2015 EVERGREEN ANNUAL CONFERENCE: BUILDING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FOR YOUTH & FAMILIES

Co-Sponsored by: The Sanford Center and Social Work Program

12 Continuing Education Units for the full Two-Day Conference Thursday (6.5 CEUs) and Friday (5.5 CEUs) *We will offer 2 Ethics CEUs accepted by the Board of Social Work. CEUs will be issued by the Bemidji State University Social Work Department

When: Thursday, March 19, 2015 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. and Friday, March 20, 2015 (8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. Where: The Sanford Regional Events Center - Bemidji, MN 56601 Check out our new 2015 sessions (pages 2 & 3)! n Nothing is Impossible – Dr. Terry Hitchcock n Safe Harbor Laws & Resources for Sexually Exploited Youth n Recovery After Loss & Trauma: Cultural Sources of n Adolescent Brain Development Strength & Healing n Legal Rights of Youth n Youth Suicide Prevention Panel: Resources for Schools & n Confessions of a Gamer Local Communities n 50 Shades of Grey: When Mistakes Happen (Ethics n Seeing Red: Youth Self-Injurious Behavior Credit) n Compassionate Intervention for Youth With Eating Disorders And Much More! See pages 2 & 3 inside for the complete two-day schedule.

CEUs: We are applying for CEUs from the following: n Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy - LPCs, LPCCs & LADCs n Minnesota Board of Marriage and Family Therapy - LMFTs

Note: The Minn. Board of Nursing does not offer a CEU pre-approval process, but nurses have reported back to us that they’ve had no problems having our conference CEUs accepted by the Nursing Board.

Conference Overview This conference offers youth serving professionals and organizations, as well as parents and caregivers, across Northern and Central Minnesota, North and South Dakota, and Southern Canada, opportunities to return to your workplaces and family lives inspired, reenergized, and focused on the important roles you play in supporting children, youth, and families. The conference also offers opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills and strategies that will improve outcomes for children, youth, and families in high risk situations.

Who should attend? This conference is intended for parents and caregivers, youth workers and nonprofit organization staff, tribal staff, teachers and paraprofessionals, mental health professionals and therapists, nurses, county child protection and human services staff, social workers, Rule 25 assessors, probation officers, homeless youth/family services providers, and others working with children, youth, and families. The conference is also appropriate for: ATOD prevention and treatment professionals, public health professionals, health educators, and other concerned community members and leaders. 2015 EVERGREEN CONFERENCE: BUILDING POSITIVE OUTCOMES THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015 SCHEDULE (6.5 CEUs) SESSION TIME TITLE & PRESENTER ROOM Registration Registration/Continental Breakfast/Browse Display Tables. Enjoy a Seated Massage LOBBY & (8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.) ($1 per minute). Ballrooms 1 & 2 Opening Welcome CONFERENCE WELCOME: Becky Schueller, Executive Director, Evergreen YFS Ballrooms 1 & 2 (9:00-10:15) OPENING KEYNOTE: Nothing Is Impossible Presenter: Dr. Terry Hitchcock, Motivational Speaker SHORT BREAK Browse display tables & network. Enjoy a seated massage ($1 per minute). Lobby Thursday Morning Love, Teaching, & Positive Discipline: The Power of Effective Parenting Ballrooms 1 & 2 (10:30-Noon) Presenter: Gary Russell, Evergreen Shelter Program Thursday Morning The MYTHBUSTERS Panel: Legal Rights of Youth Ballroom 3 (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Bob Enger, Northwest Minn. Legal Services, Annie Claesson-Huseby, Beltrami County Attorney, and Layne Chiodo, Public Defender’s Office Thursday Morning Safe Harbor Laws & Resources for Sexually Exploited Youth Lakeview 4 (10:30-Noon) Presenter: Bailey Wethern, Regional Navigator, Support Within Reach Thursday Morning Love Has an Age Limit: Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Crim Sex Lakeview 5 (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Elizabeth Raile, BASC, and Sky Jager, Minn. Dept. Corrections Thursday Morning The Rights of Homeless Students: Understanding the McKinney-Vento Act Lakeview 6 (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Angie Lauderbaugh, LSW, ISD 31 Homeless Student Liaison & Greg Liedl, ISD 31 Director of Transportation Thursday Morning Youth Suicide Prevention Panel: Resources for Schools & Local Communities Lakeview 7 (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Stephanie Downey, Beltrami Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Ayla Koob, Text 4 Life, Amber Larson, Stellher Human Services/Children’s Mobile Crisis Teams, Paula Lind, LSW, ISD 31 & Brian Glynn, BRIC, School Crisis Response: PrePare LUNCH KEYNOTE: Helping Youth Be Safe: Setting the Stage for Effective Adolescent Sexual Ballrooms 1 & 2 Noon – 1:30 p.m. Health Presenter: Judith Kahn, Executive Director, Teenwise Minnesota SHORT BREAK Browse display tables & network. Enjoy a seated massage ($1 per minute). Lobby Thursday Afternoon The Transformative Power of Purpose in the Lives of Youth – Part I Ballrooms 1 & 2 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenter: Dr. Jim Nelson, Psychologist, Nelson Interactive Seminars Thursday Afternoon Seeing Red: Youth Self-Injurious Behavior Ballroom 3 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenters: Mark Kuleta, LSW/LADC, Cass Lake-Bena Middle School & Nicole Brenny, M.S./LPC, Leech Lake Behavioral Health Thursday Afternoon Improving Support for LGBTQ Youth in Placement Lakeview 4 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenter: Bruce Reeves, LCSW, Univ. of North Dakota Dept. of Social Work Thursday Afternoon THE POWER OF LEARNED OPTIMISM Lakeview 5 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenter: Linda Hendrikson, M.A., UND Conflict Resolution Center Thursday Afternoon Compassionate Intervention for Youth with Eating Disorders Lakeview 6 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenter: Emily Monson, LSW, The Emily Program Foundation Thursday Afternoon Safe Harbor Laws & Resources for Sexually Exploited Youth Lakeview 7 1st Session (1:45–3:15) Presenter: Bailey Wethern, Regional Navigator, Support Within Reach SHORT BREAK Browse display tables & network. Enjoy a seated massage ($1 per minute). Lobby Thursday Afternoon The Transformative Power of Purpose in the Lives of Youth – Part II Ballrooms 1 & 2 2nd Session (3:30–5:00) Presenter: Dr. Jim Nelson, Psychologist, Nelson Interactive Seminars Thursday Afternoon An Adolescent Brain Development Refresher Ballroom 3 2nd Session (3:30–5:00) Presenter: Randy McKain, M.Ed., Oak Hills College Thursday Afternoon Improving Support for LGBTQ Youth in Placement Lakeview 4 2nd Session (3:30–5:00) Presenter: Bruce Reeves, LCSW, Univ. of North Dakota Dept. of Social Work Thursday Afternoon THE POWER OF LEARNED OPTIMISM Lakeview 5 2nd Session (3:30-5:00) Presenter: Linda Hendrikson, M.A., UND Conflict Resolution Center Thursday Afternoon The Healing Power of Laughter Lakeview 6 2nd Session (3:30-5:00) Presenter: Marcy LaCroix, Essential Laughter Thursday Afternoon Confessions of a Gamer Lakeview 7 2nd Session (3:30-5:00) Presenter: Tim Swedberg, Evergreen Shelter Program

