Past Conferences
36th Annual Conference on Youth (2025)
SPEAKERS
Peter Mutabazi
Opening Keynote Address: When One Showed Up: The Anchor in Consistency
The Foster Care Journey: Parenting Without Power but With Unstoppable Love
Erin Hollowell, LMHC, SPT, Therapist, Bowen Health
Jess Hatcher, Outpatient Licensed Therapist, Bowen Health
How to Regulate in Chaos, Part 1: Develop Nervous System Awareness to Self-Regulate
How to Regulate in Chaos, Part 2: Decoding Big Behaviors and Coregulating to Connect
Mindy King, President, Limelight Analytics
Measuring Program Outcomes with Survey Data
Janine Domingues, The Child Mind Institute
Behind the Behaviors: Understanding and Supporting Student Anxiety
Boundaries That Build: Strengthening Family Support Around Friendship, Screens, and Growing Up
Dr. Lawanda Ravoira, President Emeritus, Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center
Cassie Beer, Women’s Fund Of Greater Fort Wayne
Allen County Young Women & Girls Report
Girl-Centered Practice
Dr. Jeremy Coleman, Founder, Century Solutions
Vaping—Understanding the Why to Curb Use
Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be
Staff Culture That Wins
Doug Kellenberger, Author｜Speaker｜Relationship Coach, Real Men Are Vulnerable
The Necessity and Effectiveness of Emotional Connection
Frederick Yeakey, Host, The Barbershop Male Mentoring Podcast
Midday Keynote: Becoming the Mentor They Need: A Transformational Journey
Nikki Fultz, Executive Director, Fort Wayne Pride
Kristy Lindeman, Victim Assistance, FWPD
Safe Spaces & Strong Support: Working Effectively with LGBTQ+ Youth
35th Annual Conference on Youth (2024)
SPEAKERS
Sajel Bellon
Opening Keynote Address: Live L.I.F.E. Unapologetically: Lean into the Full Experience of Being Human Mid-day Keynote Address: Talk More to Lose Less
Kendall Cotton Bronk, Ph.D. (Claremont Graduate University, School of Social Science, Policy & Evaluation)
Helping Young People Cultivate their Purpose in Life and Thrive
Closing Keynote Address: Leading and Thriving with Purpose
Janine Halloran, LMHC
Helping Kids Cope with Frustration and Challenges
Coping Skills for Youth Experiencing Anxiety, ADHD, and Anger
Lorenzo Lewis
Beyond the Shop: An Evidenced-Based Approach to Community Mental Health
Download presentation.
Equipping Marginalized Women through Promising Mental Health Intervention Practices
Alive Community Outreach
Building Beloved Community: Empowering Youth Through Nonviolent Leadership
Hidden Victims: The Impact of Homicide on Youth and Families
Kerrie Fineran, Ph.D. & Brooke Sellhorn, M.A., LMFT
Creating a Culture of Care: Essential Skills and Instilling the 4 Cs
Supervision Skills 101: Developing Effective Practices
Dave Johnson, Ph.D.
Wonder, Awe, and Mindful Self-Care in an Era of Burnout
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2024 Youth Mental Health Summit
SPEAKERS
Dr. Tamika Zapolski
Implementing Dialectical Behavior Therapy Principles and Strategies for Youth Presenting with High-Risk Behaviors
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Black Youth
Tiffany Creager
Healing Centered Engagement
Effective Strategies for Youth with Anxiety
Paige Clingenpeel
The Intersection of Faith & Mental Health: Discipleship in Action
Equipping Youth in the Digital Age
Kerrie Fineran, Ph.D.
Brooke Sellhorn, LMFT
Let’s Talk About Mental Health: Essential Skills and Instilling the 4 C's
Let’s Talk about Mental Health: Having Difficult Conversations
Cindy Maldonado-Schaefer
Erick T. Baker
Death Happens - Let’s Talk, Rally, and Support!
Death Sucks! Strategies for Helping Youth Heal
34th Annual Conference on Youth (2023)
Go Be Great: COMMUNITIES Transforming Through Connection
SPEAKERS
Maurice Clarett
Opening Keynote: My Life. My Story. My Redemption.
Kelly Ambriole (CEO of the Ox Agency, Optimizing People, Process, and Performance)
Generational Communication
Lead Yourself First
Monica Mendoza & August Haven
Growth Zone: Organizational Learning
Growth Zone: The Role of Vulnerability in Youth Work
Luke Niforatos (Executive Vice President, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, Foundation for Drug Policy Solutions)
Hot Topics in the Efforts to Legalize All Drugs
Lessons Learned in Legalized States
Megan Helmen, Ph.D. (Developmental Discoveries Neuropsychology)
Neurodiversity: When Disability and Identity Intersect
Supporting Emotional Regulation in Neurodivergent Youth
Subtle but Significant: Autistic Individuals with Low Support Needs
Ericka Gergely (SPARK Learning Lab)
School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 1
School Age Bullying Behaviors, Part 2
Emotion-Focused and Problem-Focused Coping Skills for School-Age Children
Help Me Get Unstuck
Tracking My Feelings
My Unstuck Wheel
Brant Hansen (STAR 88.3)
Unoffendable
Chynna Presley, BSW, MSOL (The Respect Team, STAR 88.3)
Goodbye, Imposter Syndrome!
Brant Hansen
Closing Keynote
33rd Annual Conference on Youth (2022):
“Moving Forward: Restoring Meaningful Engagement”
SPEAKERS
Carlos Whittaker, Author
Opening Keynote
Dr. Krista Mehari, Department of Psychology, University of South Alabama
See the Spark and Call it Out: How Communities Can Build Hope in Youth
Rolling with Adolescence: How to Help Teens Solve Problems
Juan Bendaña, Top Youth Speakers
Culture of Engagement
Influence is EVERYTHING
Dr. Annemarie Grassi Amefia, Argonaut
WHEN I GROW UP… CRADLE TO CAREER
Creating an Impactful Career Training Model: The Potential Impact of Partnering Core Education with Experiential Thematic Learning
Staff Burnout - It’s Not Just You!
Adam F. C. Fletcher, Freechild Institute for Youth Engagement
Radical Youth Engagement
Closing Keynote
Clinton Faupel, RemedyLIVE; Nate Moellering & Alicia Wells, Allendale Treatment and Fort Wayne Recovery
Escapism: The Pain/Pleasure Balance and Dopamine Dominance
Dr. Michelle Drouin, Department of Psychology, PFW; and Dr. Kimberly O’Connor, Chair, Department of Organizational and Leadership Studies, PFW
The Balancing Act: How to Support Youth Mental Health and Development in A Tech-Fueled, Post-COVID World
Dr. Sandy Washburn & Ms. Deanna Nibarger, Indiana University Center on Education and Lifelong Learning
SEL: Understanding Misconceptions, Finding Common Ground and Putting Kids First
Learning Objectives for the Annual Conference on Youth:
Identify best practices in working with youth
Understand the principles of positive youth development
Utilize new techniques in working with youth to increase mental and/or physical health and well-being of clients
Apply positive youth development concepts resulting in building resiliency factors
Have a working knowledge of the 40 Developmental Assets
Identify at least one community partner to rely on for related client services
Understand the benefits of using positive youth development concepts in working with youth and families
Understand how increasing assets in youth increases overall health and well-being
Apply prevention techniques to youth work and personal lives
Continuing Education Credits
Great KIDS is pleased to offer Continuing Education Units for LSW, LCSW, LMHC and LMFT licensure approved through Category One of the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency.