Learning Sessions
Learning Sessions enlightened, engaged and energized the participants. Learning Sessions offered exhibited a high level of experiential learning opportunities and the use of interactive strategies.  Presentation teams were also encouraged to employ youth in the delivery of their session - as a presenter, presentation designer, or any other aspect that meaningfully engages youth in the process.
Learning Sessions are geared to the following audiences - Youth - geared to youth participation and youth engagement Youth Serving - focusing on information that is useful to those who serve youth either professionally or in a volunteer capacity Asset Building - focusing on Asset Building as a key component to the project or concept presented Community Stories & Tools – sharing stories, lessons learned from communities across the country, tools and processes that can aid communities in their positive youth development efforts Education - geared toward participants who are involved in education and schools. Families & Parenting - focusing on tools, topics and support for parenting, families, and family-serving agencies Health & Recreation - geared to healthy living and recreation Policing - includes material about Asset Building and community development from a police perspective Research & Evaluation – focusing on research and methods for evaluation related to Asset Building and positive youth development Early Years - geared to professionals working with children from birth to six years old

Gift and Responsibility from a Traditional Aboriginal Perspective	Website
Kelly Brownbill, Aboriginal Educator
Expanding on the topic of her keynote address, Kelly continued to share traditional Aboriginal perspectives on family and community structures.  Through an examination of the life cycle, participants explored traditional roles and responsibilities, relationships and concepts of family and community wellness.  Further, modern applications of ancient teachings were examined to assist families and caregivers support and enhance a sense of worth and wellbeing in people, regardless of age or ability.  * Additional Audience - First Nations Communities
Long Live Kids!  Addressing the physical, emotional and social well-being of our kids
Linda Millar, Education Specialist, Concerned Children’s Advertisers (ON)
It is becoming increasingly evident that our children and youth are facing challenges that not only affect their physical health, but relate to their mental health as well. Youth suicides are escalating, childhood overweight and obesity has reached alarming numbers, bullying has reached new and unprecedented proportions and through all of this, our children are trying to navigate their way through a rapidly changing society. Add to this the technological advances that have changed the way our young people think, learn and communicate and it becomes clear that as adults we have a role to play in providing our children with the tools to not only navigate this exciting journey, but to do so in a safe and healthy way. Drawing from the unique collaborative model of Concerned Children’s Advertisers that consists of government, industry, issues experts, broadcasters and advertising agencies, this presentation discussed today’s kids, their challenges and will provide hands-on, solution-oriented tools to help them grow to become healthy, successful, contributing citizens. Additionally, participants were introduced to a ground breaking research project that has the potential to create a social revolution in terms of empowering our children to improve their health and well-being.	Website
Community Partnerships and Youth Engagement
Sergeant Steve Hicks, Toronto Police Service and For KICKS Organization
The learning session was based on our For KICKS Organization Sports and Education aimed at at-risk youth and their families. This relates directly to building positive partnerships with community members and organizations in order to offer opportunity to youth who would typically not have opportunity when relating to living location, financial status, abilities status and criminal activity (work with School Boards and Community Centres). The vehicle of teaching is through Sports and Recreation activities, and through this, self esteem is built, skills training, healthy lifestyle, life skills education and building positive relationships between Police and our local youth and their families. The presentation outlined the reasons for inception, ongoing activities, results (positive and negative) interactive modules and skills training. Members of the Police, School Board, students and parents will assist with the presentation and activities.
A Tale of Two Communities	Flamborough HCHY Website Flamborough Presentation Halton Our Kids Network Website Halton Presentation
Penny Deathe, Community Developer, Focus on the Forty and Mary Tabak, Developmental Assets Project Manager, Halton Our Kids Network
Two different communities - one specific goal... To increase Developmental Assets for all kids. Come hear our stories of how our communities have mobilized to make a difference.
Creating LGBTQ Inclusive and Positive Spaces
Marcus Logan, Positive Space Coordinator, Positive Space Network of Halton - ROCK
This session aims to increase agency staff, volunteer and service participants’ understanding of the causes of homophobia, biphobia and transphobia and the importance of intervention, support, awareness of Trans social emotional health issues and becoming an ally. Participants will learn how to intervene, gain awareness and understanding.
Painting Our Way Forward
Simon Dadds and Barry Weiner, Children Services Team Supervisors, Kawaratha-Haliburton Children's Aid Society
In 2010, KHCAS began placing interested Crown Wards (children in the care of KHCAS) in long-term foster family situations in the legal custody of interested foster parents. Last year, KHCAS and Charterfield Consulting launched on a 5 year longitudinal study to better understand whether these children are more likely to have positive life outcomes if they have a caregiver who is their legal guardian.  The session started with a brief presentation on all of the life outcomes we are measuring and the use of performance indicators and their matching developmental asset. The exercise involved participants breaking into small groups in order to complete an art project that expresses their achievements within a life outcome, the pictures where then joined together as part of a mural.