2 2015 EVERGREEN CONFERENCE: BUILDING POSITIVE OUTCOMES FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2015 SCHEDULE (5.5 CEUs) SESSION TIME TITLE & PRESENTER ROOM Friday Morning MORNING KEYNOTE: RECOVERY AFTER LOSS & TRAUMA: CULTURAL SOURCES OF Ballrooms 1 & 2 (8:30 – 10:15 a.m.) STRENGTH AND HEALING Presenter: Sharyl WhiteHawk, Wellbriety/White Bison SHORT BREAK Browse display tables & network. Seated massage ($1 per minute). Lobby Friday Morning Seeing Red: Youth Self-Injurious Behavior Ballroom 3 2nd Session (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Mark Kuleta, LSW/LADC, Cass Lake-Bena Middle School & Nicole Brenny, Leech Lake Behavioral Health Friday Morning Compassionate Intervention for Youth with Eating Disorders Lakeview 4 2nd Session (10:30-Noon) Presenter: Emily Monson, The Emily Program Foundation Friday Morning Love Has an Age Limit: Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Crim Sex Lakeview 5 2nd Session (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Elizabeth Raile, BASC, and Sky Jager, Minn. Dept. Corrections Friday Morning The MYTHBUSTERS Panel: Legal Rights of Youth Lakeview 6 2nd Session (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Bob Enger, Northwest Minn. Legal Services, Annie Claesson-Huseby, Beltrami County Attorney, and Layne Chiodo, Public Defender’s Office Friday Morning Youth Suicide Prevention Panel: Resources for Schools & Local Communities Lakeview 7 2nd Session (10:30-Noon) Presenters: Stephanie Downey, Beltrami Suicide Prevention Coordinator, Ayla Koob, Txt 4 Life, Amber Larson, Stellher Human Services/Children’s Mobile Crisis Team, Paula Lind, LSW, ISD 31 & Brian Glynn, BRIC, School Crisis Response: PrePare LUNCH PROGRAM KEYNOTE: MINDFULNESS FOR YOUTH WORKERS: STRATEGIES TO RECONNECT & Ballrooms 1 & 2 (Noon – 1:45 p.m.) RENEW Presenter: Dr. Jim Nelson, Psychologist, Nelson Interactive Seminars SHORT BREAK Browse display tables & network. Seated massage ($1 per minute). Lobby Friday Afternoon Love, Teaching, & Positive Discipline: The Power of Effective Parenting Ballroom 3 (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.) Presenter: Gary Russell, Evergreen Shelter Program Friday Afternoon The Healing Power of Laughter Lakeview 5 (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.) Presenter: Marcy LaCroix, Essential Laughter Friday Afternoon An Adolescent Brain Development Refresher Lakeview 6 (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.) Presenter: Randy McKain, M.Ed.,Oak Hills College Friday Afternoon Confessions of a Gamer Lakeview 7 (2:00 – 3:30 p.m.) Presenter: Tim Swedberg, Evergreen Shelter Program Friday Afternoon 50 Shades of Gray: When Mistakes Happen (Ethics Credit) Ballrooms 1 & 2 (2:00 – 4:00 p.m.) Presenter: Bruce Reeves, MSW, LCSW, Univ of North Dakota Dept. of Social Work Note: This workshop goes until 4:00 p.m.to provide a full 2 hours for the Ethics Credit. *Ethics participants receive 6 CEUs for Friday.

