Presentation formats we’ll feature at Convention, as well as the five learning strands

Supporting the Whole Child: Workshops

Access Federal Funds to Sustainably Nourish Youth

Looking for sustainable funds to support your youth programs? Learn how to access federal funding through the USDA Child Nutrition Programs. FRAC and YMCA of the USA will share ideas on sustainability and community partnerships to help you serve healthy meals and alleviate the growing issue of child hunger.

Presented by: Signe Anderson, Senior Child Nutrition Policy Analyst, Food Research and Action Center; Stacey McDaniel, Technical Advisor, Food and Nutrition Support Program, YMCA of the USA
Addressing Hunger and Creating Connected Communities

This session will explore opportunities to leverage USDA child nutrition programs in summer to keep kids healthy, build creative community partnerships and offset program costs. Learn practical strategies based on experiences in California that demonstrate how public libraries, afterschool programs, schools and other community partners can come together to support the health of children and youth while creating more connected communities when school is out. Learn about citywide efforts in Washington DC and opportunities to create effective out-of-school time infrastructure and how to work successfully with partners.

Presented by: Carla Chinavare, Director of Youth and Family Programs, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency; Rebecca DuBois, Youth Program Site Manager, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency; Aderika McClain, Youth Program Site Manager, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency; Brienn Schafranek, Youth Program Site Manager, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency
Assessing Social-Emotional Skills with the DESSA

Social and emotional skills are essential for your students’ success. You can play an important role in promoting these skills. Learn how to screen and assess social-emotional skills, implement strategies to build skills and evaluate outcomes with the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment (DESSA). This workshop can help you improve outcomes for your students.

Presented by: Jennifer Fleming, Research Associate, Devereux Center for Resilient Children; Paul LeBuffe, Director, Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Boys will be Boys: Tools to Reach and Teach Young Men

In this fast and example filled workshop, participants will learn about specific techniques and methods to connect with and retain the young men in our communities. We will focus on not only traditional afterschool applications such as attendance, behavior management, etc., but will also provide innovative ways to engage young men through gaming, competition, music, movies and more! Do not miss this application filled workshop!

Presented by: Eric Rowles, CEO and President, Leading To Change
Breaking through to Their Hurting Hearts

Afterschool unites hearts of all conditions; from the solid, to the cracked, to the broken. Afterschool professionals hold the delicate task of meeting each heart. During this session, participants will hear the stories of four students and how afterschool professionals worked hard to break through to their hurting hearts.

Presented by: Vicki Bruce, Extended Day Program Site Director, Vestavia Hills City Schools
Building the Foundation for Future Reading Success

Discover Nemours BrightStart! The Complete Program for Early Literacy Success, a supplemental curriculum that delivers differentiated instruction to at-risk, emerging readers. Explore developmentally appropriate instructional practices and teaching strategies that move diverse, young learners towards reading success.

Presented by: Vera Meyerholtz, Instructional Designer, Nemours BrightStart!
Changing the Outlook of a Generation: Energy Balan

Through its Together Countsâ„¢ program, The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) provides free Energy Balance 101 curriculum and supportive wellness resources in the fight against obesity. Aligned to national education standards including Head Start programs, find out how Energy Balance is used in afterschool enrichment programs across the United States, in Scouting and as part of numerous community organizations.

Through a hands-on walk through of our website, videos, widgets and tools, we’ll share impactful stories about change and demonstrate how to easily implement energy balance’”balancing calories consumed through food and beverages with calories expended through activity’”in your afterschool program.
Presented by: Val Newcomb, Digital Program Manager, Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation; Susan Ralston, Senior Advisor, Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation
Classroom Management Made Easy: Transition Tricks!

Back by popular demand! Join this fun, interactive workshop and learn basic program management techniques, attention getters, songs and games that will keep your kids engaged while transitions occur. This workshop is a must for new teachers! Each participant will walk away with a template of transition cards ready for immediate classroom use!

Presented by: Gretchen Yeager, Director of Quality and Accreditation, Champions-Knowledge Universe
Creative Youth Development = Empowered Youth

Creative youth development programs provide meaningful arts and humanities learning opportunities for young people while also building personal, social and intellectual capacities to succeed in school, career and life. This session will explore best practices in the field through the lens of National Arts and Humanities Youth Program award-winning programs.

