50th ANNUAL
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING CONFERENCE
The Association of NYS Youth Bureau is pleased to share the agenda for our Annual Youth Development Leadership Training Conference. The 50th annual conference will take place IN-PERSON at The Marriott Albany in Albany, NY on November 3-4, 2022.
Preliminary Agenda
Thursday, November 3, 2022
All sessions pending approval to provide SACC credit.
10:00am – 11:30am
Concurrent Sessions
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1. Municipal Youth Bureau: Back to Basics
Cynthia Alvarez, Youth Development Specialist, Youth Development and Partnership for Success, Bureau of Youth Development, NYS OCFS
Phillip Jones, Youth Development Specialist, Youth Development and Partnership for Success, Bureau of Youth Development, NYS OCFS
Jennifer Mims, Youth Development Specialist, Youth Development and Partnership for Success, Bureau of Youth Development, NYS OCFS
Join Youth Bureau Directors and representatives from the NYS Office of Children and Family Services to engage in a dialogue about the role and opportunities for Youth Bureaus. This session is designed for newer Youth Bureau directors however, all are invited to attend to share their practices and refresh on issues of importance for youth development.
2. Local Youth Bureau Roundtable
Facilitator: Frank Williams, Executive Director, City of White Plains Youth Bureau
John Trojanowsky, Executive Director, Town of Lancaster Youth Bureaus
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Join local youth bureaus to discuss issues of importance for youth development in local communities. Bring your best practices, challenges and opportunities to share with your colleagues!
3. Supporting the Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth
Kate Shanks-Booth, Director of Youth Services Department, Tompkins County
James Norrs, School and Youth Development Coordinator, Madison County Youth Bureau/Department of Social Services
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There is a need to increase the awareness of youth development professionals to serve LGBTQ+ children, youth, and families. Terminology, key concepts and cultural awareness related to sexual orientation and gender identity expression is important for positive youth development. Join and learn how to best serve LGBTQ+ children, youth and families.
11:45am - 1:30pm
Keynote Presentation & Networking Lunch
Silver Linings...and how to find them
Jeremy Butler, Chief Administrative Officer, ICAN & Event Specialist, Grand Dynamics International (GDI)
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The pandemic was a collective trauma that impacted so many of us in completely different ways. In any crisis, there are always two elements present, Danger and...Opportunity. During difficult times it can be challenging to find those "silver linings". This interactive Keynote address will talk about various strategies that can help anyone find the silver lining in most situations.
About the Keynote:
JEREMY D. BUTLER has spent more than 20 years working in the behavioral health field and is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for ICAN. ICAN is nonprofit provider of innovative home and community based interventions in Upstate New York.
Butler earned a bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from Syracuse University in 2000. He is a 2019 Graduate from Leadership Mohawk Valley, the current Co-Chair of the Mohawk Valley Regional Youth Justice Team and a former past President of the Oneida County Youth Services Council.
Butler began working for ICAN in 2017. He currently serves in the role as Chief Administrative Officer, where he oversees the agency’s Quality Improvement, ICAN’s Independent Practice Association, Community Education and Training as well as ICAN’s School Based Services. Previously, he served as the Director of Community Initiatives where he has helped to expand
Butler began working for ICAN in 2017. He currently serves in the role as Chief Administrative Officer, where he oversees the agency’s Quality Improvement, ICAN’s Independent Practice Association, Community Education and Training as well as ICAN’s School Based Services. Previously, he served as the Director of Community Initiatives where he has helped to expand ICAN’s School-Based, Juvenile Justice and Community Education and Training services. In that time, he served as the organizations Lead Trainer where he designed, developed and delivered over 225 trainings at the local, State and National level. He holds multiple certifications in a variety of training disciplines ranging from Cornell University’s Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI), Mental Health First Aid for Youth (MHFA), Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP), Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS), Peer Mediation, to Screening of Persons through Observational Techniques (SPOT) through Louisiana State University among many others.
Butler has spent the bulk of his career building high performing teams with 11 years as a former Chief Program Officer for a school-based nonprofit organization, another 7 years working for another nonprofit providing a variety of supports in both Residential and Therapeutic Foster Care settings. Additionally, he is a current Teacher for Madison Oneida BOCES and an Event Specialist for Grand Dynamics International, where he helps to lead the design, delivery and implementation of EPIC Leadership Experiences from coast to coast, with some of the most prestigious companies in the world.
Butler has a passion for the outdoors and has spent more than 16 years providing Adventure Based Experiential Learning and Leadership Development for groups on various high ropes challenge courses located throughout the Adirondack Mountain Region.
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Jeremy and his wife, Lisa reside in Whitesboro, NY with their daughter, Madison. The Butler’s also have a grown son, Brendan who is the father of their two grandchildren, Carson and Callie. In their downtime, the Butlers continue their unending quest to seek Adventure in all its forms, whether that be hiking the nearest mountain, indulging their passion for travel or simply by making the most out of every experience they are able to share with their family and friends.