3 About the Speakers and Presenters

Nothing is Impossible: At age 57, after losing his first wife to breast cancer, Terry ran the equivalent of 75 consecutive marathons in 75 consecutive days--arriving at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Summer Olympics. He traveled over 2,000 miles to bring awareness to the financial and emotional hardships faced by single parents and their children--everyday heroes who run quiet, yet extraordinary, daily marathons.

Dr. Terry Hitchcock. Terry Hitchcock is a well known motivational speaker. Twice a widower (both of his wives died after battles with breast cancer), he has five children. A native of Prior Lake, Minn., Terry is an author, entrepreneur, activist and business consultant who has a unique capacity to engage diverse audiences. He reaches school children, female prisoners, university students, business leaders, tribal staff, and professional athletes, portraying the human spirit that comes from his personal experiences of adversity and triumph. Terry, a veteran of the United States Air Force, helped establish a national holiday–“Grandparents Day”--and received the Distinguished Medal of Merit and American flag from President Reagan. In addition to his public speaking, Terry has authored the successful book, American Business: The Last Hurrah? and co-authored several books, including A Father’s Odyssey, upon which the films, My Run (documentary) and Pushing Life (soon to be a feature film) are based.

The Power of Effective Parenting: As a parent, you will experience some of life’s best and worst moments. Your role as a parent is to provide love, teaching, and positive discipline. The presenter will argue that “love is not a feeling,” it is a conscious decision to act in another’s best interest. From this concept, flows parenting strategies to address behavioral issues, chores, restorative consequences for mistakes kids make, and the parent’s role in helping kids internalize values that will serve them well once they leave home and don’t have “external” rules to guide behavior. This is one of the most highly rated presentations Evergreen has offered in the 10-year history of this conference. If you’re a parent, you won’t want to miss it. Even if you’ve heard it before, you’ll learn something new.

Gary Russell. For the past twenty years, Gary has served as Program Director of the Evergreen Shelter Program in Bemidji, MN. The Shelter serves youth, ages 9 to 17, who are in crisis, homeless or runaways. The majority of youth served each year present with trauma and related behavior issues. Gary has worked with at-risk children for twenty-six years, including counseling youth in residential treatment and working with emotionally and behaviorally disturbed youth at Cass Lake/Bena School. Gary initiated and facilitated the Bemidji based, Multi County Gang Task Force for four years. Gary is often requested to present on issues affecting youth. These topics include: De-escalation, Behavior Management, Toxic Solvent Abuse, Marijuana Abuse and Dependency, Trauma and Resiliency, Developmental Diversions, Love, Gang Identification and Intervention, Power Parenting, Suicide Prevention and Behavior Management Models. Gary double majored in Criminal Justice and Social Work and has a B.S. from Bemidji State University.

The MYTHBUSTERS Panel: Legal Rights of Youth: This workshop explores the different areas of law that impact youth in our community. Discussion topics will include the following: emancipation, rights of youth in extended foster care, IEP/Disability law, and the “Fair Pupil Dismissal Act.” In addition, this workshop will provide an overview of the juvenile justice system and the collateral consequences associated therewith, such as Extended Juvenile Jurisdiction (EJJ) cases, and discuss which juvenile justice records are public.

Layne Chiodo. Layne is an attorney with the Ninth District Public Defender’s Office in Bemidji, MN, where she practices criminal defense, representing adults determined by the court to be indigent and juveniles. Layne received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Bemidji State University in 2003. After graduation, Layne worked as a mental health practitioner with youth and their families before pursuing her law degree. She graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Law in 2008, where she was elected to the Order of the Barristers. While in law school, Layne served on the Moot Court Board and clerked for the Honorable Joel Medd with the Northeast Central Judicial District Court in Grand Forks, ND.

Annie Claesson-Huseby. Annie is the newly elected Beltrami County Attorney. She holds a Juris Doctorate and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of North Dakota. Her legal career began in 2001 when she was hired by Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota as a Staff Attorney. In 2004, she became an Assistant Beltrami County Attorney, later rising to the Chief Assistant Beltrami County Attorney from 2006 thru 2014. During the past decade, Annie has handled a wide variety of cases including Children in Need of Protective Services, Juvenile cases, and felony prosecutions. She is passionate about protecting our community’s most vulnerable residents and believes that CHIPS and Juvenile cases are among the most important cases the County Attorney’s Office handles due to the opportunity to create positive change.

Bob Enger, Esq. Bob is a past President of the Minnesota Bar Association and is currently the Supervising Attorney for Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota, based in Bemidji. He has provided services in this area for more than 20 years. Bob provides direct “civil legal services” (he does not practice criminal law) to low-income individuals in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen Counties. Legal Services is not a governmental entity and his clients are not charged for the services he provides. Bob is a long-time member of the Evergreen Youth & Family Services Board of Directors, and has frequently presented to Independent Living Skills classes for youth on legal rights and responsibilities.

