Session A Monday, April 20, 1-2:45 pm
Session B Monday, April 20, 3:15-5 pm

Session C Tuesday, April 21, 10:45 am - 12:30 pm
Session D Tuesday, April 21, 1:45-3:30 pm

Session E, Wednesday, April 22, 8:30-10:15 am
Session F, Wednesday, April 22, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm

Tracks are indicated at the end of workshop descriptions according to the abbreviations listed above.

Workshop Session A / Institute Part 1
Monday, April 20, 1-2:45 pm

A1 Transform Your Life with the Parenting Skills Workshop© Series: Five Deceptively Simple Communication Skills (Institute Part 1)
Anna Steinkraus, Nancy Potter, Elizabeth Wolff, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County

This institute will prepare participants to present the Parenting Skills Workshop Series©, created for parents seeking immediate, practical parenting skills, that is uniquely suited for low literacy and mandated audiences. PSWS© uses strength-based, structured learning approaches; parents in the program demonstrate positive change in their behaviors, less conflict in their families and improved communications in other settings. In part one, learn what PSWS© is, why it works, and recent evaluation outcomes from this easily replicable, effective program. Part two will cover key elements of teaching the skills—Encouragement, Can Do Choices, Self-Control and Respecting Feelings—through demonstrations and role playing. The PSWS© is available for download online or may be purchased. Participants are not required to attend the first session in order to attend the second. Tracks: PES, PROF.

A2 Leading Inside Out, Upside Down: Transform Your Organization in Meaningful, Powerful Ways
Sharlene Goode, Sharlene Goode Associates

Finally, a workshop that gives you the tools and the confidence you need to successfully manage your nonprofit. This nonprofit leadership workshop spells out the best practices of good development, and will show you how the right communications pieces, the right relationships and the right organizational climate can lead to a bright future for your organization. Track: NFP, PROF.

A3 Fostering Father Involvement: The Healthy Families New York Experience
China Layne, Center for Human Services Research; Tina Williams, Office of Children and Family Services; Fatima Abdullahi, Prevent Child Abuse New York; Chris Shortell, Community Action Program of Madison County

This workshop will provide an overview of the benefits and challenges of developing a fatherhood initiative. Presenters will offer specific examples of how to engage fathers in programs, identify issues involved in incorporating a fatherhood component in ongoing services, and provide a series of recommendations for future practice. The workshop will include the perspectives of front-line workers, researchers, trainers and administrators. Track: PES, FATHER.

A4 Moving the Office to the Agency: Medical Consultations for Child Protective Services in New York City
Vincent Palusci, Frances Loeb Child Protection and Development Center; Geraldine Walsh Kieninger, NYU Bellevue Medical Consultation Program

Bellevue Hospital has created a Medical Clinical Consultation Program for New York City’s Children’s Services. Twelve pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) are housed in ACS offices to review ACS cases in consultation with caseworkers and other consultants in mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse. Participants will learn about the program, the extent and nature of medical issues in active ACS child maltreatment investigations, and the role played by medical staff. We will also review several process indicators, outcomes, surveys of caseworker and supervisor satisfaction, and program challenges. Tracks: CWEL, SATP, DV.

A5 Partners in Parenting Education So All Children Can Grow up in Nurturing Families
Susan Perkins, Council on Children and Families; Michelle Gross, Prevent Child Abuse New York

Since March 2007, the New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) has been meeting to develop a strong, statewide network that promotes, provides and improves parenting education. Working within state systems and with community-based early childhood and family support programs, NYSPEP strives to enhance parenting skills, knowledge and behavior. Participants will learn about current projects and ways to enhance parenting support in your work. Tracks: PES.

A6 Communication Concerns: Sign Language Solutions
Kim Taylor-DiLeva, Kim’s Signing Solutions

Wouldn’t you love to have your young child tell you what they want or need without crying, screaming or throwing a temper-tantrum? Wouldn’t you be so much less frustrated if they had another way to communicate? In this workshop you will learn why you should use American Sign Language with your young child, how to incorporate signing into playtime, story time and music time. Introductory signs and signs about feelings will be discussed too. Track: PES.

