Jump Start 2019

Many organizations are incorporating mindfulness training into their professional learning programs. Why? Because research is showing that the simple technique of mindfulness can have amazing results for individuals including: stress reduction, improvements in job satisfaction, emotional regulation, and better focus. Since children reflect the nervous system of the adults around them, mindfulness is an excellent practice for afterschool professionals. Educators find that as they practice techniques to become more mindful, they see improved emotional regulation, focus, and engagement among their students. In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to various mindfulness practices including sitting and walking meditations, body scan, mindful inquiry and communication exercises, and gentle yoga to support a personal and team mindfulness practice. Join us and experience the power of mindfulness.

SafeUT, the crisis chat and school safety tip line app, has been around for 3 years, yet we still come across people who don't know about the resource. With it being free, confidential, and available 24/7 and 365, we want every student, parent, and educator to understand that we are here for them in any situation. For afterschool staff, students, and families, this resource is invaluable. We will dive into the history of SafeUT, the successes that we have seen, how it functions, what users can do on the app, and how this can benefit the afterschool community. Attendees will walk away from the presentation with a deep knowledge of the app and how they can let their students and their families know that this resource is available for them.

This session will provide an overview of eating disorder behaviors, warning signs, risk factors, and support available. We will explore the myths of dieting and the way media and other factors can influence our views of self and others. Participants will be able to identify the warning signs and risk factors of eating disorders, the 10 principles of Intuitive Eating, and understand how media and other factors influence body image perspectives.

Did you know that in Utah 1 out of 10 students didn’t graduate in 2018? Are your youth at risk of becoming a number in this sad statistic? Youth faced with challenges like lack of motivation, family issues, and daily stressors can lead to dropout. In this session you will learn skills so you can help youth tackle challenges, become life long learners, and power their potential!

In this session, attendees will be provided with an overview of resources and services for teens and young adult survivors of sexual assault or dating violence. This session will review responses to disclosures and continued support for survivors.

The goal of out-of-school time programs is to have a program that creates an environment for all youth to learn and thrive. Step one for creating the environment is making sure all youth feel safe and welcome. We talk a lot about the importance of having trauma-informed and inclusive programs, but what does that look like? In this session, participants will learn the 6 components of a trauma-informed approach, reflect on what it means to have a trauma-informed and inclusive classroom, and develop concrete ways to practice inclusive and trauma-informed programming. Participants will walk away with inclusive and trauma-informed language, examples on how to empower and support their youth, and solutions on how to overcome barriers to create a safe and inclusive classroom.

This session introduces concepts of how music and movement can help youth get through tough times and move their emotions from frustrated, sad, scared, and unsure to feelings of balance and positivity. Join Arts Kids to learn strategies that will help youth in your program build resiliency and find their happy place.

Who's in foster care? How does the foster care system work? Is every young person’s experience the same? Through an interactive journey and rich discussion, participants will learn more about who is in foster care, different ways a young person can enter the system, how to better navigate the foster care system, and different ways a young person can leave the system so that they can be more supportive of foster youth and their individual case plan.

It's clear that afterschool programs provide expanded learning opportunities and a place for students to grow. It would be advantageous for these students, who are in an environment that fosters unique relationships with the educators, to also grow in areas that protect and prevent them from being manipulated and exploited. Youth are vulnerable to such exploitation by virtue of being young, including being groomed and trafficked for sex or labor. Join us to learn how the PROTECT Utah prevention education program can help to enhance your afterschool program by providing youth with opportunities to protect themselves.

Suicide is the #1 killer among our teens in Utah, and yet it is the most preventable death. Empowered with information on the signs of suicide ideation, participants will learn how to determine whether or not an individual is contemplating suicide and how to steer them towards professional resources to get the help they need. We will utilize the Question Persuade Refer (QPR) model of suicide prevention and intervention. Participants will walk away with tools that are applicable to both youth and adults.