Youth at Risk

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.

CEU, agenda and registration information will be available in April 2017.

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 webpages.

• 2017 materials 
• 2016 materials 

Past Conference Photos

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

Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD

Dr. Kenneth V. Hardy is a professor of family therapy at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is also director of the Eikenberg Institute for Relationships in New York where he maintains a private practice specializing in working with at-risk children and their families. He is the former chair of the Department of Child and Family Studies at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. 

Dr. Hardy’s work with children and families has earned him considerable public acclaim including appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, Dateline NBC and PBS. He was also the featured therapist in "Living Room Wars," a Discovery Health Channel program devoted to providing family therapy to traumatized youth and their families.

Dr. Hardy has provided training and consultation to numerous organizations, agencies and institutions devoted to working with at-risk children and their families. He has also provided training, consultation and supervision to public and private schools throughout the United States and Canada

Dr. Hardy is a frequent presenter of conferences on the topics of at-risk youth, trauma and oppression. He has published prolifically and is the co-author of the following books: Minorities and Family Therapy; Teens Who Hurt: Clinical Interventions for Breaking the Cycle of Violence; and Revisioning Family Therapy: Race, Class, and Culture. In addition to his publications, Dr. Hardy is also featured in several videotapes including a documentary devoted to slavery. His videotape “The Psychological Residuals of Slavery” has been well received by both the professional and lay communities for serving as a catalyst to promote conversations about the intersections of race, oppression and trauma.

Susan Cooper is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a passion for self-care and assisting others in finding and living their most authentic self. She has provided support and guidance for the past 25 years to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently, she leads bereavement groups for local hospice facilities and conducts psychosocial assessments for new patients in psychiatric hospital care. As a consultant to managers, Susan provides trauma support and stress management to employees around the state teaching meditation and other relaxation and self-care techniques.

Jane Truesdell Ellis, Attorney
Hailey MacDonald, Pathways for Children
Maria Avila, MA Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children
Jessica Berry, Children's Law Center of Massachusetts
Christine Biscardi, Juvenile Probation Officer, (retired)
Linnea Burrill, Department of Children and Families
Claire Crane, Salem State University
Missey R. Donohoe, Lahey Health Behavioral Services
Matthew Doyle, Castle Hill Counseling and Consulting
Taylor Dunn, Salem State University
Nancy Ebersole, Salem State University
Michelle Fyrer, Department of Children and Families
Staci Gergely, Salem Juvenile Court
Lea Hill, DDS, NE Regional Autism Services
Jenney Dale Holland, Salem State University
Kimberly T. Hutchins, Harborside Counseling Services
Bob Lewis, Consultant
Omar Longus, Salem State University
Dick Muzzy, Catholic Charities North, (retired)
Linda M. Richards, Department of Mental Health
Linda Sahovey, Endicott College/Tufts Medical Center
Christine Shaw, Merrimack College
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 
 

EBSCO 

Lahey Health

Margaret M. Collins Charitable Trust

Edward S. and Winifred G. Moseley foundation 

YAR Endowment Fund of Essex County Community Foundation

Benefactors
Belinda Fund of The Boston Foundation
East Boston Savings Bank
Merrimack College
Salem Five Charitable Foundation
Shawmut Communications Group

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

Registration for the 2017 conference was $100 per person and included breakfast, lunch, networking opportunities, CEUs, two keynote speakers and two workshops. Pricing and registration for the 2018 conference will be available in April 2018.

The following CEUs were awarded in 2017. 

0.5 EEC

6 CAFL

5 LMFT

4.75 LMHC

5 NASW

4.83 NLN

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.

Congratulations to the 2017 Diruhi Award Winner - Deb Morrison 

Deb A. Morrison, MSW, LICSW has provided continued social work support to empower individuals and their families for 42 years. For the past 15 years, Deb has been a school social worker at the Kevin O'Grady School at the North Shore Education Consortium in Beverly. Working with students with moderate to severe needs and supporting their families, in order to ensure all students and families have access and full participation in their daily lives. Deb's past work experience includes working as the Director/Social Worker for over 20 years with the UCP and the NEARC's Family Support Early Intervention Center on the North Shore; social worker for Project Rap Inc.; North Shore Emergency Services Mobile Outreach Team Member; Crisis Hotline Supervisor; HAWC Volunteer.

Deb is an enthusiastic and compassionate advocate who acknowledges the daily struggles and frustrations, along with celebrating the shining moments of success that individuals with special needs experience as they navigate complex care systems. Extending a positive attitude and advocacy to her co-workers, she highlights the immense impact they have on the lives of others.

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

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. The 2018 application will be available in the fall. 

Download a list of the 2017 Expo participants