4 Safe Harbor Laws & Resources for Sexually Exploited Youth: This session will provide information on the new Safe Harbor/No Wrong Door laws, addressing the definition of sexual exploitation, how to identify sexual exploitation, and the societal demand for youth being exploited. An important component of this session is to help youth-serving professionals understand the importance of identifying SEY youth and connecting them to the regional and statewide collaboratives that exist to provide victim-centered services.

Bailey Wethern. Bailey is currently the Northwest Safe Harbor Regional Navigator serving sexually exploited youth (SEY) in a multi-county service area for Support Within Reach. Bailey provides education to providers on sexual exploitation issues, and provides case-management to SEY youth in need of services. She formerly worked with emotionally disturbed youth in a treatment facility and provided advocacy for the homeless community in Bemidji. Bailey has worked with developmentally disabled individuals in Bemidji MN and has volunteer experience in mentoring and sexual assault advocacy training. Bailey Graduated from Bemidji State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a Minor in Chemical Dependency.

Love Has an Age Limit: Understanding the Alphabet Soup of Crim Sex: The statutes defining inappropriate sexual relationships are dense and complicated…not exactly light reading! Unfortunately, many youth are brought to Court for engaging in relationships which they believed to be consensual and “normal”, but which are actually predatory offenses as defined by law. Specifically, teenagers in relationships with more than a two-year age difference may be at risk for serious legal consequences. This session explains exactly what the law states regarding sexual relationships among youth, what the potential consequences are for legally non-consensual activities, and what your role as supportive professionals and mandated reporters is in these cases.

Elizabeth Raile, M.S. Elizabeth serves Beltrami County youth and families through the Delinquency Intervention Program, a collaboration of the Beltrami Area Service Collaborative and the Minnesota Department of Corrections. She received her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Cloud State University in 2011 after researching and developing a model of Restorative Justice programming for youth offenders in Beltrami County as a part of her Master’s project. She believes that restorative practices are important strategies to engage youth in building and repairing relationships, and that by providing youth with opportunities to “ make things right” with those they have harmed, youth will become empowered and restored as productive community members.

Sky Jager. Sky is currently a Senior Corrections Agent for Minn. Dept. of Corrections/Bemidji Office, where she provides supervision to adult and juvenile offenders and co-facilitates sex offender treatment groups. Sky previously served as a Truancy Case Manager/ Delinquency Interventionist in the Beltrami Juvenile Probation Office. She developed the “Love Has an Age Limit” Campaign logo. Sky obtained her Social Work Degree from Bemidji State University. She is a former Evergreen Housing Case Manager.

The Rights of Homeless Students: Understanding the McKinney-Vento Act: This workshop will review the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Students Act and guidelines and best practice ideas for working with homeless students and those in housing transition. We will examine which students in your district may qualify for McKinney-Vento services and what services should be provided to homeless youth and others who qualify for McKinney-Vento services. Transportation issues, enrollment processes and referral procedures will be reviewed.

Angie Lauderbaugh, LSW. Angie describes herself as a wife and mother of “3 amazing children.” She is also a licensed social worker, and has been a school social worker since 1995. She started working with students who had chemical health issues when she served as the Safe and Drug Free Schools Coordinator from 1995-2001. In 2008, she began her current position as the Bemidji School District Homeless Liaison. She quickly became very passionate about her position and the children and families she serves. It has opened her eyes to the “invisible” barriers that can make it extremely difficult for families in “housing transition” and those experiencing homelessness to enroll and be successful in school. The McKinney-Vento Act works to remove barriers for homeless students, andAngie looks forward to sharing how it can be used to improve the lives of homeless students in other schools.

Greg Liedl. Greg has been the Transportation Coordinator for Bemidji Area Schools/ISD 31 since 1999. He started in the school bus industry in 1995 as the safety trainer for Alexandria Public Schools and was promoted to Transportation Director in 1997. Prior to his school bus experience, he served 14 years as a trooper with the North Dakota Highway Patrol. In 1999 he retired as a security forces supervisor from the U.S. Air Force Reserve. He is a graduate of Northland Community College, with an Associate of Arts degree in Law Enforcement.

Youth Suicide Prevention Resources for Schools and Local Communities: This workshop is a panel presentation of best practices and suicide prevention resources appropriate for prevention, intervention and postvention responses. Panel members will provide information on the TXT4Life Text Crisis Line, the Mobile Crisis Response Teams, school-based suicide prevention programming, and proactive responses to suicide crises, as well as policy and protocol recommendations. Participants will gain knowledge of area crisis response resources, gain understanding of postvention responses and the importance of school protocol, as well as suicide prevention best practices, including Gatekeeper Training.

5 Stephanie Downey. Steph is currently the Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Evergreen Youth & Family Services for the Beltrami Area Suicide Prevention Program. She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice, with minors in Chemical Dependency and Sociology from Bemidji State Univ. Steph has 20 years of experience working in youth residential treatment (both mental health and substance abuse issues). She has been involved as a key stakeholder with the Suicide Prevention Program from its inception and became the coordinator of the program in 2008. Steph has strong working relationships with staff from the Minnesota Department of Health, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) and many local agencies. She facilitates the Headwaters Alliance for Suicide Prevention, a regional alliance of schools and community groups devoted to eliminating suicide in the region through education, advocacy and community involvement.

