Youth at Risk

Registration for the 2018 conference will be $100 per person and will include breakfast, lunch, networking opportunities, CEUs, two keynote speakers and two workshops.
 
Register here for the June 8, 2018 YAR conference.

The following CEUs were awarded in 2017. We hope to offer the same CEUs again in 2018. Please check back for updates: 
0.5 EEC
6 CAFL
5 LMFT
4.75 LMHC
5 NASW
4.8 NLN

Morning Keynote: Recognizing Bias - A Journey to Self-Discovery: Debby Irving

Through one woman's journey of self-discovery, recognize the potentially traumatic effect unwitting biases have on all the youth we serve. Debby Irving is a racial justice educator, author and public speaker. A community organizer and classroom teacher for 25 years, Debby grappled with racial injustice without understanding racism as a systematic issue or her own whiteness as an obstacle. In 2009, she began her journey of discovery and is now exploring the impact unknowing prejudice can have on perception, problem solving and creating culturally inclusive communities. Her first book, Waking Up White, tells the story of how she went from well-meaning to well-doing.

Afternoon Keynote: A Story of Resiliency and Strength:
Brian Castellanos

Whether it was losing both his mother and brother to cancer, growing up in an environment plagued by poverty, facing homelessness, or being told by a team of doctors that he was never going to be able to walk again, Brian’s attitude and spirit never wavered and he overcame. It is this courage and resilience that continues to drive his commitment and passion for giving back to others. Brian Castellanos’ story is of hope; one of someone who confronted the odds and battled through many hardships to be where he is today.

View 2018 YAR Speakers and Presenters

View 2018 YAR Agenda and Workshops

Each year, the Youth at Risk (YAR) conference honors a special person who has made an outstanding contribution in supporting youth at risk. The Diruhi Mattian Memorial Award honors the memory of an extraordinary social worker who was tragically killed in 2008. Diruhi was dedicated to her profession and always wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people over and over again. The award was created in her name to recognize those who, like Diruhi, do outstanding work in the community for our youth.

Nominations are for the 2018 Diruhi Mattian Memorial Award are closed. The awardee will be recognized at the conference on June 8.

Previous Award Winners

• 2010 - Mike Duda, YAR Founder and Pastor of First Church in Wenham
• 2011 - Kelly O’Connor, Director of the Gregg Neighborhood House Afterschool Program 2012 - H. Bud Kelly, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
• 2013 - Mark Libon, V.P. of Community Based services for Lahey Health Systems
• 2014 - Donna Coe, Nurse Practitioner at Lynn Community Health Center
• 2015 - Patrick Foley, Program Director for the Adolescent STARR program 
           - Fred Mathieu, Director of Kids Club program at Washington Street Baptist Church
• 2016 – Carol Ireland, VIP Team Advisor, Haverhill High School
• 2017 - Deb A. Morrison, MSW, LICSW, Kevin O'Grady School at North Shore Consortium in Beverly

The expo showcases nonprofit organizations and industry vendors that provide unique services and resources to those who serve and care for youth. Space is limited. Fill out the YAR 2018 Exhibition Hall application online.

Mi nombre es Mauricia Lopez y tengo 18 años. Llegué a los Estados Unidos desde Gautemala y siento que todos los dias sigo acostumbrandome a estar aquí. Ser artista me da alegría y me permite sentirme conectado con mi país de origen y mi historia. El año pasado formé parte de un grupo de arte público y me permitió crear conexiones con otros jovenes de mi pais para mayor causa.  Ahora mi meta mas grande es salir adelante en la vida.

Esta imagen es una imagen que representa la diversidad de jóvenes que tenemos en el país. Aunque la joven del dibujo es de Guatemala debido a la blusa tradicional de mi región y la jungla de fondo, representa a una gran juventud. Ella está mirando hacia el lado viendo a una flor con una mariposa chupando miel para compartir. Un sueño que tengo en la vida y para la juventud es que salgamos de la oscuridad que nos persigue a través de compartir nuestras fortalezas con los demás y apoyándonos el uno entre otro.

My name is Mauricia Lopez and I am 18 years old. I came to the United States from Guatemala and every day I feel like I am still getting used to being here. Being an artist gives me joy and allows me to feel connected to my country of origin and my history. Last year I was part of a public art group and it allowed me to create connections with other young people from my country for a greater cause. Now my biggest goal is to get ahead in life.

