2024 Bridge Conference

A Sensory Approach to Working With Kids is a movement based, interactive workshop intended anyone working with kids in any capacity. Educators, health practitioners, coaches, and parents will all benefit from this unique approach to working with kids. This training explores how sensory processing affects behavior and function. Why might some kids have unruly behaviors? Why is attention sometimes difficult? Why can a child not follow through with a task? Sensory processing can affect how kids might struggle with behavior, attention, even their posture and coordination. We will dive into how we can look at kids through a sensory lens and provide accommodations in any setting, provide sensory rich activities to help with behavior and attention, and even how we can provide stability to posture and help with coordination to help our children in any aspect with which we work with them. This is an interactive course where we experiment with intentional movement activities to help organize the nervous system and help kids get ready to learn, move, and achieve.

Conflict is an inevitable part of any environment, whether at work or home. Understanding how to identify, manage, and resolve conflict through the lens of basic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) can transform challenging situations into opportunities for growth and collaboration. This interactive 90-minute workshop will provide participants with the tools and strategies needed to navigate conflict effectively and equitably. Who Should Attend: - Team leaders and managers. - Employees seeking to enhance their conflict resolution skills. - Individuals interested in applying basic DEI principles in conflict management.

Four years after the Covid shutdowns, are kids just different now? How are the impacts showing up disproportionately for people of various races, ethnicities, identities, and abilities? Is it all “gaps” or did children also learn skills and knowledge we should be celebrating? As afterschool and youth development professionals, we know it’s very difficult to connect outcomes to specific experiences, even decades later. We’re beginning to see research now, but there’s a need for much more, and it’s likely to continue for years into the future, yet we are sensing some trends. For example, the 2-year-old who would have been learning facial expressions in child care instead saw masked faces, and now, at 6, are they connecting with peers in a different way? In this session, we’ll explore our own experiences with the children who were anywhere from 1 to 14 in 2020, how key developmental experiences might have looked different during these 4 years, and what we can do to support the now 5 to 18-year-olds we spend our time with.

Many of us have confided in others during dark times, and vice versa. But it can feel awkward, if not downright frightening, not knowing what to do when a loved one, peer, or youth shows suicide warning signs. Developed by Forefront Suicide Prevention at the University of Washington, School of Social Work, the five simple and effective LEARN steps empower individuals to identify and support those who may be considering suicide.

This workshop will introduce the public health issue of suicide, including why youth may consider suicide by covering risk factors, a theory of why people consider suicide, and recent data. Using the LEARN model, the presenters will highlight how to identify, understand, and be ready to support someone who may be at risk for suicide. There will also be an opportunity to practice and apply the LEARN steps in a practice scenario. As part of this session, Forefront’s staff will also integrate conversations about mental health, the importance of prevention/intervention/response plans and procedures, and capacity building.

In 1974, the first Domestic Violence shelters began to operate in the US. This was the first major step in acknowledging Domestic Violence as a public health issue. So much has changed, and progress has been made in the 50 years since. But there's still so much work to be done in the movement against Intimate Partner Violence. This workshop will educate participants on the history of Teen Dating Violence Prevention and the exciting developments in the movement's future. We will challenge misconceptions about dating violence, learn to recognize the warning signs of unhealthy relationships, and look at what today’s teens experience in dating. Most importantly, we will look at what it takes and what resources exist for YOU to start the conversation about Teen Dating Violence Prevention in your programs and communities. After this workshop, participants will leave with a greater understanding of existing resources, strategies for addressing adult bias toward teen relationships, and the building blocks for creating compassionate and empathetic support systems for youth experiencing dating violence.

The election is coming to a close, and now it is time to start GOVERNING! How much do your students know about how state government works? Do you find yourself having circular discussions about what the federal government is doing? Do you students know about their state representatives? This session introduces TVW and its free resources, which foster student engagement and empowers students to participate in nuanced discussions. In this presentation, participants will learn how to get students actively participating in state government. Through Teach with TVW, classrooms collaborate with volunteer lobbyists, tracking and advocating for/against legislation. Participants will grasp how to implement this program, unlocking its benefits for students. By addressing topics that matter to students, these programs show our young people how government works for them while simultaneously empowering individuals to address systemic issues and promote positive change in the future.

How does cultivating agency empower safe and integrated learning for our students? In this workshop we will explore ways you can center and apply agency and consent tools to enhance your students’ experience and creative practices. Focal points will include exploring what makes a safe space, how to establish boundary practices in your classroom, exercises to support nervous system regulation, and ways to intentionally implement student agency in your curricula.

Join us for an engaging workshop focused on enhancing your organization’s ability to recruit and retain BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) youth development professionals. In this 90-minute session, participants will explore the importance of diversity in youth development, effective strategies for attracting BIPOC talent, best practices for creating an inclusive workplace culture, and actionable steps to develop robust recruitment and retention plans. Whether you’re a manager, recruiter, or diversity advocate, this workshop equips you with practical insights and resources to foster a more diverse and impactful team.

Building organic and sustainable youth mobilization, while also building career development for youth and prioritizing BIPOC impacted communities.

There is a unique and undeniable link between depression, mental health and suicide. Therefore, effective mental health education IS suicide prevention - particularly depression education. Learn how Shine Light on Depression resources including youth education, teen empowerment and family engagement resources, support schools and community-based organizations in providing evidence-informed mental health education and help-seeking skills for all students. These programs raise awareness about youth depression. This session will describe how utilizing these programs can have a positive impact on youth and your community's mental health culture and climate. Participants will learn how to immediately access and implement these free turn-key programs along with other resources available for staff and families.

It can be challenging for caregivers to know how to guide children to appropriate technology use to keep them safe from online sexual grooming. Ready access to smartphones, tables, and computers has created a whole new world of challenges for caregivers. Easy access to devices means that youth do not need to leave their bedrooms to be introduced to risky situations. This training provides a basic overview of commercial sexual exploitation of children, framing the extent of the problem and discussing technology interventions, terminology, pathways, warning signs, and prevention.

Are you struggling to manage a classroom where children find it challenging to listen, follow instructions, and stay organized? This insightful workshop is designed for youth workers and teachers focused on cultivating essential skills that enhance student learning and behavior. We will explore ways to create a supportive learning culture that encourages the development of focus and organization, equipping you with tools to manage common classroom challenges and improve overall student performance. Empower your students to reach their full potential and transform your classroom into an organized, focused, and thriving environment.