Brian Glynn, M.S. Brian has been a school psychologist for the past 22 years and was previously an EBD teacher in Chisholm, MN. He also worked as an In-Home Family worker in the Pine River- Backus schools. Brian received his M.S. in School Psychology from Minnesota State University- Moorhead. For the past 20 years, he has been a school psychologist serving schools in Northern Minnesota through the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council (BRIC). Brian currently serves the Cass Lake-Bena, Laporte, and Indus schools. Brian is an active trainer in the CPI and PREPARE programs through the National Association of School Psychologists.

Ayla Koob, LSW. Ayla is the TXT4Life Regional Coordinator for the North Central Region. A graduate of Bemidji State University with dual degrees in Social Work and Psychology, Ayla also received a Minor in Chemical Dependency Counseling. Her passion is prevention. She worked as a Mental Health Worker prior to her role with TXT4Life. Ayla also works at Support Within Reach, providing victim services and as the Anishinaabe Outreach Coordinator. TXT4Life is a new suicide prevention program that recently came to Northern MN. It gives individuals in crisis the opportunity to talk to a trained counselor via texting. The Regional Coordinator conducts school presentations on suicide prevention and TXT4Life, markets TXT4Life materials, and offers community trainings.

Amber Larson. Amber is the Coordinator of Crisis Services for Stellher Human Services, which manages the Children’s Mobile Crisis Teams for Clearwater and Hubbard Counties. She also works as a CTSS provider in the Bagley school district through Stellher. Amber has many years of experience providing CTSS and working with you in a residential treatment center.

Paula Lind, MSW. Paula holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and has worked as a School Social Worker for ISD 31 for 15 years. She was part of a team that helped establish the Beltrami Suicide Prevention Program in the 2005-2007 period. Paula is a member of School-Linked Mental Health Team and other community interagency review teams supporting children with mental health concerns.

Helping Youth Be Safe: Setting the Stage for Effective Adolescent Sexual Health: You’ve heard the phrase, “What gets measured, gets done”? In terms of outcomes for adolescents, how we frame questions and measure program outcomes can affect whether young people develop with confidence and competence. Are your program outcomes focused on reducing risk-taking behavior? Or do they aim to foster decision-making capabilities? This presentation asks the questions: What do we want for our young people? How can we shift program/service goals to focus on capacities, strengths and developmental needs? What does it look like to have developmentally supportive people and places for youth?

Judith Kahn, MSW. Judith has devoted her professional and personal life to ensuring that young people have the knowledge, skills, and supports they need to live healthy lives and opportunities to contribute to solving the issues that affect their lives. Currently, she is the Executive Director of Teenwise Minnesota, the statewide leader in promoting adolescent sexual health and preventing adolescent pregnancy. She was formerly the Executive Director of the Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, an intergovernmental policy organization focused on child and youth policy for Minneapolis. She is also the founding director of the Konopka Institute for Best Practices in Adolescent Health in the Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine at the . Judith is the author of several articles and sits on the board of local children and youth-serving organizations.

The Transformative Power of Purpose in the Lives of Youth – Parts I & II: Youth today grow up in a culture of rampant consumerism that suggests having “stuff” and attending lots of events, will lead to happiness. This egocentric and hedonistic message has eroded traditional values of compassion, service, and respect for others. Growing numbers of youth are left without a clear sense of purpose leading to depression and addictive behaviors as they search for meaning. This interactive and experiential workshop offers exercises that help youth clarify their life purpose. This self-created purpose can transform pain and dissatisfaction into an inspired life of service and joy.

6 Jim Nelson. Jim is back at Evergreen’s 2015 Conference by popular demand! Last year, participants told us “we could listen to Jim talk forever.” After graduating magna cum laude in Psychology from the University of Minnesota and receiving two master’s degrees, Jim worked as a licensed psychologist for fifteen years at the Family Life Mental Health Center in Coon Rapids. Jim served on the Anoka County Mental Health Advisory Board as an advocate for the mentally ill, taught high school psychology for more than 20 years, and served 12 years as a clinical psychologist for the Anoka- Hennepin School District. He was a Board Member for the Meditation Center in Minneapolis for over twenty-five years, and has taught meditation for thirty-plus years. Recently retired from teaching and private practice, Jim speaks nationally and internationally on a broad range of topics including: “The Art of Joyful Living, “The Power of Forgiveness,” “The Sources of Emotional Pain,” “On Becoming your own Psychologist’, “Silence as Therapy,” and on themes for transforming (youth) pain from his recent book--Running on Empty.

The Healing Power of Laughter: Laughter Yoga is a unique and simple concept: anyone can laugh for health and wellness. There’s no special equipment or complicated poses. Guided laughter exercises turn into real and spontaneous laughter. Participants will hear the benefits of laughter and experience the joy of laughing for the health of it!

Marcy LaCroix. Marcy LaCroix is a life long resident of Bemidji and a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader. She has been active with the Suicide Prevention Program and supporting those who have lost loved ones and friends to suicide. Marcy became a Certified Laughter Yoga Leader in an effort to continue her own healing, to share the healing power of laughter for those in emotional and physical pain, and to bring together those who love to laugh!

