BIG CHANGES - A CRITICAL TIME IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
By attending this half-day conference you will experience two powerful presentations and walk away with a better understanding of how to help youth cope with significant changes. The topic is multi-faceted but so central to our work with youth that we have designed the conference so you can participate in two different trainings on the same day. Don't delay... register now.
Training One: Supporting Youth Through Difficult Transitions
Young people experience their fair share of unwanted or unexpected change. There are ways that we as youth intervention workers can help young people better manage the emotional upheavals that change creates. This one-of-a kind workshop outlines the Transitions Framework and explores how we can apply the framework in our daily work with young people and families. The Transitions Framework centers upon paying attention to the internal and emotional process being experienced in the midst of change, which will improve the ability of an individual and family to handle stressful and difficult times in their lives.
This unprecedented workshop will highlight the work of the YMCA Elements of Transitions Youth Consultants who will perform dramatic vignettes modeling the use of the Transitions Framework. The Youth Consultants will also describe the benefits they have experienced as they have used the Framework in their own lives while providing real-life examples. Through their own individual stories of being in foster care, the Youth Consultants will help training participants identify practical strategies for intervening with youth.
Training Goals:
Learn the three-phase transition model developed by William Bridges and adopted by the Andrus Family Fund
Use a common language to discuss with colleagues important issues related to the difference between external change and internal transition, and how the impact of changes can be more effective/successful & lasting by paying attention to this difference.
Gain a new way of understanding youth and adult behaviors that appear to be destructive defeating, or oppositional and how many of these behaviors are part of our natural resistance to change.
Acquire new tools and information about strategies for overcoming resistance to change and success stories of others who are providing care to youth and families in transition.
About the Presenters:
Fatima Z. Muhammad's (Primary Presenter) professional career includes more than 15 years of experience in the areas of Education and Youth Development. Currently, Ms. Muhammad is employed by the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Intervention Services and is responsible for developing and managing the Elements of Transitions Youth Empowerment Program. This program provides leadership opportunities for youth with foster care experiences to become trainers, professional speakers, mentors and advocates in order to inspire others to new levels of understanding about the concepts of change and transition. Their overarching goal is to help youth make a smoother transition from foster care to a life of independence. Outside of her career at the YMCA, Ms. Muhammad is a trainer and consultant, and gives of her time, talent, and resources to missions that uplift and empower youth and families.
The Elements of Transition Youth Consultants (Co-Presenters) are a professional speakers group comprised of current and former foster youth (ages 18-23). The Youth Consultants are committed to improving the child welfare system by lending their voice and experience to policy-makers and professionals in the field, as well as mentoring youth still in care. In addition to being well-versed in teaching and using the Transitions Framework, the Youth Consultants put their knowledge to use by performing dramatic self-written vignettes depicting how the Transition Framework can be used within the helping relationship (youth worker, social workers, foster parent, etc.). Over the last two years, they have conducted numerous community-based, regional, and state-wide presentations in the State of Minnesota. This includes presenting at three National Foster Care-Based Conferences to acclaimed reviews. Training Two: The Hurdles of A Smooth Transition for Immigrant Youth
Training Two: The Hurdles of A Smooth Transition for Immigrant and Refugee Youth
Working with youth that are new to America can be challenging. Immigrant youth are caught between the influence of two distinctly different cultures and the transition is typically overwhelming. Knowing the unique challenges immigrant youth face will help you become more effective in helping them cope with the massive change.
While their heritage may be different, refugee youth and their families share common experiences of adapting to a new culture. The presenters will explore the similarities and differences based on their experiences of working with providers, community members, and the refugees themselves.
Training Goals:
Learn more about New American communities in the area.
Gain knowledge on what it means to have ‘refugee status’ (e.g. how refugees get to the United States and what services they receive once they arrive) and the struggles often experienced by the refugee communities.
Gain an understanding of the growing pains experienced by welcoming resettlement communities.
Acquire effective strategies for working with New American communities.
About the Presenters:
Officer Cristie Jacobsen serves as the Fargo Police Department's cultural liaison officer. She works with all local ethnic groups, especially those who have recently arrived and the many agencies that are designed specifically to assist the needs of the new Americans. Most of her time is spent interacting, educating and mediating for newly arrived refugees. Officer Jacobsen works with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota and trains new officers on cultural diversity. She also speaks to organizations, churches and departments on interacting with new Americans, as well as answering any questions or concerns that they have relating to cultural issues.
Darci Asche serves Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota’s , New American Services program as Community Support Services Supervisor since 1995, overseeing volunteer development, worship community relationships, community education and development of collaborative programming with community service providers. Darci supervises the resettlement offices in Bismarck and Grand Forks, and the Immigration Services Program at New American Services. Since 1995, she has provided foster care for several unaccompanied refugee minor children; short-term for many; long-term for a sibling group from Sudan.
Conference Details:
Thursday May 3, 2012 from 12:00pm to 3:45pm
Agenda: 12:00 - 2:00 Supporting Youth Through Difficult Transitions; 2:00 - 2:15 Break; 2:15 - 3:45 The Hurdles of A Smooth Transition for Immigrant Youth
$45 for non-YIPA members, $35 for YIPA members and $15 for Promise Fellows
Light snacks and beverages will be provided at breaks
Fatima Z. Muhammad's (Primary Presenter) professional career includes more than 15 years of experience in the areas of Education and Youth Development. Currently, Ms. Muhammad is employed by the YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities Intervention Services and is responsible for developing and managing the Elements of Transitions Youth Empowerment Program. This program provides leadership opportunities for youth with foster care experiences to become trainers, professional speakers, mentors and advocates in order to inspire others to new levels of understanding about the concepts of change and transition. Their overarching goal is to help youth make a smoother transition from foster care to a life of independence. Outside of her career at the YMCA, Ms. Muhammad is a trainer and consultant, and gives of her time, talent, and resources to missions that uplift and empower youth and families. 
The Elements of Transition Youth Consultants (Co-Presenters) are a professional speakers group comprised of current and former foster youth (ages 18-23). The Youth Consultants are committed to improving the child welfare system by lending their voice and experience to policy-makers and professionals in the field, as well as mentoring youth still in care. In addition to being well-versed in teaching and using the Transitions Framework, the Youth Consultants put their knowledge to use by performing dramatic self-written vignettes depicting how the Transition Framework can be used within the helping relationship (youth worker, social workers, foster parent, etc.). Over the last two years, they have conducted numerous community-based, regional, and state-wide presentations in the State of Minnesota. This includes presenting at three National Foster Care-Based Conferences to acclaimed reviews. Training Two: The Hurdles of A Smooth Transition for Immigrant Youth
Officer Cristie Jacobsen serves as the Fargo Police Department's cultural liaison officer. She works with all local ethnic groups, especially those who have recently arrived and the many agencies that are designed specifically to assist the needs of the new Americans. Most of her time is spent interacting, educating and mediating for newly arrived refugees. Officer Jacobsen works with Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota and trains new officers on cultural diversity. She also speaks to organizations, churches and departments on interacting with new Americans, as well as answering any questions or concerns that they have relating to cultural issues.
Darci Asche serves Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota’s , New American Services program as Community Support Services Supervisor since 1995, overseeing volunteer 
