All pre-institute sessions take place on Tuesday, August 9, the day before the full conference begins, and are free of charge to anyone who is interested in attending (conference participation is not required). Space at the pre-institute sessions is limited, so please register only if you plan to attend. Details about each session and the registration form are below:
Ending Youth Homelessness in Texas: Youth Count Texas! Findings, Recommendations, and Planning Together
Tuesday August 9th, 2016, 10:00am- 4:00pm (Lunch included)
With speakers from TNOYS, the University of Houston, and Texas Appleseed
Join us for an opportunity to focus on youth homelessness and give direct input on strategic recommendations to improve services and supports in Texas. This day-long, interactive session will include a presentation on findings from Youth Count Texas!, the first statewide study of youth experiencing homelessness in Texas that was conducted in 2015-2016 in collaboration with a network of service providers and leaders across the state. You will hear what the surveys revealed – the trends, experiences and issues faced by youth – as well as learn (and ask questions) about the legal rights of homeless youth and the responsibilities of providers who serve them. Most importantly, you will have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to policy recommendations and advocacy plans that could dramatically improve funding and programming for these vulnerable youth. Everyone with an interest in ending youth homelessness is invited – shelter staff, street outreach, school liaisons, CoC partners, community members, leaders, advocates, and more!
Leading the Change from Control to Collaboration
Tuesday August 9th, 2016, 1:00pm- 4:00pm
Re-examining coercive practices and building strategies to reduce/eliminate restraint and seclusion of children
With Frank Delano, LMSW and Jill Shah LPC
The increasing focus on the impact of trauma on children and the importance of trauma-informed care has led to a golden opportunity for all of us to re-examine some of the coercive practices that have been historically used as a way to be responsive to “acting out behavior.” This highly interactive session will include discussion of how to be a leader at any level in a program to champion and build momentum for organizational change toward trauma-informed care, and away from practices like restraint and seclusion. This includes discussion and debate of the question: “Restraint and seclusion of children: Is it a last resort therapeutic intervention or a therapeutic failure?” They will present strategies used to reduce restraints in a 40 bed adolescent girls unit of a large residential center to zero over a two year period. Frank and Jill are skilled trainers who present nationally and internationally. They have expertise in leadership development as well as in key youth services topics. This institute will provide practical, solution-oriented strategies for positive change.