Preparing Youth to Thrive: Promising Practices in Social and Emotional Learning

 

Free Webinar

Jan. 27, 3 p.m. ET

 

We are excited to announce the upcoming release of Preparing Youth to Thrive: Promising Practices in Social and Emotional Learning. This field guide, available starting Jan. 25, shares best practices and collective expertise for equipping the rising generation with the social emotional skills they need to thrive. 

 

A product of collaboration between Susan Crown Exchange (SCE), staff teams from eight exemplary youth-focused programs and the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality, the Field Guide sheds new light on how out-of-school time programs can develop a clearer understanding about the SEL work they are already doing or hope to do more of. 

 

Come learn more about the social emotional domains highlighted in the guide - emotion management, empathy, teamwork, responsibility, initiative and problem solving - as well as how this guide can support you in being more intentional about social and emotional skill building in your program. 

 

Please contact Kiley Bednar at kiley@cypq.org with any questions. 

 

Find out more and register now.

Welcome to the Disability Connect e-bulletin for week beginning 11^th January 2016. Click on the link below to access the e-bulletin and read about:

• December Networker Magazine – topic ‘Education Choices: Mainstream and Special Schools’
• Altogether Autism Conference 19-20 July 2017 in Auckland – Save this Date!
• Manawanui in Charge – “My Life, my Way” – 8^th March 10am-2pm Ponsonby
• Myers Park Medley - accessible music/art/fun/entertainment event!! Sunday 28^th February 2016, 12–5pm
• Manukau Live Steamers – Waitangi Day FREE event 6^th February 2016 from 11am
• Disability Support Guide available from Disability Connect in English, Simplified Chinese and soon Korean and Arabic
• Plus loads of interesting articles, links and bulletins from other organisations

 

e-bulletin 11 January 2016 PDF

 

Feel free to email any interesting news or upcoming events to Disability Connect and we will endeavour to include in our next e-bulletin due to go out the week beginning 25^th January 2016.

 

Lisa Martin
C.E.O.
Disability Connect
Parent & Family Resource Centre Inc. trading as Disability Connect
09 636 035109 636 0351

Welcome 2016 - another productive year ahead for great outcomes for Youth.

Please feel free to send us NEWS or post yourself on the Website.

Child & Youth Health Resource & Information Service

Click here to read Newsletters

We have launched three new resources;
Guide to supporting a student to affirm or transition gender identity at school
Guide to hosting inclusive school formals
And our new teaching resource for years 7/8 Health and PE
All Of Us
 
If you would like your very own hard copy of All Of Us please send an email to r.ward@latrobe.edu.auwith your name and school address.
 
This year alone we have provided professional learning to over 4000 teachers and school staff in 75 schools around Victoria including 30 sessions focussing specifically on supporting gender diversity and students to affirm their gender identity at school.
 
We’ve also worked with many partners and community organisations who have helped us connect with schools and provide support for students outside school. In particular we would like to acknowledge our ongoing partnership with Minus18 who are an amazing source of information and support for LGBTI+ young people in Victoria.
 
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to making our schools in Victoria safer and more inclusive places for same sex attracted, intersex and gender diverse students, staff, and families. Your work really does change lives and we love working with you all!
 
Have a fantastic summer and a relaxing break.
 
Matt, Roz, Joel and Mel
 

 
Safe Schools Coalition Victoria
 
Click here for highlights
  ****************************************************************************

Message from Murray Edridge - Community Investment

Greetings as we approach the end of another very busy year. It seems like I say that each December and I guess that’s reflective of the environment we work in – complex, challenging, and
ever-changing.

As we head towards 2016 I don’t envisage any slow-down in pace. The final report of the Expert Panel on the modernisation of Child, Youth and Family is due with the Minister before Christmas and we’ll be learning more early next year about the future operating model. As Minister Tolley said in her September announcement, there is no quick fix over a few days or months. Whatever the model is, it will require a shift in thinking and the commitment of government agencies and communities over a sustained period of time if we’re to make a difference for our vulnerable children and young people.