The Power of Learned Optimism: Let Learned Optimism transform your life…and the lives of your children, students, and clients. Drawing on the work of Martin Seligman, the presenter will explain the three dimensions of thought and help participants consciously think about how they explain good and bad events to themselves, as well as how they choose new thoughts. This is really about “paying attention to the thoughts you didn’t know you have.” The presenter will use guided exercises to allow participants to practice on themselves so that they can gain the mastery needed to help others. Participants will also discuss common thoughts youth have and how to help youth choose new thoughts.

Linda Hendrikson, M.A. Linda is a retired Conflict Management Consultant at the UND Conflict Resolution Center, where she served as a mediator, group facilitator, trainer, and mentor to new mediators. She holds an M.A. in Counseling and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Dakota. Linda has presented nationally and internationally at conferences on conflict, emotional intelligence, and non-violent communication. Linda also co-authored two chapters in the book, “Designing Mediation,” published by the Institute for the Study of Conflict.

Recovery After Trauma and Loss: Sources of Cultural Strength and Healing: As a youth service professional, how do you help youth process trauma and loss in healthy ways? Sharyl Whitehawk hopes that someday we will have communities where our youth do not experience abuse and trauma. Until that day, she is committed to helping communities understand how to help youth get to the root causes of their trauma and loss and move toward healing and recovery. She shares her personal story, using her own family’s intergenerational woundedness, in order to help others understand the many layers of pain that Native youth carry and to help participants understand sources of cultural strength and healing.

Sharyl Whitehawk. Sharyl is an enrolled member of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibway Tribe of Northwest Wisconsin and currently lives in Minneapolis. She is a certified chemical dependency counselor & prevention specialist. Sharyl is also a public speaker, trainer & consultant specializing in helping Native American communities in the United States and Canada, to heal from unresolved grief, loss & traumas, domestic & sexual violence, alcoholism & addictions. Sharyl also teaches communities how to help individuals affected by prenatal exposure to alcohol. She is the founder of “Women of Wellbriety”, a culturally based organization devoted to supporting women to heal and live in wellness, using a medicine wheel model. She, herself, is a survivor of childhood & adult, physical & sexual violence & abuse, and is 34 years in recovery from alcoholism and addiction. She is honored and grateful to be the mother of ten children, grandmother of twenty nine, and foster mom to more than 30. She is committed to working to make the world a better place for her family, all our peoples, and the coming generations.

7 Improving Support for LGBTQ Youth in Placement: This workshop addresses the unique issues affecting LGBTQ youth who are homeless or in out-of-home-care. Information shared is designed to be useful to both professionals and parents. The goals of this session are to: 1) Identify issues of risk, challenge, and strengths specific to LGBTQ youths and young adults, and the people and agencies serving them; 2) Help participants understand their professional responsibilities as youth service providers to offer welcoming, inclusive services to LGBTQ youth & young adults; and 3) Further develop participants’ professional LGBTQ youth cultural competency and the competency of their agencies.

Bruce Reeves, MSW, LCSW. Bruce is an Assistant Professor with the Department of Social Work at the University of North Dakota, where he is also the Director of Field Education. Bruce’s passion and expertise is in the field of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender social justice issues. In addition to his work at the University of North Dakota, he is a trainer for several national organizations, including National Association of Social Worker’s (NASW) and Lambda Legal’s joint training project dealing with issues of LGBTQ Youth in Out- of-Home-Care, the NASW’s HIV Spectrum Project, and SAMHSA’s Rapid HIV Testing and Prevention Initiative Training Program.

Confessions of a Gamer: Hooked on Angry Birds? Whether you regularly game or have never played an electronic game, you will definitely learn things you didn’t know…about what your children and your students are doing in interactive electronic games and how this is significantly different from online movies and music. This presentation will help participants understand the subculture of video gaming from the inside out, the potentially addictive nature of gaming, the related privacy implications of competitive gaming, and the breadth and scope of the industry. This presentation is intended to bridge the gap between video gaming subculture outsiders (often parents) and insiders (often youth) to improve communication and early intervention. During this session, the presenter will share both research and his personal experience of what it is like to be so intensely connected to the virtual reality found in electronic games and the resulting disconnection with other relationships with real human beings and other important asset-building and developmental activities.

Tim Swedberg. Now 22, Tim reports that he grew up with “an intense fascination for video games.” At one point, he played for 60+ hours a week, which led to him leaving college. Tim returned to school and is currently pursuing his Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology. He developed this presentation for a class, which combines significant research with his personal experiences as a gamer. A college student at Oak Hills and a current Evergreen Shelter Youth Counselor, Tim formerly worked as a camp counselor and is the men’s head resident director at Oak Hills.

Seeing Red: Youth Self-Injurious Behavior: Do you work with youth who have cuts, burns, or other wounds that concern you? Do you have questions about whether these injuries are self-inflicted and how you can help? This workshop provides an overview of different types of self-injurious behavior, interventions, and therapy. This session focuses on what drives the behavior, rather than focusing on the injury. Presenters will distinguish between self-injury and potentially suicidal behavior.

