An Evidence-Based Model for Planning Integrated Substance Abuse and Health Coaching for At-Risk Youth
Chudley Edward Werch, PhD, President and Research Director, Brief Programs for Health
There is an unmet need for evidence-based models that cost-effectively integrate substance abuse and health strategies for at-risk youth. The innovative Behavior-Image Model (BIM) will be described for planning strengths-based brief motivational interventions like health coaching. Steps in applying BIM to plan coaching strategies that prevent and reduce co-occurring substance use behaviors, while increasing health enhancing behaviors, positive image and goal setting skills will be discussed.
The Chosen Family: Characteristics and Interventions for At-Risk Female Gang Members
Julie Michalowski, Florida School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University, Tampa
Statistics show that there has been an increase in the number of female gang members and violent crimes committed by female gang members. We will report on characteristics of the family of origin, highlighting risk and protective factors that set the stage for young, at-risk females to seek out gang membership. We will discuss familial relationships and caregiver behavior, attachment to school and peers, effects of substance use by caregiver, and the influence each has on creating an at-risk environment for young females. We will discuss the function of ‘independent female gangs’ (female only) versus ‘separate-but-together female gangs’ (sister gangs affiliated with male dominated gangs) and will provide participants with an understanding of the function that various gang situations play in the life of a female gang member. We will portray the lifestyle and general membership structure, shed light on the expectations of female gang members and the resulting behavior. The presentation will wrap up with a discussion about current, evidence-based intervention treatments and prevention programs that can be utilized by parents in the home setting and by clinicians in the therapeutic setting.
A Look Into Poverty: Through a New Lens
Elena Aldridge, Training and Staff Development Manager, FamiliesFirst Network
When we consider issues of diversity, we usually think of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or culture. This presentation looks at diversity through the lens of economics, class and family-centered practice. Utilizing some of the concepts of Ruby Payne and Philip DeVol as well as family-centered constructs, it is a starting point where one can develop accurate mental models of poverty, middle class and wealth. It is a new lens through which one can view themselves, the families they work with and the community. With this information, we can begin to work on front-line staff skills and develop new program designs in order to improve relationships and outcomes. The presentation explores causes of poverty, hidden rules of class, the importance of language and how this information ties to Family Centered Practice. It offers a new way to think about class and gives insight into how our mental models influence our work with families. For youth it is important to be exposed to the hidden rules and ways an upbringing in generational poverty can hinder or help future goals. This workshop will provide insight and valuable information for those who work with at-risk youth as well as tools to support looking through this new lens.
Partnering with Philanthropy
Maggie Gunther Osborn, Vice President, Florida Philanthropic Network
This session will explore the elements and results of successful collaborative partnerships between funders and providers. How do you seek out and build relationships that will leverage assets, skills and connection for the greatest amount of impact on the children and families we seek to serve? Join foundation representatives as they present their knowledge and experiences of real partnerships and their results.
Pride & Prejudice: How to Improve the Quality of Service for LGBT Youth in the Juvenile Justice System
Yolanda Fairell, Professional Speaker/Trainer/Community Activist
Though LGBT youth represent an estimated 5-7 percent of the nation’s overall population of youth, they are estimated to compose 13-15 percent of youth in the juvenile justice system. These high rates are due in part to abandonment by their families and communities, and victimization in their schools. Tragically, many LGBT youth continue to experience, discrimination, victimization, and abandonment once in the juvenile justice system. In this training, participants explore ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce LGBT youth recidivism. To that end, participants will be given an opportunity to explore personal biases regarding LGBT youth, learn basic LGBT terminology, and learn practices and policies that will ensure that like other youth, every LGBT youth will be treated with dignity and respect.
Cognitive Behavioral Approaches for Treatment Resistant Clients: An Overview of the Moral Reconation Therapy Approach and Its Outcome With Adolescents
Dr. Ken Robinson, President, Correctional Counseling Inc.
This workshop will provide participants with an overview of cognitive-behavioral approaches and their use with youthful offenders. In addition, an overview of Moral Reconation Therapy’s use with the “treatment resistant” or personality-disordered juveniles will also be presented.
Gang Awareness: Guns, Drugs, & Violence
Marc Fomby, CEO, FTC Prevention Services
What makes a gang a gang? What are gangs doing in your community? What’s the difference between the 5 pointed stars and the 6 pointed stars? Which group uses which star? What do all those numbers mean? Would you like these questions and more answered? We cover it in this workshop. Traditionally, the original street gangs from the west coast (Bloods & Crips) don’t have much to do with being a part of the Nation concept. What are they doing in your community? We discuss it in this workshop.
