YOUTH PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT: Mobile Outreach:

Today's youth face multiple barriers. Some environmental, and other systemic. The challenge facing service providers, is "how do we effectively connect with, engage and support the hard-to-reach youth of today?"

Jerome is the driving force behind one of the most unique, award-winning and highly successful multi-service mobile drop-in centre and outreach programs in Canada, Project Reach Out. Through this model, Jerome will share the vision, philosophy, strategies, tools and influence behind the program.

Participants will learn how the program;

• “Reaches out” to youth by bringing supports and services to street involved youth
• Builds connections with youth and deepens relationships before providing intervention and prevention services
• Assesses risk and evaluates youth assets and resilience
• Engages community resources and provides individual case management and follow up.

DISABILITY AWARENESS:

Jerome share his personal story and experiences as a person with a disability (unique ability). He has lived as a paraplegic since he was 23 years old. From his wheelchair, Jerome has raced horses, scuba dived, plays professional tennis, and has worked professionally for over 25 years as a youth consellor, program developer, Executive Director and Contract Faculty. Experiencing discrimination, alientation, physical and societal barriers, Jerome invites you into a world of resilience, courage, creativity, persistance, and success.

Participants will learn;

• Personal insight into navigating the world from a wheelchair
• The barriers still facing people with disabilities
• How to become an allie
• Strategies to assit in advocating fro people with disabilities

STREET TRENDS: From the street to the classroom. 
A very popular presentation with School District PRO D days and students graduating from the teaching program. Most youth issues begin on the street, not in the schools. Unfortunatley, youht bring their challenges, experiences, and behaviours to the schools. Thsi workshop will share insight into current street trends among youth, what they are involved in, whats attacts them to the street. It will also explore ways in which teachers can engage, ways to keep them in school, and ways to empower students to contribute to their own learning.

Particpants wil learn;

• What's going on out on the street
  
• Barriers Youth face
• What youth want
  Strategies & Tools to engage, asses and respond
• Successes

WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE: Parents

 Drug trends, facts & myths- Communication.

This presentation looks current drug trends, drug facts, myths and explores communication, understanding, and acceptance with the youth world. Interactive, this presentation encourages parents to work with each other as they learn how to help their children and themselves. Parents will leave with new strategies, feeling NOT alone and supported, and a stronger understanding of the world youth live in.

Participants will learn:

• The current youth culture
• Aligning with values and beliefs when developing expectations
• Drug Trends & Facts
• Communication: Setting expectations, guidelines and consequences.
• Strategies for engaging youth in an inviting, practical and real way.