A7 It’s All in the Relationship: How to Bring Your Best Self to the Parenting Education Journey
AnnMarie Teuber, The Family Center; Carolina Grynbal, The Parenting Journey™ Training Institute

This workshop focuses on the innovative technique of “strategic self disclosure” and its beneficial impact on the parent education process. Utilized by The Family Center in its Parenting Journey curriculum, this approach encourages parent group facilitators to share their own personal experiences in ways that benefit group participants and enhance the group process. In order to do this in a mindful, boundary-focused way, workers must first develop their self-awareness and self-care skills. Strategic self disclosure has proven to enrich the relationship between workers and parents and to promote optimal client engagement in the parenting education process. Tracks: PES, PEL.

A8 Beyond Children’s Programming: Responding to the Needs of Caregivers
Emily Zyko, Karen Lee, Thirteen/WNET

This workshop will use media, hands-on activities, and active discussion to address the needs, strategies, and resources for parents and caregivers of young children. With a focus on infant and toddler language development, participants will learn best practices and resources to help parents and caregivers be the best “first teachers” that they can be. All participants will receive fun multimedia activity kits to help them implement the workshop in their own home. Tracks: PES, PEL.

Workshop Session B / Institute Part 2
Monday, April 20, 3:15-5 pm

B1 Transform Your Life with the Parenting Skills Workshop© Series: Five Deceptively Simple Communication Skills (Institute Part 2)
Anna Steinkraus, Nancy Potter, Elizabeth Wolff, Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County

This institute will prepare participants to present the Parenting Skills Workshop Series©, created for parents seeking immediate, practical parenting skills, that is uniquely suited for low literacy and mandated audiences. PSWS© uses strength-based, structured learning approaches; parents in the program demonstrate positive change in their behaviors, less conflict in their families and improved communications in other settings. In part one, learn what PSWS© is, why it works, and recent evaluation outcomes from this easily replicable, effective program. Part two will cover key elements of teaching the skills—Encouragement, Can Do Choices, Self-Control and Respecting Feelings—through demonstrations and role playing. The PSWS© is available for download online (http://www.parenting.cit.cornell.edu/pp_psws.html) or may be purchased. Participants are not required to attend the first session in order to attend the second. Tracks: PES, PROF.

B2 Gangs and You: The Who’s, What’s, Why’s and What to Do’s about Gangs
Ron “Cook” Barrett, Albany Police Department

This workshop will focus on the ever-growing problem of gang culture, the lure to our youth and how to deal with this epidemic. This graphic, fast-paced presentation will expose the real challenges that lie ahead in combating this violent culture. Identification, prevention, intervention and suppression methods will be discussed. Tracks: PES, CWEL.

B3 Family Rituals: Creating Resiliency to Move Beyond Trauma
Nicole Gonzalez, Alisha Contreras, Coalition Against Child Abuse & Neglect

Families who have experienced trauma, including sexual abuse and/or foster care placements, can benefit from establishing family rituals in their daily routines to reduce stress and increase a sense of normalcy. Disruptions in the family structure can have profound and lasting effects on the family unit, as well as on each family member’s personal and professional relationships. Family rituals such as sit-down meals, outings, activities, and bedtime routines can strengthen the family bond and promote the healing process. Participants of this workshop will be provided with supporting literature and tangible ideas to implement family rituals. Track: PES, CWEL.

B4 Observation and Documentation of a Home Visit in the Case Record and the Home Visiting LogDorothy Gordon, Maria Yupa, Tammy McCollum, Akela Alston, Healthy Families Staten Island

Experienced Family Support Workers will enhance the professional development of the home visitor by demonstrating, through role play of a family visit, the use of the strength-based approach to bring mom and dad back to focus on parent-child interaction in the face of many distractions, to “turn the beach ball” when mom reveals her true feelings about an issue concerning child development, and how to accurately document the visit. Tracks: PES, PROF.

B5 In Her Shoes: Understanding a Domestic Violence Victim’s Experience
Pam McClelland, Kimberly Merrill, New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

Child welfare workers and supervisors are increasingly confronted with the complex issue of domestic violence in casework. This workshop provides the opportunity to explore experiences of adult victims navigating community systems to keep themselves and their children safe. Group discussion will build on the simulation. The discussion encourages participants to think creatively about ways to address domestic violence in their cases and collaborate with other community systems toward the goal of improving safety. Track: DV

B6 Transformation: A Human Is an Extraordinary Thing to Be
Dina Wilcox Raising Healthy Voices

This workshop offers a new paradigm in professional development. Through conversation and interactive exercises that are fun and easy, participants will begin to hear and trust their own inner voices as the source of their thinking, wisdom, and truth. By uncovering these human resources, and by learning to trust them as primary tools, participants will consider how they can better assist clients while realizing greater satisfaction for themselves across all the lines of their extraordinary work. Supervisors can find keys for interacting with their staff in ways that produce less complicated and better outcomes. Tracks: NFP, PROF.