Together we’ll continue implementing the Community Investment Strategy. Our regional teams have been working alongside Community Response Forums to familiarise stakeholders with the Strategy and get community input. There’s information in this issue about some of the work underway, and as this is further developed we’ll be talking with providers about any changes and what they may mean for you in the coming financial year.

We will also be joined next year by the Ministry of Youth Development (MYD), under the recently announced changes. I look forward to welcoming our new colleagues into Community Investment and having the advantage of a youth insight and perspective on the work ahead.

So let’s welcome this opportunity to pause and catch our breath, appreciate time with our families and friends, and replenish our hearts and minds for the big work still to be done. Thank you for your partnership throughout this year – best wishes for a very merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Ngā mihi nui,

Murray

Click here for more information

Welcome to the Disability Connect e-bulletin for week beginning 21^st  December 2015. Click on the link below to access the e-bulletin and read about:

• Networker magazine December 2015 edition – topic: ‘Education Choices: Mainstream and Special Schools’ – available in print version and electronic version – request a copy from us and we will email/post to you
• Information on various holiday programmes - Janet McVeagh, Lifekidz, Everyday OT, Emmanuel Support Family Camp
• Myer's Park Medley - accessible event!!  Sunday 28^th February 2016 12-5pm
• Job Cafe - meeting the needs of employers and job seekers
• Spectrum Care Day Respite Care announcement
• Discovery for Teens - The Discovery Foundation runs life skills training and can cater for some disabilities
• Ministry of Health review on Physiotherapy practices - tell them the good and not so good
• Ministry of Health review of the health system, what healthcare should look like in the future
• FASD Action Plan - Consultation round, feedback on discussion document is welcomed
• Update on the Disability Action Plan
• Scoop articles and other articles of interest
• Plus loads of newsletters from other disability sector organisations

 

e-bulletin 21st December 2015

 

Feel free to email any interesting news or upcoming events to Disability Connect and we will endeavour to include in our next e-bulletin due to go out the week beginning 11^th January 2016.

 

Lisa Martin
C.E.O.
Disability Connect
Parent & Family Resource Centre Inc. trading as Disability Connect
09 636 035109 636 0351
www.disabilityconnect.org.nz

Please check out the Youthlaw newsletter below and in particular, the information about the kiwi suspensions. Youthlaw are looking for young people and their supporters who have been involved in ‘kiwi suspensions’ that Youthlaw are interested in surveying.

Please forward to your relevant networks and support the rangatahi you are working with to tell their story of their experience.

Click here to read more

Kia ora and greetings from AUT,

As you prepare for that much needed and welcomed holiday break, I wanted to send you one final reminder about the Redefining Family Conference: Growing families through adoption, donor conception and surrogacy, being held on the AUT city campus, 13-14 January 2016.

This conference is significant as it marks the first time that researchers, practitioners, lawyers, and policy-makers from the fields of donor conception, surrogacy and adoption, will all come together as speakers and attendees. At the same time, this conference is for people who have used—or are thinking of using—these modern methods to form their families.

The confirmed conference programme and timetable is now available and attached for your information. I’m very excited about the breadth and diversity of speakers and topics, which collectively brings personal experience, research evidence, a practical touch, and even policy/government input.

For those wishing to attend for a single day only, we have arranged the timetable with you in mind. All of the surrogacy topics are on Wednesday, 13th January; the donor conception talks are on Thursday 14th January; and the adoption-related sessions, which slightly outnumber the other streams, have been placed across both days.

And we have extended the deadline for the standard registration rate, which is now available until 1 January 2016.

