CMHACY 2008 Pre-Conference Agenda
CMHACY has obtained two speakers of such relevance and power that we will present one unified Pre-Conference so that everyone, family members, advocates, county staff, and private providers, can attend. Derek Peterson and Larry Brendtro are at the cutting edge, they are dynamic speakers, published authors, and well established effective advocates and innovators for services to children and youth.
Tuesday, May 6
1:00 – 4:00 pm · Derek Peterson
Derek Peterson, Executive Director of the Institute for Community and Adolescent Resilience, founder of Integrative Youth Development (IYD), and author of Helping Kids Succeed – Alaskan Style, has been a long time advocate for young people, beginning in high school, when he started and ran a youth center. While he was Director of Child/Youth Advocacy for the Association of Alaska School Boards he developed the IYD model, and led a team that raised over 16 million dollars for a statewide initiative for children, youth, and communities. In addition to this long term funding, tens of millions more were redirected within partner agencies to support the vision of connection rich kids. Alaska Drug and Alcohol Prevention Community has recognized him as the “Prevention Professional of the Year” and the Alaska Principal’s Association honored him as their “Educator of the Year”. Today Derek works for numerous communities and school districts throughout the world and is on the staff of the International Institute for Children’s’ Rights and Development in Victoria, Canada. He guides efforts to merge traditional ways of knowing and traditional values with IYD.
4:00 p.m. · Reception for New Family Members
In collaboration with the Family Partnership Council of California (FPCC), and United Advocates for Children and Families (UACF), CMHACY is honored to host a reception for family members who are new to CMHACY. Family members are invited to attend the reception and share their CMHACY experiences with those who are new to CMHACY. A panel of family members will talk about the history of the family partnership movement in California and the significant role that CMHACY has played. Food and beverages will be served.
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. · UACF Board and Membership Meeting
United Advocates for Children and Families launched a new initiative called ExCEL: Excellence for our Children, Educators and Leaders. ExCEL's primary objective is to create the largest network of family members, advocates and parent partners in the State. Our membership will vote-in new members and provide updates on ExCEL. UACF looks forward to feedback and hearing what issues are important to our membership and how we can move forward addressing the needs of families, children and youth. UACF and its public policy conduit, the Regional Family Network, look forward to meeting you and sharing our common cause.
Wednesday, May 7
9:00 am – noon · Larry Brendtro - Reclaiming Youth at Risk
Larry K. Brendtro, co-editor of Reclaiming Children and Youth, a journal on strength based interventions with youth at risk, and member of the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, has trained professionals in 16 countries and has authored over one hundred fifty publications including, Reclaiming Youth at Risk: Our Hope for the Future.
With families in stress and schools struggling we must, in order to rear caring, responsible children, meet basic needs for Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity - the Circle of Courage. Both tribal wisdom about rearing children and research on modern youth development point to these factors as essential for children to grow and thrive. This session will show how schools, families, and communities are using these Circle of Courage principles as a birthright for all children and a blueprint for reclaiming troubled children at risk.