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SESSION 1

A   PANEL: Mental Health Best Practices in Action: DBT, Project Success, TBA

Ideal for Mental Health Professionals, Administrators, Policy & Planning Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

B   Mark Barth: School Climate & Culture: The Conditions for Learning

Ideal for Educators, Administrators, Policy & Planning Professionals, Parents & Caregivers.

C   Chris Mercogliano: School Must Have Heart
This workshop explores the idea that any school, home-school or learning center that hopes to address the real physical, intellectual, and emotional needs of children must be regarded as a living organism with its own set of needs that must be met in order for it to thrive and be successful. The primary focus will be on the needs of the heart because it is the central organ in all higher life forms; and because, as cutting edge research is beginning to validate, the heart—or "heart/brain" as some scientists are beginning to call it—plays a key role in the learning process.

Ideal for Educators, Mental Health Professionals, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Policy & Planning Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

D   Howard Glasser: Transforming the Difficult Child–The Nurtured Heart Approach
The Nurtured Heart Approach had been shown to be able to take an intense and challenging child beyond improvements to a realm of transformation where the same intensity that goes awry in terms of acting out problem behaviors becomes and asset and contributes to a child's new and growing sense of greatness. This approach is currently being used by schools, parents and therapists worldwide to stem the tide of the overuse of labels and medications which tend to lead to long-term difficulty. Instead, the NHA helps children awaken to a new way of life—acting out greatness. It is my contention that is what adults really want for all children. The Nurtured Heart Approach makes it easy to achieve this goal.

Ideal for Educators, Mental Health Professionals, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Policy & Planning Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

E   Kate Thomsen: The Apples Never Fall Far from the Trees
Parents who seek to raise emotionally competent children focus on giving their children knowledge, understanding, and motivation. This session is designed to help parents raise emotionally competent children by focusing on self-awareness and self-management skills; social awareness and interpersonal skills; and demonstration of responsible behavior in home, school, and community.

Ideal for Educators, Mental Health Professionals, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

SESSION 2

A.   Panel: Social & Emotional Learning in Action: Nurtured Heart Approach, Primary Project, Teaching Learning Community (TLC)

Ideal for Educators, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Policy & Planning Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

• Primary Project
  Primary Project is a school–based early intervention and prevention program designed to enhance school related competencies and reduce social, emotional and school adjustment difficulties in children in grades kindergarten through third.

  Primary Project has six core components that establish a solid foundation for success:

  1. A focus on young children
  2. Early screening and appropriate selection of children
  3. Use of paraprofessionals in a direct service role
  4. Use of mental health professionals as supervisors, consultants and leaders
  5. Use of ongoing outcome and process evaluation
  6. Integration of Primary Project within the school and community settings

  Children who may be shy, anxious, withdrawn, defiant, moody, exhibit problems engaging other peers in positive relationships, exhibit mild physical aggression or generally experience school as unpleasant are often most appropriate for participation in Primary Project. The Primary Project team (mental health professional and child associates), teachers and parents are involved. Children’s Institute, out of Rochester, provides training, evaluation, clinical and program consultation.
  view Primary Project presenter bios

• Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA)
  The Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA) is a parenting/teaching model that fosters the child’s inner strength (character and spirit), giving him/her the moral compass necessary to effectively deal with and solve problems as well as succeed socially and emotionally. It transforms the child to a higher level of happiness, security, conduct, and achievement.

  This social curriculum is not just another "positive" approach to parenting/teaching designed to improve behavior. Rather, it is a transformative and comprehensive approach to life – a method of recognizing and appreciating the gifts each child possesses. It is proactive – based on intention not agenda.
  view Nurtured Heart Approach presenter bio

• School Connect
  The Business and Information Technology Department at ESM High School have infused the School-Connect curriculum in to an existing course required for graduation known as, Digital Communications I. This SEL dimension of the course is referred to as Teaching Learning Community (TLC), with students exploring topics such as bullying, emotional intelligence, stress management within the supportive community of the classroom community.

  The presenters will tell the story of how the program has evolved over the past three years, provide samples of lesson plans and of student work. They will also reveal the collaborative and creative elements that make the TLC program truly unique!

  More information about the School-Connect curriculum can be found at: http://www.school-connect.net/aboutus.html

  Presenters for School Connect:
  Chrystal Corbett and John Nichols, Business teachers at East Syracuse Minoa High School.

B   Susan Starkweather: Service-Learning (SL) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
SL and SEL improve student success in both academic achievement and personal development. Research indicates that teaching methods that incorporate these approaches produce synergistic impact. Learn about the components of SL and how to implement SL in your classroom. Explore how to integrate SEL with high quality SL, how it engages and motivates students, helps them develop 21st century skills, and may help with dropout prevention.

Ideal for Educators, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

C   Lynne Ogren and Valerie Lovelace: Self-Care for Educators
Creating an atmosphere where social and emotional learning is a part of the school culture depends on each one of us. Many teachers, administrators and children’s service providers are comfortable providing care and support to the children they work with, but tend to spend less time considering and addressing their own social and emotional needs. Even though self-care is one of the most important factors in developing and sustaining healthy learning communities, we often spend the least time on it. To be fully present and responsive to the students we work with we need to prioritize our own social and emotional health. This session will explore ways to develop ones personal resilience, including fostering greater self-awareness, practicing strategies that promote balance throughout the day and planning to make self-care a natural part of ones daily routine.

Ideal for Educators, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

D   Chris Mercogliano, Childhood Labels: Fact or Fiction?
This workshop will examine the differences between prescriptive and descriptive approaches to understanding children’s struggles and idiosyncrasies. A prescriptive approach involves lumping together masses of kids who don’t fit the socially agreed upon model of normality in labeled categories, while a descriptive approach involves viewing children individually and holistically, meaning within the context of their daily lives. We will look at a hypothetical Johnny, who is highly energetic, somewhat impulsive, and easily distracted when performing left-brained mental tasks and ask the question, "Does Johnny have ADHD, or is he a high-energy, impulsive, distractible boy?" We will also explore ways to help Johnny learn and develop sufficient self-control without resorting to labels and drugs.

Ideal for Educators, Mental Health Professionals, Administrators, Youth Development Professionals, Parents & Caregivers

E   Desiree Voorhies: Practical Tips to Implementing SEL in the School
Are you looking for a step-by-step SEL process, practical implementation tips and proven strategies for implementing SEL in your school community? This session is for you! Participants will have an opportunity to share best practice SEL strategies and tips they have used and explore process, strategies and related tools that were developed collaboratively with several New York State schools as part of a statewide leadership institute conducted from 2005 – 2010.

Ideal for Educators, Administrators, Policy & Planning Professionals