Identifying and Utilizing Faith Based Volunteers & Resources
Pastor Cindy Lane, Founder/Director of JFJ Global Ministries, JFJ Global Ministries
Learn how to identify critical Faith Community volunteers and resources. At a time when other financial opportunities are limited, you will discover the remarkable potential that utilizing the faith community has to offer. Gain informative insight in how to tap into this vital resource and innovative ways to utilize it.
Healthcare Reform: Impact on Employers
Larry Lawman, Vice President, Bouchard Insurance
The passage of healthcare reform should bring improvements to the access and scope of insurance coverage for millions of uninsured individuals. However, the impact on employers, particularly non-profit agencies, will be very significant in the way of new fines, penalties, and premium increases due to new industry taxes. Developing a strategic plan on how to contain costs and to determine the course that is best for your organization will be critical. This presentation will give a straight forward look at the direct and indirect cost impact to employers beginning this year.
Reversing the Trend of Over-Representation: A DMC Initiative
Marcus Smith, Statewide DMC Coordinator, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, Office of Prevention and Victim Services
Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) is a Federal initiative recognizing the over-representation of minority youth coming into contact with the justice system relative to the overall population. DMC rates have substantially increased in recent years with the greatest disparities observed in Black and Hispanic populations. This workshop will educate and equip attendees on needed components to implement and analyze effective DMC reduction strategies.
COD: Rumours of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
Marcia Monroe & Doris Nardelli, VP of Network Development & Clinical services, Manager of Business Development & Marketing, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc.
All providers must accommodate co-occurring needs in populations served. In order to be effective and efficient managers of rapidly dwindling service funds it is imperative that barriers are eliminated and persons experiencing co-occurring disorders are provided with timely, culturally sensitive and fully integrated treatment services. The tools and methodology can be deployed within the given confines of existing systems – you don’t need new money, new technologies or new anything.
The History & Progression of Girls Served in the Criminal & Juvenile Justice System
Aggie A. Pappas MSW, Executive Director, PACE Center for Girls Broward
This lecture will present the history and overview of girls’ involvement in the criminal justice system as both offenders and victims. Considerable attention will be given to the treatment of girls and women in the context of our larger social system. The discussion will focus on the manner in which gender issues interconnect with race, social class, public policy, and public perceptions. Victimization patterns, gender-bias, family violence, trauma and sexual exploitation along with the developmental experiences and pathways that lead girls into the criminal justice system will also be explored. The presentation will look at the past reactions of our criminal justice system toward girls and adult female offenders, its impact on gender sentencing decisions and how we treat girls today. The ongoing development of a continuum of care that is strength-based, gender-responsive and forward thinking will be presented as key strategies to assure the sustained improvement of services and conditions for girls in our communities.
The Message in the Music: "Blame It On the Alcohol"
Marc Fomby, CEO, FTC Prevention Services
This uniquely designed workshop is excellent for individuals who are seeking a creative format to “meet the youth where they are.” This workshop uses music to establish a line of communication with today’s youth. By stressing the importance of media literacy this workshop provides tools to help participants critically analyze messages to detect subtle (or not-so-subtle) influences and suggestions that glorify and promote reckless, negative lifestyles, choices and decisions among today’s youth.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) with Juvenile Sex Offenders
Robert W. Whitford, Mr., Psychotherapy and Forensic Services, Inc.
It is well known that juvenile offenders are consistently evolving, thereby consistently changing their minds that often develop into cognitive distortions that result in negative mood states that manifests into maladaptive sexual and other behaviors. This training is designed to provide a Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment approach (REBT) that will provide the participants with a basic understanding of CBT/REBT theories and techniques that can be helpful in the assessment and treatment for adjudicated and non-adjudicated youth in treatment for sexual offending and other delinquent behaviors. Much of the presentation will focus on techniques and handouts that can assist the clients and their therapist other ideas and pathways to more adaptive functioning and problem solving.
Think Trauma: A Training for Staff in Juvenile Justice Settings
Alice Conte, Manager Child Trauma Program, Gateway Community Services
Research shows that a trauma informed, trauma focused juvenile justice program decreases behavioral issues, reduces recidivism, improves job satisfaction, and decreases organizational stress. This NCTSN product, Think Trauma Tool Kit Training is a modularized, skills-based interactive trauma-focused training curriculum developed for front line juvenile justice staff which can increase staff skills and knowledge on how to support traumatized youth and their families & reduce organizational stress.