Developmental Assets in the Early Years
Lisa Rankin – VP Child Care, Community Programs and Outreach, YMCA Oakville
The 40 Developmental Assets have been identified by the Search Institute as the building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible.  YMCA Canada has partnered with the Search Institute and has been using the 40 Developmental Assets as one of 4 frameworks, as a foundation for building strong kids, strong families and healthy communities. The Developmental Assets framework is grounded in research on child and adolescent development, risk prevention and resiliency.  Surveys consistently show that young people who experience more of these assets are more likely to make healthy choices and avoid a wide range of high-risk behaviours.  This session explored and shared examples of how youth-serving agencies can apply the Developmental Asset framework into how they recruit and hire, orient and train, coach and develop and measure program quality.  Participants learned how this framework can support management/administration, program facilitators and teachers in becoming asset builders.	Oakville YMCA
Demystifying Research	Resources are provided with the Keynote description.
Elisabeth Wells, Our Kids Network Research Associate and Erica van Roosmalen, Chair, Our Kids Network Research Committee
Expanding on the topic in their keynote address, this presentation discussed Halton’s Our Kids Network and further demonstrated how passionate energy can be harnessed by intentionally focusing on accountability, simplicity and meaningfulness in our work. Participants learned how agencies and communities across Halton use this framework to work together to ensure that all children thrive.
Brain Apps
Janet Trinder, B.ed, Education Activist, Brainwave Writing
Neuroscientists know the adolescent brain is still under construction – especially the prefrontal cortex that governs problem-solving, inhibiting emotional impulses and maintaining attention – yet youth are unaware and many youth services haven’t incorporated programs to help strengthen this important area of the brain!  If looking for a program that does – while teaching Resilient thinking, take a look at Brain Apps©.
The Art of Facilitation	Website
Marc Langlois, Consultant, Skipping Stones Consulting
The critical role of facilitation in community and youth work cannot be underestimated. Based on many years of working with youth and communities in remote, rural and urban settings, Marc facilitated an interactive session to introduce seven practices to begin the transformation of your community and youth work to being more participatory, energy-rich, and meaningful. Whether you are chairing or a member of a committee, working as or overseeing a project Coordinator, or leading or designing a workshop, you left the session with a new way to conceptualize the task of facilitation and organizing group interactions.
Giving Youth a Voice Through Photovoice
Velma Shewfelt, Healthy Communities Parntership Program Cooridnator, Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
Photovoice is a participatory research strategy that gives a voice to marginalized or difficult to reach populations.  It is a fun, affordable and creative way to engage youth – and others – in sharing their stories in a compelling way.  At the Simcoe Muskoka  District Health Unit, Photovoice has been used to give youth an opportunity to tell us ‘The Story of Drugs & Alcohol in Our Community’ (2010) and to speak out on issues of health and wellness by answering the question, ‘Does my community make it easier – or not – for me to be healthy?’ (2012).  In addition to having an opportunity to view these two projects, learning session participants were introduced to the principles behind Photovoice, best practices for using the technique and ways in which the product can be used to affect change and inform decision-makers.  This interactive session gave participants a chance to experience Photovoice first hand through a series of activities.  As well, participants receive copies of the program manual developed for use in Simcoe County and District of Muskoka, which is easily adaptable to other communities.
CtK Does D.A.!
Josie Halycz- Vice Principal, Chris Edwards - Teacher, Teresa Di Giuseppe -  Teacher, Carla Favero - Guidance Counsellor, Halton Catholic District School Board
This session examined a whole school approach to asset building in youth. It described the initial set-up and structures of a program that encompasses positive peer interactions through student and teacher mentorship and a tutoring program that aims to address academic issues and build social capacity using the Developmental Assets.
Through the Lens of Youth in Care	Website Twitter Facebook Video What Is Needed Document
Sarah Murphy & Lisa Doran (CAS Staff) and  Jessica Del Rosso & Natalie Way (peer mentors), Family and Children Services of the Waterloo Region
Family and Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region have been focusing on youth engagement and raising the voices of youth in care. This learning session focused on two projects our youth in care have been working on – the Youth Leaving Care video and our Photovoice project. Presenters shared information about YAB (youth advisory board) and how our youth in care are being given a voice and opportunities to be more involved in decision making in our agency. Participants were joined by two the youth from our Peer Mentor Program (Just Ask Youth) and agency staff as we viewed the video and photovoice boards. Discussion shared the impact it has had on youth and workers alike.
