improvement Specialist, Pennsylvania Child Welfare Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Mechanicsburg, PA

This workshop will provide participants the ability to hear directly from Pennsylvania youth in and recently discharged from the substitute care system about their participation in Pennsylvania's Child and Family Services Review. Engagement strategies and youth experiences will be discussed related to the statewide self-assessment, focus groups, and the development of a statewide Youth Summit in order to engage other youth in system improvement efforts related to the Program Improvement Plan (PIP).

Helping Native American Youth Build Connections With Their Tribe

Eddie Screechowl, Program Development Specialist; Nancy Mason, Program Development Specialist, The University of Oklahoma National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK

Native Americans are a very diverse group, residing in every State with unique histories. Understanding the barriers of and advantages in connecting Native youth with their tribes can be a difficult process. Participants will be provided with strategies and tools to help Native youth build connections to their tribes.

Workshop Session IV | 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

The Secrets Of Their Success. Positive Youth Development And The Average Joe (And Jane!)

Jamie Lee Evans, Project Coordinator; Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project Trainers, Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project, Bay Area Academy, Oakland, CA

Everyone wants to know how to best serve youth…and while many dynamic and effective programs are practicing it, many do not know much about the theory of positive youth development. Y.O.U.T.H. trainers (current and former foster youth) have developed a fun way to teach child welfare supervisors and the like to identify and better understand the many elements of positive youth development and how to implement it. Join in the fun and hear from the experts of foster care (the youth themselves!) on how positive youth development gives them the boost up needed to transition into adulthood.

Education And Employment Services — Bridging The Gap Between Homelessness And Self-sufficiency

Ruth Nunez, Director of Residential Services, Larkin Street Youth Services, San Francisco, CA

Come hear an overview of a transitional living program for homeless and marginally housed youth. Support services will be discussed with a focus on the education and employment components of the model. Challenges to working with homeless youth and program outcomes will also be discussed.

Enhancing Permanency Solutions For Adolescents: A Holistic & Reflective Approach

Gretchen Hall, Project Director; Michael McManus, Project Director, Center for Adoption Research, Shrewsbury, MA

This session will use a holistic approach to examine positive youth development including brain development and the impact of trauma on the adolescent. We will explore our learned perspectives of adolescents in care and consider promising practices to enhance permanency solutions for adolescents.

Mentoring Youth In Transition

Harry Wilson, Senior Fellow, ICF-Caliber, Fairfax, VA; Vanessa Bistarelli, Senior Consultant, Dare Mighty Things, Inc., Fairfax, VA

Youth transitioning to independence are often searching for support through the "middle ground" between full support and total independence. Research shows when mentors offer knowledge, skill development, emotional support and advocacy; young people will experience better outcomes. This session describes a new initiative launched by the Federal Mentoring Council to mentor 3000 young people in transition from Foster Care and RHY services to independence. The audience will be given an opportunity to provide feedback on this challenging opportunity and help frame subsequent phases of the initiative.

The Youth Advisory Board: A Unique Look Into The Foster Care System Through The Eyes Of Current And Former Foster Youth

Jennifer Staley, Team Supervisor; William Petulla, Staff Attorney, KidsVoice, Pittsburgh, PA; Steven Freas, Service Coordinator, The Bridge of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

This workshop will provide a one of a kind experience into the lives of current and former foster youth. The youth will provide valuable insight into their lives i.e. how they got into the system, what they would change, what worked and how they and the audience can help youth transition. They will provide an explanation of the Youth Advisory Board and how they are able to advocate for change in the child welfare system.

Coming Of Age: Employment Outcomes For Youth Who Age Out Of Foster Care Through Their Middle Twenties

Jennifer Macomber, Senior Research Associate; Daniel Kuehn, Research Assistant, The Urban Institute, Washington, DC

This study, sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services. uses linked child welfare, unemployment insurance, and TANF administrative data to assess the employment outcomes of foster youth who age out of care. The key finding is that these youth continue to experience low rates of employment and earning into their mid twenties, compared to youth nationally, and low income youth. Trajectory analyses identified four patterns of youth connectedness to the workforce from age 16 to 24, suggesting that subgroups of youth may have different employment related issues and needs.

Promising Practices Addressing Disproportionality

Clay Finck, Senior Program Development Specialist, The University of Oklahoma, National Child Welfare Resource Center for Youth Development, Tulsa, OK

Disproportionality refers to the situation in which a particular group is over or under represented than their representation in the general population. When disproportionality occurs within the child welfare system does it affect the services received while in care? Are there greater numbers of placements and moves? Do some children receive inferior treatment while in care? Overall do these groups fare worse than other children. Are they less skilled and prepared for adulthood? This interactive workshop will look at disproportionality as an indicator of the functioning of the child welfare system and explore ways we can ensure that every child receives fair and equitable care and support.

Helping The Teen Parent Transition To Adulthood

Laura Johnson, Emancipated Youth, Lorain County Children Services, Elyria, OH

This workshop will offer suggestions on what teen parents need to succeed. The presenter has first hand knowledge and will offer raw, candid advice to the audience. Participants will also learn about resources and tools for teen parents to prepare them for transition into adulthood.