For interested persons living outside of Auckland, we have arranged special rates at a local hotel and backpackers (to accommodate moderate and low budgets), both within walking distance of the AUT campus. The establishments, their contact details, and promo codes are listed below:

           

Establishment	Promo Code	Phone	Website
The Rendezvous Hotel 71 Mayoral Drive	1636772	+64 9 366 3000+64 9 366 3000	click HERE
Base Backpackers Level 3, 229 Queen Street	ICAR52016	+64 9 358 4877+64 9 358 4877	click HERE
AUT Student Accommodation    8 Mount Street, Grafton	AUT2	0800 288 9720800 288 972	click HERE

                                                

If you have any other questions, please let me know. And finally, I wish for you and yours a joyful, fulfilling and safe holiday.

With sincerest regards,

Dr Rhoda Scherman

Chair – Redefining Family Conference

FLYERS FOR YOUR CLIENTS OR CUSTOMERS

If you have clients or customers that you think would be interested in this conference, send us an email and we’ll gladly post out some flyers for you to pass out.

EXHIBITION AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you or your company are interested in exhibition opportunities, please send an email to info@redefiningfamilyconference.co.nz and we’ll send you a prospectus.

Redefining Family Conference Programme_AUT_13-14 Jan 2016.pdf 

AUT events_January 2016.pdf

Recreate NZ final update for 2015!

What a year it has been! This has been an exceptional year for Recreate NZ with many achievements and successes both within Recreate and the community we serve. Here is a run down of the highlights.

New Premises
We moved into 48 Windmill Road and a great office area was then created with the generous support of Ian Miller builders and Sticks Building Supplies, with Matt, Nicola and Brent then completing many long nights of painting to finish. An Opening Event was held 11^th August 2015 with Local Board members attending and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse officially opening our new premises.
 
Moxie/Vodafone Foundation NZ
The new premises then provided a platform to launch ‘moxie’, our new cluster of interlinked social enterprises providing meaningful work experience opportunities for our young people as they transition from school. This saw the introduction of our valet and cleaning services, and the lease of a 150 tree lemon orchard providing actual skills based learning for our participants. Moxie has been extremely successful and well supported by parents, funders and the young people themselves. Accordingly future growth plans include a community garden, another orchard, and more. Recreate NZ, and Sheridan Jackson in particular are being supported with this new initiative in 2016 through the securing a Vodafone Word of Difference Award, resulting in a grant of $100,000 plus accompanying strategic planning and business advice from Vodafone.

Awards
Recreate NZ was nominated for and successful with many awards in 2015, including:
I AM Auckland Youth Safety and Belonging Award – Matt Alpe;
I AM Auckland Youth Worker of the Year – Matt Alpe;
I AM Auckland Youth Health Award – Recreate NZ;
Volunteer of the Year Award, Christchurch – Curtis Higginson;
Volunteer of the Year Award, Albert-Eden Local Board – Alex Johnson;
NZ Youth Week 2015 Award, Youth Champion – Recreate NZ (nomination).
 
Programme highlights
The Seeking Summits series of programmes are going from strength to strength with a successful Mt Ruapehu summit attempt in August this year. Recreate NZ and our participants featuring in an episode of Attitude TV the following month. This was a great piece, focusing on the friendship between Tom Carew-Bourke and Mitchell Hartlett-Newlands and culminating in their successful summiting of Mt Ruapehu. The on mountain scenery was stunning on a bluebird day, while the bond between the boys brought tears to many viewer’s eyes.

Another standout programme was our first ever international trip, to the Gold Coast in Australia with 10 young people – with none wanting to leave and all having an absolutely memorable time. Highlights included Movie World, a Wildlife Park, the beaches and National Parks and of course the all-important coffee tour each morning. We are currently developing more international getaway opportunities so watch this space.
 
The Future
The future is looking exciting. We will look to complete our renovations that include a new kitchen, offering the opportunity to extend our moxie initiative and also promote Windmill Road as a standout disability centre.
 
The ‘my-breaks’ programmes are gearing up as people get to hear about this opportunity and self-direct their own breaks, with our help! I see enormous potential with this unique Recreate offering.
 
All in all an exceptional year past and an exciting year to come, bring it on!

Click here to go to website for further information