Engaging Youth for Healthier Communities
Renata Faber, Youth Action Advisor, Lindsay Benson and Olivia Amu, REACT Peer Leaders, Niagara Region Public Health
Several youth engaged in Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) discussed what they think all adults need to know about engaging youth.  They shared some of their experiences with peer to peer health messaging and advocacy. The youth provided some practical tips on how to get youth involved and what youth can contribute. REACT reminded participants that youth who are engaged are less likely to be involved in risky behaviours such as tobacco and drug use.  Participants learned from the challenges and successes of these programs as well as how the programs are evaluated.
Asset Building and the Family Assets	Presentation Family Assets
Joanne McQuiggan, Executive Director of Lions Quest Canada
Participants learned about a ground breaking study that has provided a research-based framework to guide a positive approach to strengthening all families. Building on 20 years of groundbreaking research with the Developmental Asset Framework, The Search Institute has identified how the Family Assets focus on how families function, not on their structure. Illuminating the ways families live their lives together—how they relate to each other, how they spend their time, and how they connect to others– this key information allows us to draw out what it is families do in their day-to-day interactions that lead to positive outcomes.
Take Your Classroom Global	Request Presentation (it was too big to post!) Make Some Noise Video Intro to TIG Video TIG Website
Kate Gatto, Education Programs Manager, TakingITGlobal
TakingITGlobal (TIG) is an online international charitable organization which serves youth worldwide through a multilingual online learning community (at www.tigweb.org) and innovative education programs (through www.tiged.org). These education programs are framed by the three pillars of global citizenship, environmental stewardship, and student voice in education. This workshop provided an introduction to TIG and TIGed that enabled educators to effectively utilize the tools, resources and opportunities offered by these websites. Participants learned about the tools and resources available for youth and for educators on TIG and TIGed through guided site tours and learned how educators have used online tools for effective global learning initiatives, and global, collaborative project-based learning.
Beyond Pizza and Praise	Presentation Wyndham House Website STEPS Facebook Page
Eric Pool, Youth Recreational Coordinator for Wyndham House & Amy Estill, Health Promotion Specialist - Youth Engagement Coordinator at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Heath + youth presenter
This workshop offered practical insight into youth involvement in the creation of programming and policy for healthy communities. The speakers provided the theory behind youth engagement, practical strategies and current examples of youth engagement in community based work.  The platform for this presentation was the STEPS program (Support through Engagement in Program and Sport) – a collaborative program run by Wyndham House, supported by The City of Guelph and Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health, and funded by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. STEPS is a youth led and youth developed program that focuses on barrier free access to recreation for underserved and marginalized youth in Guelph.  This interactive presentation about the program included youth offering their insight and advice on how to help service providers improve their youth engagement strategies, program evaluations, and implement effective programming.
Connect: Becoming Intentional About One-On-One Relationships
Patrick Garrett, Pastor to Youth, Oakridge Bible Chapel
As a parent of teens or someone who works with them, you realise no two are exactly alike; so why are there so many ‘cookie-cutter’ approaches for working with them?  This session focusied on connecting with youth through real relationships, dealing with reaching students in the often neglected aspect of their life: spirituality.  Recognising how belief and worldview impact teens life choices and direction, this interactive session helped participants assess the ‘spiritual temperature’ of the youth they work with and then create a model for working from that start point in your interactions.  Additional resources and give-aways for youth workers & parents were provided.
Youth Moving Us Forward
Keith Beecroft, Youth Development Worker and Briana Barker, Student Peer Leader, Peterborough County-City Health Unit
On June 18th, 2012, our six Student Peer Leaders made their first deputation to the Havelock-Belmont-Methune Township council, presenting their findings from their PhotoVoice, YOUth Talk About..., and focus group initiatives.  These projects were designed to engage youth, and give them a voice in the recent municipal and provincial elections, and the City's planning process, and were supported by the City's recreation department and the Peterborough Social Planning Council. The City’s Community Social Plan coordinator has since come on board as a partner too.  This workshop explored the biology of why youth act and think the way they do, and overlay the "what" of youth engagment and positive youth development with the "how".
A New Kind of Parenting	View Videos Contact Cynthia
Cynthia Lindsay R.N., B.Sc.N., Halton Region Public Health Department / Our Kids Network
Our Kids Network has produced a video resource to provide service providers with information and ideas to support parents through the transition years to adolescence. The videos provide insight into the changes in development, explore the brain science and address common concerns during these years. The video resource was developed from a presentation by Dr. Jean Clinton to Halton parents in February, 2011. Segments covering topics such as myths and perceptions about teens; temperament, behaviour and parenting styles, brain science; and positive parenting strategies and techniques and Developmental Assets. Each participant received a “New Kind of Parenting” resource package: Service provider DVD, parent DVD (for parent audience) workshop guidelines and booklets.