B7 Mom as Gatekeeper: Is the Gate Open, Broken or Locked?
Ann-Marie Yeates, New York State Fatherhood Initiative

Many children today are raised by parents who do not live together. Mothers tend to decide who will be involved with their children and how much. Referred to as maternal gatekeeping, this often prevents fathers from becoming and staying involved with their children. In this workshop we will define maternal gatekeeping. We will explore the factors that cause mothers to feel both entitled and obligated to control the gate. We will classify a variety of gatekeeping behaviors and appraise their impact on fathers and children. Finally, we will provide some tools that fathers can use to repair or unlock the gate and allow them to be the fathers they want to be. Track: FATHER.

B8 I Went to the Conference and All I Got Was this Lousy Presentation: How to Give Presentations Worthy of Your Organization’s Name
Anthony Zenkus, Coalition Against Child Abuse & Neglect

When’s the last time you went to a presentation and walked away feeling like it was a complete waste of time? The speaker was obviously knowledgeable, the organization’s work was commendable, but the workshop was bland, dull, uninspired, and you can’t remember much of what was said. When’s the last time you had to give a professional presentation and you were sure you weren’t falling into the same trap? We’ll guide you through the basics of improving your speaking and presentation style so you can create workshops with impact. Tracks: NFP, PROF.

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Workshop Session C / Institute Part 1
Tuesday, April 21, 10:45 am - 12:30 pm

C1 Transforming Parenting Education by Focusing on Adult Learning and Cultural Competency (Institute Part 1)
Judy Nordstrom, T.E.P.E. Training Institute; Carolina Grynbal, The Parenting Journey™ Training Institute

A recent survey of NYS parenting educators said they most wanted two things: to understand adult learning and how it influences our work and to gain skills in cultural competence. Last August through October, the New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) sponsored mini-workshops on these topics in five locations across the state. We could accommodate only 110 parenting educators for these events, so if you missed it, this is your chance. This institute is chock full with information, exercises and resources that will transform your cultural competence and show you how to apply the principles of adult learning regardless of what curriculum or program design you prefer. Participants must attend Part 1 in order to attend Part 2. Track: PES.

C2 Parents and Children Together - Pact Evenings
Nancy Buckpitt, Peggy Canning, Child Care Coordinating Council of the North Country

Parents and Child Together evenings help families raise healthy, well adjusted children. During PACT evenings families talk about values, conflict resolution, positive discipline, positive communication, child development, appropriate expectations and family responsibilities. Families engage in cooperative games and activities that get parents and children talking, laughing and engaging with one another. PACT promotes clearer communication skills within families so that participants’ family lives run more smoothly. Workshop leaders will facilitate an actual PACT meeting with participants. Participants should be prepared to engage in cooperative games and have fun. Track: PES, PEL.

C3 Supporting the Special Needs of Returning Veterans and Their Families
Helena Davis, Mental Health Association in New York State

This workshop will identify the challenges faced by families when one or both parents are deployed. The challenges of re-integration will also be addressed. Participants will learn how to identify and assess military families, what they as civilians can do to help, and Veterans Administration resources to which families can be referred. Participants will also learn the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder on increased family violence and how to prevent it. Participants will be provided with some self-help tools to use with veterans and family members, as well as an extensive resource list. Tracks: PES, DV.

C4 Understanding and Navigating the Child Welfare System. “Case Collaboration: Putting the Puzzle Together”
Jennine Hill, Christine Shaver, Coalition Against Child Abuse & Neglect

This presentation is based on the collaboration among professionals to ensure that the needs of child abuse victims are being met. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the model of case coordination and multidisciplinary collaboration and how it is utilized by the social service system to benefit families faced with child abuse and neglect. Presenters will demonstrate through case examples and relevant research the interrelationship between child abuse and substance abuse. Track: CWEL.

