Caring for Children and Youth in Crisis Webinar Series

In a three-part webinar series, Afterschool Alliance, American Institutes for Research, and the Readiness Projects team up to highlight evidence-based, trauma-informed practices for afterschool professionals as they serve youth in challenging times.

Part I: Using Evidence to Support Trauma-Informed Approaches to Healing in Afterschool

The first webinar in the Caring for Children and Youth in Crisis series from the Afterschool Alliance and the Readiness Projects features expert presenters from Turnaround for Children, the Search Institute, and the Forum for Youth Investment. The webinar illuminates what we know about the effects of adversity on child and adolescent brain development, with an eye toward why trauma-informed practices are so important, and practical tools and strategies for programs to employ when working with youth who may be dealing with trauma. Watch the conversation with experts in the field who provide perspectives on trauma-informed approaches as a critical lever to ensure educational equity and discuss the importance of youth development programs in addressing adverse childhood experiences.

Speakers:

  • Karen Pittman, Co-Founder, President and CEO, Forum for Youth Investment
  • Pamela Cantor, M.D. Founder & Senior Science Advisor, Turnaround for Children
  • Brigid Ahern, President & CEO, Turnaround for Children
  • Kent Pekel, President and CEO, Search Institute
  • Nikki Yamashiro, Vice President of Research, Afterschool Alliance

Part II: How to Create Healing-Centered Environments in Afterschool

In Part II of the Caring for Children and Youth in Crisis series, Readiness Projects Partner Deborah Moroney moderates a conversation with experts in the field who provide practical tips and suggestions on how to create healing-centered environments in afterschool programs, ensure educational equity, and discuss the important role of youth development programs in addressing adverse childhood experiences.

Speakers:

  • Shawn Ginwright, Founder and CEO, Flourish Agenda, Inc.
  • Ebony Grace, Chief Operating Officer, NJSACC
  • Salma Villarreal, Program, Community, and Engagement Coordinator, ourBRIDGE for KIDS
  • Deborah Moroney, Managing Director, American institutes for Research (Moderator)

Part III: Leveraging Policy to Expand Access to Healing-Centered Afterschool Programming

Watch this conversation with experts in the field who provide practical tips and suggestions on policy and advocacy at all levels, discuss the implications of policy in advancing equity, and discuss the important ways that policy can help ensure that all youth have access to high-quality youth development programs that are able to address adverse childhood experiences and create supportive, healing-centered environments for children and youth.

Speakers:

  • Chelsea Eickert, Children & Youth Master Plan Coordinator & Co-Coordinator, Trauma-Informed Community Network (RAISE), City of Alexandria, VA
  • Ayana Melvan, Senior Project Manager, Educational Initiatives and Lead for the Rhode Island Afterschool Network, United Way of RI
  • Erik Peterson, Sr. Vice President of Policy, Afterschool Alliance
  • Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance (Moderator)
  • Hal Smith, Sr. Vice President, Education, Youth Development & Health, National Urban League (Moderator)