Nicole A. Brenny, MS, LPC. Nicole is a Licensed Professional Counselor and supervisor of the Children’s Therapeutic Supports and Services (CTSS) program for the Cass Lake-Bena School District, employed by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. She holds a BS Degree in Psychology, MS Degree in Mental Health Counseling, and is a PhD doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology. Nicole’s experience includes serving individuals of all ages for the Red Lake Nation and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, with a focus on challenging and re-defining how mental health services are delivered to Native American children and adolescents. Nicole is a wife and mother who enjoys camping, golfing, quilting and traveling.

Mark Kuleta, LSW/LADC/ATOD Counselor. Mark is a father of three and lives in Bemidji with his wife and family. He is currently a School Social Worker at Cass Lake Middle School, as well as the Drug Prevention and Intervention Counselor. Previously, Mark ran a sober school, the Aeteshing Program, for high school students at the Cass Lake ALC. He has worked with youth in a variety of capacities for 38 years. Mark is a licensed Social Worker and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

8 An Adolescent Brain Development Refresher: The Impact of Trauma, Substance Abuse, and Parenting Styles: This session will discuss the developmental stages of adolescence, brain development and the challenges of growing up and parenting in today’s modern, technological world. This presentation will help participants understand critical brain development issues and research. Participants will also learn strategies for helping work through problems when developmental damage has occurred. Randy will review the research by Dr. Ken Winters from the University of Minnesota, as well as Dr. David Walsh’s work.

Randy McKain, M.Ed. Randy holds an M.Ed. in Counseling and School Psychology and has more than 25 years of experience working with youth and families in educational systems, residential treatment, mental health and faith-based organizations. The father of 3 grown children, Randy is a highly positive presenter and believes in taking a strengths-based approach to youthwork.

Compassionate Intervention for Youth with Eating Disorders: Eating disorders are serious, life-threatening conditions that are not well understood by parents, caregivers, and the health and human services community, especially in the early identification stage. This session provides basic information to increase understanding of eating disorders and the presence of co-occurring issues, recovery strategies and potential complications, and guidelines on how to communicate concern for a youth who might be struggling with an eating disorder. This session advocates for health “at every size” and will address the underlying societal challenges of dieting and building positive relationships with food.

Emily Monson, LSW. Emily received her B.A. in Social Work from St. Catherine University in 2013. She joined The Emily Program Foundation as a Social Worker and Community Educator in August, 2013, where she appreciates the opportunities for public speaking and advocating for the prevention of eating disorders. Primarily working through schools via conducting workshops, presentations and analyzing media literacy, Emily’s job is to raise awareness and education about eating disorders and related issues. Emily’s passion for this work comes from supporting many people in her personal life who experience eating disorders. Emily is a past presenter at both the Minnesota Social Services Association (MSSA) Conference and at the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Conference.

Mindfulness for Youth Workers: Strategies to Reconnect and Renew: The lives of youth workers, human services professionals, and mental health professionals can be fulfilling…but also frustrating and emotionally draining. Are there ways to handle the sometimes overwhelming demands in order to minimize stress and maximize our effectiveness, creativity, and contentment? Yes! This interactive seminar will share strategies that reconnect and renew you and bring greater balance and increased effectiveness to your work.

Jim Nelson. Please see Jim’s bio above.

50 Ethical Shades of Gray – When Mistakes Happen: There are seldom clear or easy answers to ethical dilemmas. That is why they are dilemmas. This workshop will discuss the nature of professional mistakes, responses of the professional social worker and the Agency, and identify prevention strategies through case examples that will illustrate the problems and the process used to address them.

Bruce Reeves, MSW, LCSW. Please see Bruce’s bio above.

About Evergreen Youth & Family Services, Inc. Evergreen Youth & Family Services is a community-based organization committed to strengthening youth and preserving families with an emphasis on those living in northern Minnesota. Each year, Evergreen staff work with more than 2,500 children, teens, young adults, and families. Founded in 1977, Evergreen Y&FS is the parent organization for the Evergreen Shelter, Evergreen Youth Services, and the Evergreen Youth Drop-in Center. Since 2009, the Beltrami County Suicide Prevention Program, the Kinship North Mentoring Program, the Bemidji Youth Advisory Commission, and the Bemidji Skate and Bike Association have been part of the Evergreen family of programs. For more information or to make a gift, please visit www.evergreenyfs.org.

9 Train Locally! This conference a great staff development tool designed to give staff both new tools and inspiration to return and give their best on the job. Save gas and hotel costs by attending training in your region. Save 10+ hours travel time to the Twin Cities!

Conference Facility: Evergreen’s 2015 Conference has been graciously welcomed back by the Sanford Regional Events Center, which is generously co-sponsoring the Conference. The conference facility is on the Southside of Bemidji. ( on the map below.) Last year’s participants appreciated the larger space for meals and keynotes, larger breakout rooms, and abundant parking. The Sanford Center is located on First Street, SE in Bemidji. This is a handicap-accessible facility and all rooms are on one level. There is also a family bathroom to provide privacy for nursing and breastfeeding mothers.