C5 Perceptions of Fathers in the Media: In Search of the Ideal Father
Janice Kelly, Molloy College; Kenneth Braswell, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

This transformational workshop contains two segments. First, the viewing of the documentary “Perceptions of Fathers in the Media” in which cultural critics and fatherhood experts explore the images, ideas, messages and portrayals of fathers on television and a discussion of its relevance, views and poignancy. Second, a discussion of the curriculum that accompanies the documentary for both practioners’ or parents’ usage and its effectiveness in helping them use media literacy techniques and family communication skills to talk about issues (abandonment, fatherlessness, parent-child relationship building, etc.) related to fatherhood and masculinity in general. Track: FATHER.

C6 Reducing the Shame: Helping Parents When Children Disclose Sexual Abuse
Katheryn Lotsos, Helen Woodbury, New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Children’s healing and recovery from experiences of sexual abuse are strongly linked to their stories of disclosure and whether they are believed and supported by their primary attachment figures. This workshop will elucidate how healthy attachments are an integral part of the healing and recovery for all children who have experienced sexual abuse. The relational trauma of not being believed or supported by children’s primary attachment figures can often become the impetus for ongoing symptoms of anxiety and/or post traumatic stress. While feelings of shame and embarrassment are normal and common for non-offending parents, especially when the perpetrator is an intimate partner, remaining ambivalent about a child’s disclosure of sexual abuse can further stunt the child’s recovery process. This workshop will teach participants how to engage non-offending parents in the process of working through their own ambivalence and supporting their children’s disclosures. The workshop will also provide participants with working knowledge of how to utilize disclosure stories to increase children’s sense of agency and control over their trauma. Track: SATP.

C7 Bullying in the 21st Century
Amanda Root, Kelby Magennis, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County

A recent I-Safe survey showed that 42 percent of children have been bullied on-line. This is a prevalent problem among youth. Families and Communities Together with Schools (FACTS) is a Parental Information and Resource Center funded by the United States Department of Education. FACTS will present a workshop to increase participants’ knowledge of cyberbullying. Participants will learn what the latest research tells us about bullying and walk away with strategies for recognition, prevention and support. Tracks: PES, PEL.

C8 Annual Giving Fundamentals: Implementing a Direct Mail Fundraising Program
Luke Vander Linden, Carl Bloom, Carl Bloom Associates

Fundraising is no longer just about sending some mail or passing the hat. This session will use real-world examples and data to discuss how, when used correctly, postal mail is the anchor of any fundraising program. For those just starting out, we will review strategies, plans and schedules for launching a new annual giving program including setting goals, how to budget and project long-term value. For those further along in their programs, we will compare members to donors; explore the synergies and competition for subscribers and ticket-buyers and how to deal with ‘transactional’ versus ‘mission-oriented’ supporters. We’ll also touch on renewal rates, upgrades, and monthly sustainer programs. All participants in this lively exchange will come away with real-world examples and action items they can take back to their organizations, including what a five-year acquisition plan should look like, how to incorporate premiums into direct mail campaigns, how acknowledgments should be used ... and more! Track: NFP.

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Workshop Session D / Institute Part 2
Tuesday, April 21, 1:45-3:30 pm

D1 Transforming Parenting Education by Focusing on Adult Learning and Cultural Competency (Institute Part 2)
Judy Nordstrom, T.E.P.E. Training Institute; Carolina Grynbal, The Parenting Journey™ Training Institute

A recent survey of NYS parenting educators said they most wanted two things: to understand adult learning and how it influences our work and to gain skills in cultural competence. Last August through October, the New York State Parenting Education Partnership (NYSPEP) sponsored mini-workshops on these topics in five locations across the state. We could accommodate only 110 parenting educators for these events, so if you missed it, this is your chance. This institute is chock full with information, exercises and resources that will transform your cultural competence and show you how to apply the principles of adult learning regardless of what curriculum or program design you prefer. Participants must attend Part 1 in order to attend Part 2. Track: PES.

D2 Working Parents: Choices and Strategies
Brooke Bennett, Julie Hawkins, Nonnie Hood Parent Resource Center

Participants will engage in learning strategies for successfully managing career and family balance. Strategies will be discussed and formed into a tool box for later use. Some of these strategies include managing time for work, self and home, breastfeeding on the job, choosing a profession that increases quality of life, and realizing it’s OK to ask for help. Tracks: PES, PROF.

D3 Kinship Caregiver Law Project: Legal Rights of Kinship Caregivers
Ramonita Cordero, Chris Imperioli, MFY Legal Services, Inc.