1:30pm – 2:45pm
Concurrent Sessions
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1. We Are Family: How to Effectively Integrate Parent Participation and Engagement into the After-School Model
Kevin Richtback, Multi-Site Supervisor, NIA Community Services Network
Shanelle Jenkins, Program Director, NIA Community Services Network
In this interactive workshop, after-school professionals will examine different strategies to incorporate parents and guardians into the after-school culture. Plan on sharing with your after-school colleagues some of your practices in this area as well!
2. Setting the Foundation for Authentic Connection
Cody Robinson-Bullock, Youth Bureau Director, Schoharie County Youth Bureau
Kaitlyn Schultz, Youth Program Coordinator Assistant, Schoharie County Youth Bureau
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This session will discuss ways to create interactive spaces that foster connection, ways to empower youth to become leaders and self-advocates, and strategies for youth to manage stress.
3. Post Pandemic Trends in Youth Substance Use - #1 Vaping
Karen Marcum, Youth Bureau Director, Jefferson County Youth Bureau
Tammie Nabywaniec, Project Director, The Youth Alliance
The workshop will use updated national, statewide and county specific data to reflect current trends in substance use. There will be substantial time focusing on the new generation of vape devices and substances (not the JUUL!). Despite regulations on selling flavored vapes in NYS, the primary substances almost always are sold “flavored” and in local smoke shops and online. Youth have significant access to these devices due to minimal age verification, lack of resources for selling enforcement and a general misunderstanding of the substance in the device. The devices are very discreet and inexpensive.
The presenter has presented on this topic to over 1000 community members including local, statewide and national organizations and leaders. The Youth Alliance is a youth led, youth focused coalition focusing on the delay and reduction in substance use for 9-25 years of age.
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4. ICAN Connect: The Power of Connection in Protecting our Mental Health
Jeremy Butler, Chief Administrative Officer, ICAN & Event Specialist, Grand Dynamics International (GDI)
The past few years have presented significant challenges for many of us in a variety of ways, which has exacerbated the growing rates of people struggling to manage their own mental health and the mental health of those around them. As we begin to work our way back to our "new now", it's important for us to better understand the critical role that social connection plays in protecting our mental health. In this experiential workshop, participants will be encouraged to explore how the pandemic has impacted their own social connections and begin the process of re-connecting with one another in new and impactful ways.
3:00pm – 3:15pm
Break
3:15pm – 4:30pm
Concurrent Sessions
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1. The Authenticity Compass: A Tool for Achieving Success in School & Life
Pamela Bond, BS, MS, Retired VP of Customer Experience-Fidelity Investments; Author-The Authenticity Compass, The Authenticity Compass, LLC
Join this interactive session that teaches attendees how to improve their relationships and consistently make the best choices available to them. Author of The Authenticity Compass will share tools and techniques for you to achieve your fullest potential.
2. Agitated to Elevated, A Transformational Program for Youth
Leah Gooch, Founder/Teacher, The Gooch School
Agitated to Elevated is a trauma-sensitive workshop that provides participants with a holistic approach towards gaining self-awareness. The presenter will guide participants through breathing exercises, gentle mindful movements, and meditation that increases oxygenated blood flow to the brain and muscles, improve focus, and cultivates a safe space to explore contemplative questions through writing. Participants will leave with a renewed sense and access to their inner wisdom. Cost efficient tools and resources will be offered based on Gooch’s 15 years of teaching in NYC public schools, prisons, jail, juvenile detention centers, community centers and retreat centers. All levels are welcome!
3. Changing the Youth Development Program Calendar Year
​Moderator: Rebecca Robarge, Saratoga County Youth Bureau
Nina Aledort, Ph.D., MSW, Deputy Commissioner, Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success, NYS OCFS
Matt Beck, Director of Bureau of Youth Development, Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success, NYS OCFS
Bailey Gardiner, Schenectady County Connects
Niki DeMatteo, Schenectady County Connects
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Join your colleagues and representatives from OCFS to discuss proposed change in funding year for the Youth Development Program (YDP). We will hear from OCFS on this proposed change and discuss how shifting the funding process may benefit the youth bureau and claiming.
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4. Quality Self-Assessment: How to Use the QSA
Timothy Fowler, Professional Development Director, New York State Network for Youth Success, TTAP Professional Development Specialist
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Learn how to reflect on your practice and your program with the Quality Self-Assessment (QSA) tool. This workshop will introduce participants to the tool, including how to use it to promote continuous quality improvement. This session will include engaging activities to model key parts of the process. This workshop will cover how the QSA is structured and how to complete it.