Presented by: Traci Slater-Rigaud, Director, National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Awards, President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Demystifying the Effects of Bullying

Demystifying the Effects of Bullying is intended for teachers, program leaders, school administrators, parents and students. Using an interactive approach gives the participants the opportunity to encounter the effects of bullying from different levels. The techniques used identify and demystify the effects of bullying in an educated way.

Presented by: Simeaka Melton, President, Rising Above Expectations Youth Services, Inc.
DIY Projects to Help Kids Eat Better and Move More

This hands-on session will provide you with creative activities and resources to get your kids and staff up and moving. Alignment with the NAA Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards will be emphasized.

Presented by: Daniel Hatcher, National Out-of-School Time Advisor, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Enhancing Executive Function and Regulation Skills

Executive function and self-regulation skills help children remember information to complete a task, control impulses and sustain attention. These skills help children be successful in all areas: school, home and extra-curricular. All children can develop these skills but program leaders need to know what they are and how afterschool can help. Learn how to plan activities to develop these skills in school age children (ages 5-12) in your program.

Presented by: Alice Hall, Associate Professor, Georgia Southern University
Facing Your Fear Factor

Including children with disabilities in child and youth development programs can be very challenging, but nothing is more rewarding than witnessing a child make a friend, enjoy a game or experience an accomplishment. This highly-interactive workshop will allow participants to face the fears involved in inclusion (I was not trained for this! I do not know what to do! I do not know anything about that disability!) through activities designed to promote an understanding of inclusion and how to support children with disabilities.

Presented by: Jeremy Crisp, Program Manager, Washington DC Metro Area, Kids Included Together
Flying Squirrels and Magic Girls

Today's children are growing up in a complex world full of serious stressors. One of the most critical needs of school age children is emotional resilience, which is a complex challenge for our profession. Traveling through powerful stories including Kate Di Camillo's Flora and Ulysses, Roald Dahl's Matilda, Dr. Seuss's the Zax and Judith Viorst' Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible...we will explore how stories help children safely process complex emotional ideas. Participants will also engage in fun and creative hands-on activities that will help inspire and reinforce these valuable concepts for the kids we serve.

Presented by: Melody Griffin, Executive Enrichment Director, Junior Academy Children's Centers
Got Grit? Ingredients for Student Success

This session outlines strategies for teaching grit skills to students and staff. A psychological concept-phrase, grit is the acquisition of character skills, perseverance and work ethic virtues. Participants will review pros and cons of the grit movement, research findings, implications for school partnerships and strategies for closing student achievement gaps.

Presented by: Paul Young, College Professor, Ohio University-Lancaster
Managing Student Behavior in Afterschool

Managing student behavior in the more relaxed atmosphere of afterschool can be a challenge. Learn how to motivate and inspire students by weaving positive character development messages into daily interactions with youth and how to respond to discipline situations in a manner that leaves youth understanding the need for corrections while feeling respected.

Presented by: Julio Dejo, After-School Specialist, Lanier Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools; Michael Thomas, After-School Specialist, Herndon Middle School, Fairfax County Public Schools
Meet HEPA: Experiential Learning and Skill-Building

Participate in an interactive Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards overview and deep dive. Through hands-on practice using tools and resources, participants will strengthen skills and gain new ones to achieve successful implementation. The session includes facilitated discussions, demonstrations and peer-learning to increase confidence in advancing HEPA throughout any organization. Interactive components include role playing, games, label reading, food prep tips and tricks and more.

Presented by: Lauren Marciszyn, Technical Advisor, YMCA of the USA; Kristy McCarron, Healthy Eating Specialist, YMCA of Metropolitan Washington

Mentoring Youth Beyond the Bell

Discover how the Shooting Stars group mentoring program leverages school and community connections to support young men in their social and emotional growth through relationship-building, group bonding and physical activity. Learn from the experts as middle school youth engage session participants in a lively, interactive session from their own perspective.

Presented by: Khadija Barkley, Principal, Roberto Clemente Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools; Lynn Sobolov, Excel Beyond the Bell Manager, Montgomery County Collaboration Council
One Size Does Not Fit All Programming

Practitioners will be able to create an afterschool program that will identify and target individual students' needs. Various examples will be provided on how to address students' social, emotional and physical needs in a way that works for their individual cognitive developmental level, and best addresses their learning styles.