So You Want to Engage Youth in Community-Based Research?  Lessons from the ACT for Youth Project	Resources are provided with their Keynote description.
ACT for Youth Keynote Team
Expanding on the topic of their keynote address, this session reflected on the experience of using the positive youth development perspective towards engaging youth in research.  Presenters focused on the opportunities, challenges and lessons learnt from engaging youth as both co-researchers and participants.  Particular attention was paid to: the ways youth developmental assets were built through the internship and the summer institute and the negotiation of power between youth and researchers.  The project also shared the findings from its asset-mapping survey of youth in the local community and, identify actions to enrich the asset-profile of the Jane and Finch community.
Youth Engagement and Developmental Assets!
Rebecca Teare, Research Intern, Halton Catholic District School Board; Bianca Nagy, Reserach Intern, Our Kids Network
Research related to youth engagement and developmental assets focused on building the capacity of the Our Kids Network to bridge the gap between research and practice, especially in the area of youth engagement.   Recorded youth voices sharing their reactions to the DA and the data collected by OKN in its Report Card explain a possible youth engagement knowledge mobilization framework for OKN following from their research on youth engagement. Participants learned how to embed a youth engagement framework to mobilize knowledge collected by the organization about youth in Halton.
Be a Bucket Filler	The presentation was too large to post - click here to request the presentation. Foundations of Lifelong Health Clip You Can Do It - Thumbs Up Clip 5 Yr Old Perspective on Marriage Clip
Stephanie Houghton, Supervisor Margaret Drive Child Care, Judy Shaw, Supervisor, Sedgwick Crescent Child Care, Wendy Harper, Supervisor Maple Ave. Child Care, and Cindy Morin, Manager, Regional Child Care Centres, Regional Municipality of Halton
We were so enthused after reading the Have you Filled a Bucket Today? written by Carol McCloud that we decided to adopt it for a school-wide project. This heartwarming book encourages positive behaviour as children see how rewarding it is to express daily kindness, appreciation and love. This book explains to children that we all carry an invisible bucket in which we keep our feelings about ourselves. When children have their buckets filled and learn how they can fill other people's buckets too, they understand how special, valuable, and capable they are. Participants learned how our programs intentionally became bucket fillers.
Lions Quest Programs – A School-Based Asset Building Curriculum Resource	Presentation Lions Quest School-Based Programs
Joanne McQuiggan, Executive Director of Lions Quest Canada
Character Education –Cultures of Caring Schools–Prevention– Resiliency – these are all hot topics in education circles these days.  Lions Quest has been a leader in social skill development for over 25 years and the conceptual model embodies the same concepts and research that formed the basis of the Developmental Assets Framework.  Participants learned how Lions Quest can help them meet their character education, safe and caring schools, prevention and Asset Building goals.   Teachers and Administrators in addition to staff responsible for Social Responsibility and school culture found this session useful.
An Introduction to Stepping Stones	Presentation Stepping Stones Document Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services Website
Sean Twyford, Manager, Strategic Policy Unit at the Ministry of Children and Youth Services
Stepping Stones is an evidence-based, developmentally-focused resource created through extensive dialogue with community partners, the research community, youth, and ministries across government. It describes the predictable developmental stages and events that occur between the ages of 12-25 and the supports and opportunities that young people need to transition successfully into adulthood. It will help anyone who works with, or for, youth better understand and support their development.  This session shared - what the resource is, how it was created (recruiting youth, engaging, commissioning, reviewing), how it is being used to inform policy making, service delivery, community planning and daily interactions with youth.
Dynamic Youth Engagement Through Interactive Programming	Presentation
Janet Humble, Community Health Promoter and Sandee Guindon, Youth Engagement Coordinator, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit and Gisele Girouard, Addictions Counselor, Conseil scolaire catholique Franco Nord
This presentation covered three dynamic programs that are currently being used to engage and interact with youth within the community - Mock Crash, Ados à Risque and SAP Bucket – Substance Abuse Prevention.  The three segments showcase unique opportunities for meaningful youth engagement, detailing how the students are recruited, their role in program development and implementation, and the importance of working with community partners.  An overview of each of the programs illustrated the connection to current issues and trends affecting youth and their communities.   Additional Audience - Non-Traditional Peer Leadership.
Stand Up & Speak
Lori-Ann Jakel, Sepaking Coach and Ishan, Current Youth National Winner, Stand Up & Speak
Feel nervous about public speaking?  Not sure you have what it takes? After 75 minutes in this session participants improved their speaking skills by 100%.   Participants learned tips, tricks and proven techniques to wow the next group that you present to.