4:45pm – 5:30pm
ANYSYB Annual Meeting of the Corporation
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Dinner on Your Own
Friday, November 4, 2022
8:00am – 9:00am
Breakfast
9:00am - 10:00am
Understanding Trauma: Supporting students and staff through a collective trauma
Jeremy Butler, Chief Administrative Officer, ICAN & Event Specialist, Grand Dynamics International (GDI)
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This session will focus on helping participants to better understand the dynamics of trauma and how trauma impacts ourselves and the children we work with. We will discuss how the current collective trauma we are all experiencing through this pandemic might manifest itself in new and challenging behaviors with the children, their families and even ourselves. Participants will learn about the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) study and how ACES contribute to long term negative outcomes for individuals.
10:00am- 10:15am
Break
10:15am – 11:30am
Concurrent Sessions
1. DEIB Best Practices: Addressing Our Biases When Working with Youth
Inaudy Gil Esposito, Executive Director, Orange County Human Rights
Paula McMillan-Perez, Founder/Coaching Director, Personalize Your Coaching
In this workshop, participants develop a common understanding of implicit and explicit bias and explore ways to unlearn bias. The workshop explores different types of biases and challenges participants to consider their own identities and biases and the potential impact in their interactions with youth and their families.
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2. The Community Schools Optimal Health Initiative: An Illustration of Data, Systems, and Practices
Ryan Heath, Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Jay Roscup, Director, Wayne County Community Schools
In Wayne and Onondaga counties, the Community Schools Optimal Health Initiative fosters student physical and social-emotional health through a community schools’ model. This presentation will illustrate several multisector strategies, including our use of data (academic, social and risk/protective factors), systems (braided funding, multi-tiered systems of support), and practices (trauma-informed, evidence-based). Participants will reflect and connect lessons to their own agencies and programs.
3. Raising the Lower Age of Juvenile Delinquency
Mike Gray, Executive Director, Washington County Alternative Sentencing/ Youth Bureau,
Lynn Tubbs Director, Bureau of Cross System Supports, Division of Youth Development and Partnerships for Success, NYS OCFS
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Join our colleagues at the NYS Office for Children and Family Services and YB representatives to learn more about Raising the Lower Age of Juvenile Delinquency and STSJP. This session will take a cross-systems approach to responding to the needs of children and families.
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4. Coaching as Supervision
Timothy Fowler, Professional Development Director, New York State Network for Youth Success, TTAP Professional Development Specialist
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Bring learning, growth, and development to your team with low- and no-cost techniques. Experience approaches to on-the-job learning that can help you and your team level-up together. Explore peer learning approaches, including Action Reflection Learning and Authenticity Circles, as ways to turn daily work with youth into real opportunities for personal professional development and team cohesion. These approaches can be applied to coaching, staff meetings, problem-solving, and other situations related to running high-quality programs. Participants will focus on practicing techniques, giving them a chance to try these approaches out. Be prepared to talk about your real-world challenges and receive feedback with solutions for addressing them.
11:30am – 11:45am
Break
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11:45am – 1:00pm
Concurrent Sessions
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1. National Service Ride & Service Learning Fairs
Michael Bark, Youth Program Technician, Orange County Youth Bureau
Christopher Holshek, Colonel, U.S. Army Civil Affairs (Ret.), National Service Ride
What do Motorcycles, Veterans, High Schools, Youth Bureaus, and Volunteer Organizations all have in common? They all have partnered to bring the interactive, high value, low-cost Service Learning Fairs to high school students. Designed to fit the growing educational community service requirements of schools; veterans discuss the value of civic engagement, then students engage with a variety of volunteer agencies. This workshop will discuss how to bring these events into your area schools.
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2. Applying Research on Out-of-School Time to Your Grant-Writing, Advocacy, and Evaluation
Ryan Heath, Assistant Professor, Syracuse University
Research suggests that programs during out-of-school time (OST; extracurricular, afterschool, expanded learning and summer programs) support both academic and social-emotional learning. However, OST programs are also criticized never truly “proving” their impact on youth. This presentation will update participants on the latest research on OST. Participants will receive materials to apply the content to their own grant-writing, advocacy or program evaluation at their own agencies and programs.
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3. Sport Funding Initiatives: Sharing Best Practices!
Facilitator: Tina Louis, Director, Madison County Youth Bureau
Rebecca Robarge, Director, Saratoga County Youth Bureau
Daniel C. Calkins, Executive Director, Genesee-Orleans County Youth Bureau
Daycia Clarke, Director, Project Play WNY/Youth Sports Initiatives, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Cody Robinson-Bullock, Executive Director, Schoharie County Youth Bureau
Galen Gomes Sr. Ed.D., Associate Commissioner, NYS OCFS
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Join your colleagues and hear about creative programs and services supported by the youth sports initiative. Representatives from OCFS, youth bureaus and community-based organizations will share their innovative initiatives, what’s working and opportunities to enhance youth sport services and programs. Come bring your ideas, share and learn!