Resources from Professional Development Day - April 30, 2007

The pre-conference was limited to AEPI, CBAPP, HIV prevention and LGBT provider networks in New York State - but materials are available to all!

Understanding Adolescent Sexual Health Today

• Understanding Adolescent Sexual Health Today: Ritch C. Savin-Williams and Kenneth M. Cohen, both of Cornell University, launched professional development day with the presentation “The New Gay Teen: Not Invisible, Not Gay, Not Sick,” drawn in part from the recent book by Savin-Williams. See also Savin-Williams's thoughts on a positive YD approach to sexual development.
• Bisexual and Transgender Youth: In the discussion that followed the keynote, audience members particularly asked for resources for transgender issues and understanding bisexuality.
• How do they do it in Europe? Maureen Kelly (Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes) examined European strategies for adolescent sexual health as seen through an Advocates for Youth study tour.
• STDs in NYS: This presentation by Alison Muse (NYS Dept. of Health) includes discussion of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis, statistics from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, and more: STD Trends Among NYS Adolescents.

Making Youth Programming Effective Through YD

• Jutta Dotterweich (ACT for Youth Center of Excellence) presented a wealth of ideas and resources for Making Youth Programming Effective through Youth Development.

Understanding Adolescent Brain Behavior

Emerging research on adolescent brain development provides insights into adolescent behavior. Dr. Richard Kreipe, chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine at Golisano Children’s Hospital and an ACT for Youth executive committee member, offered resources for understanding the brain:

• Dr. Richard Kreipe’s powerpoint presentation Understanding Adolescent Behavior by Understanding Brain Behavior (edited).
• ACT for Youth Research Facts and Findings publication Adolescent Brain Development.
• Time Magazine’s “What Makes Teens Tick” (available through a free archive, however, an ad may pop up prior to the article).
• See also a graphic presentation from Time, Inside the Adolescent Brain.
• A WebMD article summarizes recent research: Teens are Hardwired for Risky Behavior.
• For a technical article describing a study of the brain through adolescence, including images, see Dynamic Mapping of Human Cortical Development.

Self Injury

Professional Development Day also included a presentation by Janis Whitlock and John Eckenrode (Cornell University) on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence. Resources available include:

• Cornell Research Program on Self-Injurious Behavior offers an summary of what we know about self-injury and a list of readings and resources.
• APA Developmental Psychology article (Janis Whitlock, Jane Powers, and John Eckenrode) The Virtual Cutting Edge: The Internet and Adolescent Self-Injury.
• The University at Albany School of Public Health provides a web stream program on self-injurious behavior, featuring an interview with Janis Whitlock.

Resources from the ACT for Youth 2007 Conference

Making Positive Youth Development Happen: Everyone Has a Role to Play!

Following ACT 2007 conference and professional development day many presenters shared their materials with us. Though it’s no substitute for being there, we hope these resources will give you a taste of the topic and support your youth development work. Scroll down for resources on engaging youth, engaging community partners, making change in your organization, and energizers.  See the sidebar for information on sexual health, YD for effective youth programming, adolescent brain development, and self-injury. Our thanks to these generous presenters!

Engaging Young People

• Keynote: Ivan Juzang of MEE Productions reminded the ACT for Youth state-wide conference that caring, respectful adults can overpower the influence of negative peers and media. “The take-away message: Don’t give up your power.” Visit MEE Productions for support materials related to Mr. Juzang’s talk, Change the Game: Making a Difference with the Hip Hop Generation or to sign up for the Urban Trends newsletter.
• Engaging youth in research: ACT for Youth project director Jane Powers presented examples and tools for Engaging Youth as Research and Evaluation Partners. Further information is available in the Practice Matters article Youth as Evaluators: What’s an Adult to Do? See also the Youth and Adult Leaders for Program Excellence (YALPE) tool, which can be ordered through ACT for Youth.
• Engaging youth in community research: David Driskell, UNESCO chair for Growing Up in Cities, discussed involving youth in community mapping for research, action, and change in Community/Youth/Mapping.
• Engaging youth through service: Among the many exciting conference presenters was Children for Children (CFC). Founded in 1996 by a group of parents, including First Lady of New York Silda Wall Spitzer, CFC’s service-learning and giving programs are designed to instill the values of volunteering and giving in children at an early age. To learn more, visit Children for Children.

• School Connectedness: Janis Whitlock (Cornell University) and Susan Morisson (ACT for Youth of Erie County) discussed enhancing school success through positive climate and culture. Relevant resources include ACT for Youth Research FACTs and Findings Fostering School Connectedness and the ACT for Youth report Places to Be and Places to Belong, both by Janis Whitlock.

Community Resources

• Business: How do youth development professionals reach out to business professionals, and what roles can business play in YD initiatives? Jutta Dotterweich (Cornell University) offers ideas in Partnering Youth Development and Business presentation and resource list. See also Corporate Voices for Working Families. Another take on Jutta’s presentation is also available through Section 6 of her Positive Youth Development Resource Manual, fully downloadable on this web site.
• Media: Maureen Kelly (Planned Parenthood of the Southern Finger Lakes) discussed how to get your message out to your target audiences in Media Outreach 101.
• Schools: Mary Grenz Jalloh (New York State Center for School Safety) offered tips on speaking the language of schools and identifying common interests in Linking with Schools.

Organizational Change

• Organizations benefit from diversity primarily when people feel welcomed to fully belong and contribute. Eduardo González, Jr. and Robert E. Rich discussed the value and measurement of inclusion in Organizational Inclusion: A Measurement-to-Action Framework. See also the paper Framework of Organizational Inclusion.

Energize!

• Good ice-breakers get people to move and connect with each other! Presenter Buffy Peterson had hands down the liveliest workshop with Energize! Games, Ice-breakers, and Warm-ups. For good energizers, Buffy recommends the book Theatre for Community, Conflict & Dialogue by Michael Rohd.