The Adolescent Brain & High Risk Behaviors
Michael Nerney, Michael Nerney and Associates
As research provides more information about the unique character of the adolescent brain, adults have a better chance than ever to help adolescents avoid or overcome the sometimes serious problems associated with this time of life. This workshop will help participants understand adolescent development by utilizing a bio-psycho-social model with specific emphasis on exploring the changes that occur in the brain between the ages of 12 and 24. These changes include greater levels of emotional intensity, differences in self-perception, and intriguing mechanisms of assessing and responding to risks. Participants will explore the connections between the adolescent brain and high risk behavior and discuss the allure of thrill-seeking, drug and alcohol abuse, sexuality and other high risk behaviors. Participants will explore new language structures to utilize in helping adolescents acknowledge, assess and respond to high risk situations in their lives. Participants will be able to use the information in this workshop to establish a trusting relationship that will facilitate better engagement and intervention.
Breaking the Cycle: Hope for Families Experiencing Teen Abuse & Violence
Laurie Reid, CEO/President, Breaking the Cycle Consulting, Inc.
The silent topic of teen abuse and violence toward a parent or caregiver is an all too common family secret requiring an understanding that is different from traditional domestic violence theories. This presentation will introduce an innovative parent/practitioner collaboration model, including its progression from research, to pilot, to scale implemented within the juvenile justice system to significantly reduce abuse and violent behaviors within the home.
Managing Change & the New Frontiers
Marcia Monroe & Doris Nardelli, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network, Inc.
Major industry and market challenges face providers in the field – budgeting, evidenced based practice demands, new treatment modalities, regulations, data, special populations and doing more with less. However, there are tools and techniques to promote success – by identifying change strategies, employing principles of effective change and following proven steps.
Navigating Adolescence Through Peer Mentorship: The Boys to Men Program
Colin Poyser, Assistant Facility Administrator, G4S Youth Services, LLC
Young male offenders often lack the guidance of positive male role models in their lives. This workshop will discuss the foundations of an innovative program that has reached out and trained older juveniles in the juvenile justice system who have embraced the idea that change is possible and developed leadership skills to assist in mentoring younger peers. The group is overseen by senior staff who facilitate building relationships of mutual trust and respect so that the young men in the program develop important life skills, learn about the world of work, plan for the future, improve school attitudes and performance and build self confidence.
Who Is My Father? The Hidden Pain Caused by an Absent Father in a Young Man's Life
Mary E. Van Benschoten, Youth Services International
Many young male offenders come into the system without the benefit of having a father or father figure involved in their life. The impact of the absence of a father in a young boy’s life is often overlooked in the age of the non-traditional family. This workshop will explore and describe the hidden pain that is so frequently experienced by the young men who come to the attention of the juvenile justice system and discuss the detrimental impact this is having on our young men, their families and the community. Interventions to bridge the gap for these young men will be discussed including providing opportunities for mentorship, learning life skills and providing real world experiences to assist these young men in learning how to trust and be trusted.
Barely Legal: Dangerous Substances Under Regulatory Radar
Michael Nerney, Micheal Nerney and Associates
An emerging trend in substance abuse is the reformulation and packaging of intoxicating products specifically designed to skirt current drug laws. Many of these substances, including bath salts and marijuana substitutes, are effectively marketed via the internet in a way that highlights their legal status and accessibility, and ignores the significant risks associated with their use. This workshop explores the various types of quasi-legal substances, the names under which they are marketed, what makes them attractive to users, and the risks they present. Participants will also consider strategies that may be effective in preventing the abuse of these products.
Changing the Paradigm of Service Delivery
Dan Jurman, Executive Director & CEO, University Area Community Development Corporation
UACDC has recently attracted over 60 businesses, non-profits and government agencies to a comprehensive Partners Coalition. This team of colleagues will work together through UACDC’s Neighborhood Transformation Strategy, bringing their varied wisdom, skills and resources to bear on the complex problem of poverty and its many symptoms in the University Area Community. With UACDC acting as the “general practitioner,” the care of the neighborhood will be coordinated with and among these “specialists” through referral and ongoing review. Our presentation will discuss the core components of changing the paradigm of service delivery to provide a collaborative, holistic level of service and prevention in our most at-risk communities.
Dealing with the Terrorist in Your Family
Mitchell E. Wallick, Executive Director, Professional Training Association @ CARE
A hands on interactive presentation in which participants will develop skills for understanding and working with families in the area of co-dependency and enabling. This workshop will present skills and techniques that can be used to address family and clients. It will also focus on breaking denial and techniques to help convince families to stop enabling.
