Past Conference Resources

  • SPEAKERS

    Peter Mutabazi
    Opening Keynote Address: When One Showed Up: The Anchor in Consistency
    The Foster Care Journey: Parenting Without Power but With Unstoppable Love

    Erin Hollowell, LMHC, SPT, Therapist, Bowen Health
    Jess Hatcher, Outpatient Licensed Therapist, Bowen Health
    How to Regulate in Chaos, Part 1: Develop Nervous System Awareness to Self-Regulate
    How to Regulate in Chaos, Part 2: Decoding Big Behaviors and Coregulating to Connect

    Mindy King, President, Limelight Analytics
    Measuring Program Outcomes with Survey Data

    Janine Domingues, The Child Mind Institute
    Behind the Behaviors: Understanding and Supporting Student Anxiety
    Boundaries That Build: Strengthening Family Support Around Friendship, Screens, and Growing Up

    Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, President Emeritus, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center
    Cassie Beer,Women’s Fund Of Greater Fort Wayne
    Allen County Young Women & Girls Report
    Girl-Centered Practice

    Dr. Jeremy Coleman, Founder, Century Solutions
    Vaping—Understanding the Why to Curb Use
    Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be
    Staff Culture That Wins

    Doug Kellenberger,Author｜Speaker｜Relationship Coach, Real Men Are Vulnerable
    The Necessity and Effectiveness of Emotional Connection

    Frederick Yeakey, Host, The Barbershop Male Mentoring Podcast
    Midday Keynote: Becoming the Mentor They Need: A Transformational Journey

    Nikki Fultz, Executive Director, Fort Wayne Pride
    Kristy Lindeman, Victim Assistance, FWPD
    Safe Spaces & Strong Support: Working Effectively with LGBTQ+ Youth

  • SPEAKERS

    Sajel Bellon
    Opening Keynote Address: Live L.I.F.E. Unapologetically: Lean into the Full Experience of Being Human

    Mid-day Keynote Address: Talk More to Lose Less

    Kendall Cotton Bronk, Ph.D. (Claremont Graduate University, School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation)
    Helping Young People Cultivate their Purpose in Life and Thrive
    Closing Keynote Address: Leading and Thriving with Purpose

    Janine Halloran, LMHC
    Helping Kids Cope with Frustration and Challenges
    Coping Skills for Youth Experiencing Anxiety, ADHD, and Anger

    Lorenzo Lewis
    Beyond the Shop: An Evidenced-Based Approach to Community Mental Health
    Download presentation.
    Equipping Marginalized Women through Promising Mental Health Intervention Practices

    Alive Community Outreach
    Building Beloved Community: Empowering Youth Through Nonviolent Leadership
    Hidden Victims: The Impact of Homicide on Youth and Families

    Kerrie Fineran, Ph.D. & Brooke Sellhorn, M.A., LMFT
    Creating a Culture of Care: Essential Skills and Instilling the 4 Cs
    Supervision Skills 101: Developing Effective Practices

    Dave Johnson, Ph.D.
    Wonder, Awe, and Mindful Self-Care in an Era of Burnout
    Download Powerpoint

  • SPEAKERS

    Dr. Tamika Zapolski
    Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy Principles and Strategies for Youth Presenting with High-Risk Behaviors
    Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Black Youth

    Tiffany Creager
    Healing Centered Engagement
    Effective Strategies for Youth with Anxiety

    Paige Clingenpeel
    The Intersection of Faith & Mental Health: Discipleship in Action
    Equipping Youth in the Digital Age

    Kerrie Fineran, Ph.D.
    Brooke Sellhorn, LMFT
    Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Essential Skills and Instilling the 4 C's
    Let’s Talk about Mental Health: Having Difficult Conversations

    Cindy Maldonado-Schaefer
    Erick T. Baker
    Death Happens - Let’s Talk, Rally, and Support!
    Death Sucks! Strategies for Helping Youth Heal

  • Go Be Great: COMMUNITIES Transforming Through Connection

    SPEAKERS

    Maurice Clarett
    Opening Keynote: My Life. My Story. My Redemption. 

    Kelly Ambriole (CEO of the Ox Agency, Optimizing People, Process, and Performance)
    Generational Communication
    Lead Yourself First

    Monica Mendoza & August Haven
    Growth Zone: Organizational Learning
    Growth Zone: The Role of Vulnerability in Youth Work

    Luke Niforatos (Executive Vice President, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions)
    Hot Topics in the Efforts to Legalize All Drugs
    Lessons Learned in Legalized States

    Megan Helmen, Ph.D. (Developmental Discoveries Neuropsychology)
    Neurodiversity: When Disability and Identity Intersect
    Supporting Emotional Regulation in Neurodivergent Youth
    Subtle but Significant: Autistic Individuals with Low Support Needs

    Ericka Gergely (SPARK Learning Lab)
    School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 1
    School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 2
    Emotion-Focused and Problem-Focused Coping Skills for School-Age Children
    Help Me Get Unstuck
    Tracking My Feelings
    My Unstuck Wheel

    Brant Hansen (STAR 88.3)
    Unoffendable

    Chynna Presley, BSW, MSOL (The Respect Team, STAR 88.3)
    Goodbye, Imposter Syndrome!

    Brant Hansen
    Closing Keynote

  • “Moving Forward: Restoring Meaningful Engagement”

    SPEAKERS

    Carlos Whittaker, Author
    Opening Keynote

    Dr. Krista Mehari, Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama
    See the Spark and Call it Out: How Communities Can Build Hope in Youth
    Rolling with Adolescence: How to Help Teens Solve Problems

    Juan Bendaña, Top Youth Speakers
    Culture of Engagement
    Influence is EVERYTHING

    Dr. Annemarie Grassi Amefia, Argonaut
    WHEN I GROW UP… CRADLE TO CAREER
    Creating an Impactful Career Training Model: The Potential Impact of Partnering Core Education with Experiential Thematic Learning
    Staff Burnout - It’s Not Just You!

    Adam F. C. Fletcher, Freechild Institute for Youth Engagement
    Radical Youth Engagement
    Closing Keynote

    Clinton Faupel, RemedyLIVE; Nate Moellering & Alicia Wells, Allendale Treatment and Fort Wayne Recovery
    Escapism: The Pain/Pleasure Balance and Dopamine Dominance

    Dr. Michelle Drouin, Department of Psychology, PFW; and Dr. Kimberly O’Connor, Chair, Department of Organizational and Leadership Studies, PFW
    The Balancing Act: How to Support Youth Mental Health and Development in A Tech-Fueled, Post-COVID World

    Dr. Sandy Washburn & Ms. Deanna Nibarger, Indiana University Center on Education and Lifelong Learning
    SEL: Understanding Misconceptions, Finding Common Ground and Putting Kids First

Learning Objectives for the Annual Conference on Youth:

  • Identify best practices in working with youth

  • Understand the principles of positive youth development

  • Utilize new techniques in working with youth to increase mental and/or physical health and well-being of clients

  • Apply positive youth development concepts resulting in building resiliency factors

  • Have a working knowledge of the 40 Developmental Assets

  • Identify at least one community partner to rely on for related client services

  • Understand the benefits of using positive youth development concepts in working with youth and families

  • Understand how increasing assets in youth increases overall health and well-being

  • Apply prevention techniques to youth work and personal lives

Continuing Education Credits

Great KIDS is pleased to offer Continuing Education Units for LSW, LCSW, LMHC and LMFT licensure approved through Category One of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.