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2 B F E Lake Bemidji A 2 197

G 2 BSU 71 Paul Bunyan Dr./Bemidji Ave. 5th Street

CD Lake Irving e. S/197 ashington Av W

Hotels – A block of rooms has been reserved at the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson in Bemidji, directly adjacent to the Sanford Center. Please reserve rooms by February 18th to get the $90/night rate and to guarantee your room. Please contact the hotel to reserve and pay for your room -- Tel: 218-441-4800; address: 927 Lake Shore Drive NE. There are a variety of other hotels in Bemidji within 10-15 minutes of the conference site:

A Best Western – (218) 751-0390 D Hampton Inn – (218) 751-3600 2420 Paul Bunyan Drive 1019 Paul Bunyan Drive South

B Comfort Inn – (218) 444-7700 E Holiday Inn Express – (218) 751-2487 or 800-HOLIDAY U.S. Highway 2 West 2422 Ridgeway Avenue NW

C DoubleTree by Hilton – (218) 441-4400 F Super 8 – (218) 751-8481 or 800-800-8000 115 Lakeshore Drive 1815 Paul Bunyan Drive NW

Share your work (ideas, good things happening in your workplace, etc.). Bring your business cards and brochures about your program or agency. Network! Network! Network! 2015 EVERGREEN YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES ANNUAL CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

To Register: Please visit www.evergreenyfs.org and click on the 2015 Conference Button. You may register online (and we prefer it) even if you choose to mail in a check or purchase order for payment. For paper registrations, please print clearly so that we do not “rename” you. Still a Great Deal! Registration fees for the full conference include: registration, all materials, a continental breakfast, lunch, and coffee available throughout the day for both days. Participants who have attended previous conferences say that they were well fed! Early bird/Person Late Registration/Person On/Before Feb. 16, 2015 After Feb. 16, 2015 Individual Attendees: _____ x $225 _____x $260 Minimum of 3: _____ x $210 _____x $260 from same organization Minimum of 5: _____x $195 _____x $260 from same organization Group of 10+: _____x $175 _____x $235 from same organization Enclosed is $______for _____ individuals for the full conference registration. Each participant must submit a registration form (Register online or copy this form for multiple registrants from the same organization.)

If you are part of a larger group registration, please list the group name: ______Stop: before registering your group, please have each member complete and return a paper registration to you so you have all the required information.

______Participant First and Last Name (as you wish it to appear on your Certificate of Attendance)

______Organization

______Mailing Address Please check: Work___ Home___

______Work Phone___ Home Phone___ (for emergency notification only) Cell___

______Email Note: Conference communication will occur primarily via email. Please let us know if email is not the best way to communicate with you. Check one option:______Email works _____ Email does NOT work; mail to my address listed above.

Lunch on Thursday and Friday: Please inform us if you need a vegetarian option: I will eat lunch on Thursday _____ Vegetarian _____ I will eat lunch on Friday_____ Vegetarian _____ Dietary restrictions (gluten-free, vegan, etc.) please note:______

We plan to pay via: ___Check (made payable to Evergreen Youth & Family Services, Inc.) ___Agency/School/Tribal Purchase Order (made payable to Evergreen Youth & Family Services, Inc.) If you select this option, you will receive an invoice. Actual payment must be received by Feb. 27, 2015.

Paper registrations may be sent to: PO Box 662, Bemidji, MN 56619, ATTN: 2015 Conference Fax: (218) 751-8070, Attn: Conference Registration Email: [email protected]

THE FINE PRINT Confirmation and Cancellation: Confirmation will be sent upon receipt of registration. Please allow 5 days for confirmation. Substitute registrants may be designated at any time, but we will need 10 days notice for those requesting a CEU certificate from the BSU Social Work Department. We respectfully request that cancellation requests be made in writing. Cancellations must be submitted by March 1, 2015. If you cancel, you may send a substitute or receive a refund less a $35 processing fee. Cancellations after March 1, 2015, or failure to attend without notice of cancellation will result in a charge of the full conference fee. As we have absorbed all related costs, we are not able to make exceptions to this policy. We are not able to give refunds or cash credits for partial attendance. What about Blizzards? Winter weather cancellations will follow MNSCU – Bemidji State University in Bemidji. If the conference is cancelled, it will be re-scheduled for 4-6 weeks later; we will notify participants of the new date. PRST STD

PRST FIRST CLASS PRST STD

Evergreen Youth & Family Services, Inc. PO Box 662 Bemidji, MN 56619-0662 Tel: (218) 751-8223 Fax: (218) 751-8070 www.evergreenyfs.org

Strengthening Youth and Preserving Families for 38 Years!

Why You Will Enjoy Attending Evergreen’s 2015 Conference: • The cheapest way to get 12 CEUs and have a great time doing it! • Preview great speakers who you can invite to your organization. • Return to your job and/or family with inspiration and new tools! • No need to travel St. Cloud or the Twin Cities! • Hear experiences relevant to our community. • Great food! And, the Sanford Center’s new pop machine! • Learn from and network with colleagues.

CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS: Amity Graphics – Bemidji, MN Prairie St. John’s – Fargo, MN First National Bank – Bemidji, MN Minnesota Children’s Trust Fund – St. Paul, MN Nystrom & Associates – Brainerd, MN WINGS Treatment Center – Lichtfield, MN

Registration Questions: After Jan. 10, 2015, please feel free to contact our registration coordinator, Nikki Brein, at [email protected] or (218) 308-9007 (direct line) or (218) 751-8223, x122. Register online at: www.evergreenyfs.org.