The workshop will provide legal and practical information for caregivers and advocates for caregivers who are seeking custody, guardianship or adoption of their kin outside of the formal foster care system. We will discuss the legal rights of caregivers and will include information on authority to make medical and educational decisions and access to public benefits. We will provide updates in the existing law where applicable. Participants will learn how to effectively obtain rights over, and services for, children being cared for by kinship providers. Track: PES.

D4 Forensic Medical Evaluation of Child Sexual Abuse: The Exam, the Mimics of Abuse, and What to Do in the Absence of Objective Medical Evidence
Jack Coyne, Mercy Pediatrics

The purpose of this presentation is to have the participant appreciate the importance, the essential purpose, and the power of the medical evaluation of the abused child. To help the examiner feel more comfortable and confident in assessing what they see and briefly touch on the new classification by Dr. Joyce Adams and others. And what are we all left with if the objective exam is essentially normal? How is that possible? How can a child, in fact, experience sexual abuse, even penetration, and have a normal objective physical exam? Should a normal exam preclude further investigation and prosecution? The presentation will focus on three processes and its research and studies to support it: i) Healing ii) Elasticity of hymenal tissue iii) Perception. Tracks: CWEL, SATP.

D5 PBS Tools and Resources
Barbara Lukas, WMHT Educational Telecommunications

The three cornerstones of Public Television are: Inform, Enlighten and Enrich. Education continues to be the core value of WMHT and the public broadcasting community, beginning with young children who learn to read and count and extending beyond life-long learning. This workshop will introduce participants to the PBS on-line resources for families—exciting games, web sites, and easy to use learning resources for kids, parents, caregivers and teachers. Tracks: PES, PEL.

D6 Can’t We Teach Our Donors How to Behave? How to Integrate E-mail and the Internet for Effective Fundraising
Luke Vander Linden, Carl Bloom, Carl Bloom Associates

Once upon a time, donors knew how to behave themselves. They wrote checks and mailed them in with our reply devices. They answered the phone and gave their credit cards to our telemarketers. Today’s donors are far too independent for that—they give when they want, how they want and to where they want—and they’re increasingly going online to research and transact their philanthropy. They may be frustratingly unpredictable, but these “multi-channel” donors can actually be your most valuable supporters. Understand how donors are using the internet and learn best practices on how to organize your campaigns using all available media, your reporting to track donations from every channel, and your organization to get the most from your misbehaving donors. Track: NFP.

D7 Engaging Mandated Clients and Enhancing Their Parenting Skills to Meet the Needs of Their Children
Helen Woodbury, Katheryn Lotsos, The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

Families are referred to supervised visitation due to domestic violence, child abuse, sexual abuse, substance abuse, incarceration and/or mental illness. It has become clinically sound to enhance the standard of supervised visitation services to a more comprehensive therapeutic model, which includes a strong focus on building relationships with all parties involved: custodial parent, noncustodial parent, and child(ren). Mandated clients benefit from a therapeutic approach that is rooted in a genuine curiosity about how the parent sees his/her role as a parent through their own cultural lens, values, norms and traditions. Workshop participants will gain an understanding of the components of a “therapeutic” supervised visitation program, the collaborative stance utilized to engage mandated clients for services and gain knowledge of the components of a parent education curriculum specifically tailored to visitation programs. Tracks: PES, CWEL.

D8 Effective Discipline: Responding to Children’s Challenging Behaviors
Kristin Yook, Education Assistance Corporation, Long Island Parenting Institute

Those working with or caring for young children often face challenging behaviors such as acting out and aggression. Participants will learn to understand, prevent and respond effectively to challenging behaviors. Topics that will be covered include: the function of behavior; the importance of temperament and how to effectively respond to different temperaments; effective discipline strategies and the pros and cons of different discipline/intervention strategies; preventive strategies such as teaching social skills and creating a resilient environment. Participants will be challenged to examine their responses to challenging behaviors; specifically, how their responses maintain maladaptive behaviors. Tracks: PES, PEL.

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Workshop Session E
Wednesday, April 22, 8:30-10:15 am

E1 Maternal and Infant Well Being in the New Millennium: The Psychological Dimensions of the Perinatal Experience and the Impact of Modern Technology on Birth Outcomes, Babies, Mothers, Breastfeeding and Bonding
Fara Biamonte, SNAP Long Island

This workshop will provide a history of childbirth and examine how modern obstetrical practices psychologically and physically impact birth, women, babies, breastfeeding and bonding, as well as introduce the “The Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative.” This initiative examines the principle belief that birth is a normal, natural and healthy process and that women and babies have the inherent wisdom necessary for birth. Tracks: PES, CWEL.