This image is an image that represents the diversity of young people we have in the country. Although the girl from the drawing is from Guatemala as noted by the traditional blouse of my region and the jungle in the background, she represents a larger picture of the youth identity. She is looking to the side towards a flower with a butterfly sucking honey to share.  A dream I have in life and for the youth is that we get out of the darkness that is chasing us by sharing our strengths with each other and supporting each other. 

Jane Truesdell Ellis, Attorney 
Hailey MacDonald, Pathways for Children
Jennifer Adams-LeBlanc, Lahey Behavioral Health Services 
Maria Avila, MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Nicholas Bound, Department of Youth Services
Christine Biscardi, Juvenile Probation Officer, (retired)
Linnea Burrill, Department of Children & Families
Claire Crane, Center for Community Schools, Salem State University
Missey Donohoe, Lahey Health Behavioral Services
Taylor Dunn, Advancement Events, Salem State University
Nancy Ebersole, School of Nursing, Salem State University
Michelle Fyrer, Department of Children & Families
Staci Gergely, Salem Juvenile Court
Lyle Harrod, DanversCARES and SSU Center for Childhood and Youth Studies
Lea Hill, DDS, NE Regional Autism Services
Jenney Dale Holland, Advancement Events, Salem State University
Kimberly Hutchins, Psychotherapist & Clinical Consultant
Robert Lewis, Child Welfare Consultant
Barbara Richards, Department of Youth Services 
Linda Richards, Department of Mental Health
Fran Rosenberg, Northshore Education Consortium
Christine Shaw, Merrimack College 
Claire Valentin, Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
Karen Wilk, Educational Clinical Consultant 
Jacqui Williams, Department of Public Health, (retired) 

As a Sponsor of YAR, you will align yourself with thousands of working professionals in northeast Massachusetts. It is an exclusive opportunity to support their important work and reach a wide range of community members. To learn more about our sponsorship packages, please contact Taylor Dunn at tdunn@salemstate.edu or at 978.542.7560.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Feature

The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation

Presidential 

Margaret M. Collins Charitable Trust
 

Lynch/Van Otterloo YMCA

Lahey Health

YAR Endowment Fund of Essex County Community Foundation

Benefactors

Belinda Fund of The Boston Foundation
Merrimack College
Salem Five Charitable Foundation
 

For more general information, please contact YAR@salemstate.edu or 978.542.2085.

The Essex County Community Foundation established the YAR conference in 2000 as a response to the need for increased collaboration and coordination among the many providers of services to at-risk youth in and around Essex County. As of 2015, Salem State has taken over the program and pledges to carry on the YAR mission of trainings and outreach. The conference remains an amazing opportunity to tap the wealth of expertise in Essex County on the topic of youth at risk. It continues to be a one-of-a-kind and most anticipated annual event. 

The 17th annual Youth at Risk (YAR) conference is the region’s only annual all-day conference for professionals who work with at-risk youth. The event will feature over 20 morning workshops and a variety of afternoon breakout sessions, as well as keynote speakers, program exhibitions, and networking opportunities.

The YAR conference is geared toward individuals working with and caring for youth in a variety of settings—family, community, school, religious, healthcare, human service, recreational and legal. Attendees include social workers, psychologists, youth counselors, family therapists, educators, school adjustment counselors, guidance counselors, community and public health workers, program managers, agency and organization CEO's, police officers, juvenile court personnel, lawyers and volunteers.

To download the 2016 and 2017 YAR Community Resource Manuals please visit clcm.org.

Service Road Map

• 2016 – Youth 
• 2017 – Youth with Developmental Disabilities 

Past conference handouts, presentations, and brochures are available on our eLearning pages.

• 2017 materials 
• 2016 materials 

Past Conference Photos

• 2017 at Salem State University 
• 2016 at Endicott College 
• YAR Historical Photo Album 

2017

Kenneth V. Hardy, Drexel University, Eikenberg Institute for Relationships

Susan Cooper, LICSW

2016

Chris Herren, Former NBA Player, Addiction Recovery Advocate, The Herren Project

Leonard Campanello, former Chief of Police, Gloucester, MA, Gloucester Angel Program/Police Assisted Addiction Recovery Initiative (PAARI)

2015

Jeanine K. Fitzgerald, The Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning

FatherSpeak, Family Nurturing Center of Massachusetts

Center for Childhood and Youth Studies Symposium

Psychology Colloquium Series 2017-2018