Presented by: Lesley Greever, Program Coordinator, HCDE - CASE for Kids; Holly Treece, Program Coordinator, HCDE - CASE for Kids
Promoting Healthy Behavior in Afterschool Settings

Afterschool programs have the power to improve children’s health by providing opportunities for physical activity and promoting healthy eating. Learn how Healthy U, a program of the NJ YMCA State Alliance, is using the CATCH curriculum to teach nutrition, increase physical activity, engage parents and implement Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards in afterschool programs statewide. During this interactive workshop, participants will also learn classroom management skills for leading physical activity breaks with different age groups and strategies for engaging students in nutrition learning activities.

Presented by: Sue Cornell, Healthy U Director, New Jersey YMCA State Alliance
Rituals that Grow Belonging and Membership

A sense of belonging and membership is a developmental cornerstone of successful youth programming. Join us as we explore the variety of rituals that can foster that outcome - whether it's at the open and close of a program day or in previewing and reflection to solidify learning.

Presented by: Peter Guttmacher, Director of Programming and Curricula Development, The DC Trust for Youth
Sex Ed 2.0: Simple Solutions for After School

Come hang out with your Besties & Bros*, learn some Wacky Facts* and explore your Great (S)Expectations!* for implementing sex education after school! (*name of a super fun, interactive activity we will share during the workshop that is easy for even a novice sexuality educator to use.)

Presented by: Lindsay Fram, Curriculum Development Coordinator, Carrera Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Program
Skills Building is Easier than You Think

In this session you will learn how program activities can be more focused on skills, learning and social-emotional development that lead to better youth outcomes. Program staff will learn some practical ways to be more intentional in how they structure activities that lead to these outcomes.

Presented by: Joann Avant, Technical Advisor, YMCA of the USA; Michelle Rodriguez, Technical Advisor, YMCA of the USA; Peter Sari, Project Manager, YMCA of the USA
Social-Emotional Competence: Critical for Success

Increasing attention is being placed on the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL) as a foundation for children’s school and life success. SEL programs have been found to improve children’s attitudes, behaviors and interactions; decrease problem behaviors; and be associated with improvements in academic performance. This workshop will provide participants with an overview of SEL, describe the benefits of promoting SEL and share ways program staff can support SEL in out-of-school time programs.

Presented by: Jennifer Fleming, Research Associate, Devereux Center for Resilient Children; Paul LeBuffe, Director, Devereux Center for Resilient Children
Teacher Tested and Kid Approved: Movement Mania

Get ready for an exciting adventure with innovative curriculum! With the implementation of math, reading and writing content during movement there will be success for your early learners. By blending core subjects with physical activity, you will educate the whole child’s body and mind. Come and see strategies for increasing cognitive performance, concentration and spatial memory through the use of these instant activities!

Presented by: Cherie Harrington, Training Coordinator and Trainer, Focused Fitness
The Afterschool and Community School Connection

A community school is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academics, services, supports and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Comprehensive afterschool programs that have strong community partners can be a foundation for developing a community school, and strong community schools rely on quality afterschool programs to provide a host of student and community services. A panel of policy experts will lead an interactive discussion covering community school development, federal funding and support for community schools, and the unique role of afterschool programs in community school success.

Presented by: Mary Kingston-Roche, Public Policy Manager, Coalition for Community Schools; Erik Peterson, Vice President of Policy, Afterschool Alliance; Elena Rocha, Director, Youth Development Partnerships and Policy, YMCA of the USA
The Socio-Emotional Needs of English Learners

Through interactive activities, this workshop will help expand our definition of English learner success to go beyond English acquisition, deepen our understanding of the English learner experience and will share research-based strategies to address socio-emotional needs of English learner students.

Presented by: Jimena Quiroga Hopkins, Co-Executive Director, Development Without Limits West
Walk the Talk: Positive Youth Development in 2014

Youth development, or positive youth development are hardly new terms or ideas, but there is strikingly little agreement about what they mean and how you doÂ_ them. This session features a mash-up of history, stories and discussion to help get participants comfortable talking the talk and walking the walk.

Presented by: Zachary Mural, Director of Private Schools and OST Programs, Minnieland Academy
What You Can Do for Your Country

Could you pass the U.S. citizenship test? How do we engage youth in civics so they one day could? More important, how do we influence students to take positive interest and action locally, nationally or globally in civic causes important to them, especially when many schools are not focusing on this area? Participants will explore through activities and discussion ways to excite young people in becoming knowledgeable and better citizens, all with a little Schoolhouse Rock style.

Presented by: Tara Farquhar, Registry Coach and Trainer, Prime Time Palm Beach County