E2 Adolescents with Sexually Abusive Behaviors—Etiology and Treatment
Sharon Grand, South Shore Psychology; Cathy Menzies, MercyFirst

This workshop presents a cognitive-behavioral approach to treatment and supervision of adolescents who have sexually abused others. Participants will learn about etiology of sexually abusive behaviors, the range of sexual behaviors in adolescents (from “normal” to “abusive”), treatment and prognosis of juveniles with sexually abusive behavior patterns, and supervision issues related to the protection of prior victims and the prevention of potential future victims. Tracks: CWEL, SATP.

E3 Parenting Challenges for the Victim of Domestic Violence
Marlene Gregory, VIBS - Family Violence and Rape Crisis Center

This workshop will explore the many challenges victims of domestic violence are faced with when parenting their children who witness verbal and physical abuse. Through real examples and an overview of what the experts say, we will explore ways caseworkers and others in helping professions can provide meaningful help for victims and therefore their children. Track: CWEL, DV.

E4 An Insider’s Guide to Albany: Navigating the Budget, Legislative and Advocacy Process in New York State
Michelle Gross, Prevent Child Abuse New York

As New York State’s budget spending declines, and as the atmosphere remains reactive, programs are forced to advocate for adequate and increased funding, as well as for legislation that’s critical to the health, safety and welfare of their families. This workshop will help explain the difference between advocacy and lobbying, discuss the overall budgetary and legislative process, and invite participants to create an advocacy “action plan,” including community and e-advocacy for their organization and cause. Presented by a former employee of the New York State Senate, participants will have a real insider’s view on our state’s Capitol. Track: NFP.

E5 We Are Family: The Power of Making Music in Reuniting Separated Families with Young ChildrenAngela Guerriero, Tempo Music Therapy Services; MJ Territo, Music Together, LLC

Weekly family music-making classes are a recent addition to the interventions used by Reunity House, a Newark, New Jersey facility dedicated to reuniting families separated by court order. Understand how and why making music has strengthened the process of educating and healing for families with young children and learn how to replicate the program in your community. Tracks: PES, DV.

E6 The Children’s Healthy Touch Workshop
Nicole Mann, Certified Massage Therapist

Through hands-on involvement this workshop introduces participants to child-friendly activities to teach respect, empathy and safe touch. Attendees discuss and experience healthy touch through mini massages given through clothing on safe areas of the back, shoulders and hands. Techniques are combined with stories, songs and classroom themes to appeal to children while teaching and reinforcing vital ideas about abuse prevention and establishing healthy boundaries. Tracks: PES, SATP.

E7 Identifying Developmental Delays & Disorders in Early Childhood
Dawn Mastoridis, Rockland Child Development Services (RCDS): A Partner of The Mentor Network

This workshop will review the most common problems young children, birth to age five, demonstrate in terms of developmental delays and disorders. We will address “red flags” for concern as well as recommendations for referrals and professional assessment. Some of the most prevalent developmental issues affecting children today, such as Autistic Spectrum Disorders, will be discussed. Tracks: PES, CWEL.

E8 Integrating Fatherhood Life Coaching Strategies into Child Abuse and Neglect Programs
Donald Rencher, Valerie Rawlins, Inspirited Healing Inc.

The Fatherhood Life coaching workshop targets providers who service fathers of children at risk of child abuse and neglect. The workshop was developed to provide a foundation for integrating life-coaching concepts with best practice theory specifically for fathers. The program is designed to enhance fathers self-esteem, accountability and follow-through to achieve positive parenting and reduced child abuse and neglect. We will also discuss how these strategies can be integrated into child abuse programs. The focus will be on skills building and practical application. Track: FATHER.

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Workshop Session F
Wednesday, April 22, 10:30 am - 12:15 pm

F1 Parenting a Child with a Disability
Wendy Bender, Prevent Child Abuse New York

Parenting a child with a disability can evoke many strong emotions. Most parents experience a process of grief as they learn to adjust and define new expectations. Understanding these emotions and how they influence thoughts and behaviors can be very challenging. This workshop will focus on the importance of working through emotional stages and understanding the process involved. This can be very helpful for providers who are working to support parents and for parents working through the process themselves. Tracks: PES, PROF.