Developing Therapeutic Relationships: A Strength Based & Gender-Responsive Approach
Julie Bennett Barrow, Counselor, PACE Center for Girls, Inc.
PACE Center for Girls, Inc. uses a holistic, strength-based and asset building model specifically responsive to the needs of girls that has been among one of the most effective programs in the country for keeping girls from entering or re-entering the juvenile justice system. This interactive workshop will highlight the benefits of creating positive therapeutic relationships and will provide practical and applicable strength based and gender responsive tools for attendees to bring back to their programs.
Using Restorative Justice to Keep Youth in School & Out of the System
Dr. Mara Schiff, Associate Professor, Florida Atlantic University
Zero tolerance disciplinary policies directly expand the “school-to-prison pipeline” while disproportionately affecting minority students. Restorative justice (RJ) is a best-practice alternative to punitive school disciplinary policy that can accomplish system-wide change in schools. RJ can keep students in school, redefine the roles of justice professionals, educators, neighborhood and private partners, and directly impact the numbers and rates of minority youth being pushed out of school.
Building the Road of Success: Developing Collaboration from Treatment to Transition
Robert (Ruben) Drake LMHC NCC CAP, Sam Cerezo (Chaplain), Director of Clinical Services, Community Case Manager, G4S Youth Services, LLC, Columbus Juvenile Residential Facility
Research has shown that recidivism rates can be reduced by attending to the mental health needs of at risk youth. It is also evident that community resources designed to assist at risk youth is vital to their continuing success. This workshop will discuss the development of an alliance between mental health treatment and community support that is in practice today. Mr. Drake will discuss the provision of therapeutic services while keeping transition needs in focus. Mr. Sam Cerezo will provide a history of community resource development from the start of his career until the present time. This workshop is intended to help others trying to start or improve their existing service delivery. It is expected that individuals working with youth will gain useful ideas and strategies that they can take and use with the clients they serve. There will be a question and answer period following this presentation.
Engaging Parents as an Alternative to Expulsion: the Back on Track Model
Dawn J. Whitestone, LMHC, Program Manager, Center for Drug-Free Living
Increase parent involvement, reduce expulsions and decrease substance-related discipline infractions! For over ten years, Back on Track has partnered with Orange County Public Schools in an innovative and inexpensive approach to substance abuse intervention. Parents and students engage in a five-session format that has successfully met the goals of the school system and parents. Come discover how your school or organization may be able to implement this model.
Marijuana: Not A Benign Drug
Jason Baker Fields MD, University of Florida Fellow in Addiction Medicine & Medical Services Manager, DACCO
Marijuana is still the most abused illicit substance. It is often the first drug of use (or "gateway") for many youth and there is abundant evidence that the earlier the onset of use, the more likely the complications from it use. Many adolescents perceive marijuana as a harmless drug and perception of risk is directly correlated to likelihood of use. Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to the significant problems associated with regular use of marijuana. Early use of marijuana can prevent adolescents from reaching their developmental potential, puts them at risk of academic failure, increases criminality, and significantly increases the likelihood of a future substance use disorder (abuse or dependence). In addition there are significant long-term medical complications of regular use of marijuana, especially with psychopathology. It is critical that older children and adolescents are educated about the real risks of marijuana use with effective, timely prevention programs. A significant threat to preventing marijuana use is the legalization movement that has become very active in recent years in the United States. Legalization would increase the availability of marijuana to youth and would enhance the perception that marijuana is a benign drug.
Suicide Prevention in Florida's Juvenile Justice Facilities
Gayla Sumner, Director of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Joy Bennink, Clinical Director, Twin Oaks Vocational Academy
Leslie Swanson, Senior Behavioral Analyst, The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Panel discussion of successful suicide prevention practices in Florida Department of Juvenile Justice facilities. The panel will be comprised of Office of Health Services staff and clinical directors in FDJJ residential programs. The panel discussion will focus on practical information and strategies for effective implementation of suicide prevention procedures in residential settings.
The Transition from Commitment to Community: Re-Entry Partnerships
Megan Smith, Statewide Transition Coordinator, The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Jeannie Becker-Powell, The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Billy Starke, The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice
Bridging the gap from commitment to community can be challenging for youth and their families and far too often can lead to unsuccessful outcomes. The Florida Department of Juvenile Justice is working hard to address this demanding need through collaborative community partnerships. This workshop will focus on specific steps taken while a youth is in a commitment program and through careful preparation for a successful release home by wrapping them with the best resources within their community.