State Solutions To Support Youth In Transition

Rachel Demma, Senior Legislative Associate; Jody Grutza, Legislative Associate, American Public Human Services Association, Washington, DC

National data collected by APHSA and NAPCWA illustrates that states are utilizing innovative programming, funding, and cross-system collaboration to support youth in transition. We will highlight state activity in five areas of support including permanency; education; health, medical, and disabilities; housing; and employment. Participants will also become familiar with federal legislation that would further support these efforts.

Focus on Foster Care: Employment and Casey Family Programs 2020 Vision

Eric Steiner, Employment Advisor, Casey Family Programs ,Seattle, WA

This session features an introduction to Casey's 2020 Vision, with specific attention to employment. The presenter will review recent research on youth employment programs initially funded by the US Department of Labor in New
York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, and Houston. Join us for an informative discussion of select program models that are improving employment outcomes for youth in foster care. The session will also feature Casey Family Programs 2020 Vision video as a discussion-starter.

Friday, May 16, 2008 | Workshop Session V | 10:15 am – 11:45 am

Creating Connections And Permanency: Eco–Maps And Relationship Mapping

Tonya Glantz, Clinical Training Specialist, Rhode Island Child Welfare Institute, Providence, RI

This training explores a model of visual life mapping with youth who are involved with child welfare and are in need of connections to their past and supportive adults for their future. The model builds on Youth Development Principles and mapping approaches as tools for youth empowerment and planning.

Bringing It Together For Youth: Integrating Mental Health, Alcohol And Drug, And Medical Services
For Youth In Need

Heather Brown, Director of Youth Services, Outside In, Portland, OR; Eric Van Houten, New Roads Program Director, Looking Glass Youth & Family Services, Eugene, OR; Favor Ellis, Program Supervisor, Janus-Willamette Bridge Programs, Portland, OR

At-risk, runaway and homeless youth do not compartmentalize their multiple needs for support. Innovative programs collaboratively integrate these services across multiple organizations and service systems. Learn about the successful partnerships of two best practice programs.

Transition Aged Youth — What Youth Want and What We Do — Two Program Models

Correnda Perkins, Clinical Social Worker; Emily Rankin, Clinical Social Worker, Bay Area Youth Centers, Hayward, CA

Bay Area Youth Center provides a continuum of care to transition-aged youth in our group homes, our transitional living program for youth still in care and our program for emancipated youth. We will present the models for our two transitional living programs with an analysis of what youth say they want, what we provide, how it all works and what our outcomes have been to date.

Anger, Decision Making, And The Steps To Change

Lee White, President, Northwest Media, Inc., Eugene, OR

While empowering youth to be successful in transitioning to independent living, programs can not ignore the anger factor. Anger and frustration can quickly lose a job; cause an eviction from a living situation; or lead to incarceration. This workshop will explore how agencies can educate youth about decision making and their options to anger. Topics include a review of the six steps it takes to change a behavior and how this applies to decision making and the anger cycle. We will also explore how to teach youth supportive tools for options to anger including using "I" statements and positive self-talk.

Working With Young Men In Foster Care

Travis Cronin, Clinician, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Caldwell, ID; Don Sears, Centennial Job Corps, Nampa, ID

This presentation will discuss the current collaboration amongst agencies in Idaho seeking to address critical issues such as sexual promiscuity, homelessness, and violence. This presentation will also explore the perspectives of the agencies involved as well as the youth the services are designed to assist. This presentation will provide opportunity to exchange ideas for moving forward amongst the participants.

Young Women With Disabilities Take Charge: Self-Directed Career Planning To Employment

Dr. Wendy Parent, Research Associate Professor, Center on Developmental Disabilities, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

This session will describe an approach that enables young women with disabilities in transition to obtain employment in non-traditional occupations. Modules promoting self-directed career choice will be presented along with preliminary data and stories illustrating their effectiveness. Participants attending will acquire knowledge to improve potential outcomes for young women.

Big Town Issues With Small Town Youth

Kathy Suave, Youth Services Program Manager; Justin Beaulieau, Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota, Brainerd, MN

Participants will have the opportunity to participate in an interactive workshop geared for providers or youth workers who work with rural youth. The workshop will focus on identifying and understanding barriers as well as not allowing those barriers to hold down the youth with whom they work. Participants will hear first hand how a youth overcame many barriers as he tried to make it on his own by reading his story. Participants will be able to look closely at their rural areas and identify barriers and problem solve on how they can overcome those barriers.

Ways A Public University Can Collaborate With Private And Public Child Welfare Providers To Assist Current And Former Foster Youth.

Alishea Hawkins, Program Coordinator, Guardian Scholars Program, Social Science Research Center; Kelley Stedman, Program Assistant, Independent Living, Social Science Research Center, Ball State University, Muncie, IN

Ball State University Social Science Research Center has developed partnerships with public and private child welfare agencies to provide opportunities for current and former foster youth. We will cover the Guardian Scholars Program, a support program for former foster youth pursuing post-secondary education. How a public university organizes and facilitates three statewide youth conferences and computer workshops for foster youth will also be discussed.

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