F2 Alternative Healing: Engaging Young Children in the Creative Arts
Corey Geremia, Kathleen MacIntyre, University Settlement Butterflies Program

Presenters will demonstrate and explore with the audience art therapy and yoga. These disciplines naturally complement and support a variety of therapeutic and educational goals. Presenters will discuss a variety of ways in which creative arts can promote physical, intellectual, social and emotional growth in young children and offer alternative opportunities for healing. Participants will engage in yoga and art therapy activities throughout the duration of the workshop. Track: PROF.

F3 An Introduction to Social Media: Transforming Yourself in a Web 2.0 World
Rebecca Krause-Hardie, Jon Hardie, AudienceWorks

Blogs, Twitter, Facebook, social media, Friendfeed, Technorati, Wikis: There are so many terms and technologies being bantered about. What are they? Why should I be interested in them? How can they help me do my work more successfully? This session will introduce these technologies and translate them into meaningful language with examples that are relevant and practical. We will explore the technology, methodology and incremental adoption of specific web strategies into both your strategic and clinical communications model that can cost effectively build shared awareness, understanding, buy-in, and support for your agency, donors, funders and clients. Participants will come away with a good introductory knowledge and overview of social media and how they might apply it to their organization. Track: NFP.

F4 When Dad’s in the Game, Kids Win! The NYS Fatherhood Initiative and ParentHelp Partnership
Donna Linder, Child Find of America; Kenneth Braswell, New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance; Ed Lawson, Raymond Tomaselli, Child Find of America

We all know that sons and daughters do better growing up, do better in school, and do better in life when there’s a dad actively involved. But when dads and moms live apart, were never married, are divorced or are otherwise separated from their kids, it’s not always easy to become involved, to connect or to reconnect. From anger, economics, prison, substance abuse and legal woes, to extended family involvement, parenting conflicts, and distance, the roadblocks seem insurmountable—and often are, especially when you can’t find help. Yet seats in many community-based fatherhood and parenting programs are empty, participation in court-mandated programs is often ignored. And then dads say they can’t find help, no one cares, and no one will listen to them. What’s that all about? Learn how Parent Help addresses these issues through telephone-based services, collaboration with other service providers, outreach to engage fathers’ participation, what fathers tell us they need, and both successful and unsuccessful interventions. Track: FATHER.

F5 Reducing Parent/Caregiver Stress: Lessons Learned from The Parent-Child Home Program
Michele Morrison, Parent-Child Home Program; Arlise Ford, Graham Windham Services for Families and Children

By providing home visits to parents/caregivers that focus on play, reading and art activities, the Parent-Child Home Program provides “permission” for adults to set time aside and experience the joy of verbally interacting with their young children. This workshop will address some of the parenting behaviors that can create stress in struggling families. Participants will learn how to model for parents other approaches to engage with their children that can change behavior over time and learn some self-reflective activities to improve their own practice. Tracks: PES, PROF.

F6 Support Group 101: Where Do I Begin?
Amee Stein, Suffolk County Child Advocacy Center

The consequences of abuse can be devastating. However, it is possible that with early intervention, treatment and support children can lead healthy lives. Through peer support groups, we can help to prevent re-victimization, provide appropriate role models and build peer relationships. But where do you start? How do you create a curriculum and how can you incorporate art into your sessions? Kids 2 Kids is a peer support group that effectively incorporates art into the work that is done with children, while simultaneously reducing the children’s sense of shame and isolation. Tracks: CWEL, SATP, PROF.

F7 Engaging and Empowering Parents
Cherie Wooden, Our Lady of Lourdes Memorial Hospital; Timothy Johns, Helping Our Parents to be Educators HOPE Project

This workshop will provide participants with an overview of lessons learned in the creation of a parent-designed peer education model. Specifically, successful and unsuccessful experiences in engaging and retaining diverse parents; core features of successful parent recruitment and retention; meeting the unique learning needs of adult learners; methods to build the capacity of parents to function effectively and carry out their roles and responsibilities; and empowering parents to parent. A parent volunteer and project staff will present. Track: PEL.

F8 Empowering Teens to Prevent Dating Violence
Elizabeth Yennie, The Retreat, Inc.

This workshop will provide resources for educators to train teens in dating violence prevention. Participants will be able to train teen mentors who will then serve as Counselors for their peers. The students are trained in what constitutes a healthy relationship, what the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship are, and how to listen assertively and ask open ended questions in counseling situations. Tracks: CWEL, DV.