Welcome to The Yellowstone Conference: Community Strategies to Prevent Youth Violence! Join us on Thu Oct 10 2024 at 08:30 AM for a day of learning and collaboration at 1701 Ray of Hope Ln. Billings, MT. This event will bring together community leaders, educators, and youth advocates to discuss effective strategies for preventing youth violence. Come share your ideas, network with like-minded individuals, and make a difference in your community. Let’s work together to create a safer and more peaceful environment for our youth. We look forward to seeing you there!

Panel Topics & Descriptions:

• Strengthening Family’s in Preventing Youth Violence ~ Moderator: Mary Hash, Administrative Director for Community Based Services. What can we do to help prevent adverse childhood experiences and help create a safe, stable, and nurturing environment for our children to help them reach their full potential? Nearly one in six adults have experienced four or more types of ACEs. This diverse panel will provide the audience information regarding protective factors, resiliency, and resources to help families achieve optimal success.

• Panelists
  • Brian Dennis, President & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Yellowstone County
  • Carrie Porter, Program Manager and Intake Specialist for CASA of Yellowstone County
  • Laura Narum, Family Programs Resource Coordinator and Interim Director of Emergency Services at District 7 HRDC
  • Jen Daniels, Supervisor of the RFS (Resource Family Specialists)

 

• Partnering With Schools ~ Moderator: Kristin Mathison, Administrative Supervisor in Community Based Services. During this panel we will discuss the importance of creating strong partnerships with schools to assist and support students and staff. Fostering effective collaboration between schools and community health and behavior health partners have significant benefits that include improved academic performance, physical and psychological safety, reduced disciplinary action, lower dropout rate, lower substance abuse and less involvement in the criminal justice system. Each panelist will have an opportunity to speak to why these partnerships are important, how they have seen the systems work together or even what they would like to see improve.

• Panelists
  • Randy Shipman, Superintendent of the Dillon Elementary School District #10
  • Regina Griemsman, Head of School for Grace Montessori Academy (GMA)
  • Christina Peterson, Director of Student Services at Laurel Public Schools.
  • Amity Burkhardt, Coordinator of the Wellness and Resiliency Grant for Billings Public Schools

 

• Counteracting Drug Culture ~ Moderator: Jessica Kiedrowski, LAC, BS, MCRMHC. During this panel we will discuss the warning signs and appropriate interventions that come with childhood substance use. This includes the importance of creating strong connections with family members and community resources to help keep the public informed on what is being advertised to our youth, how it affects the body, and why youth are drawn to it. Staying away from substance use has shown to be directly tied to improvement on grades, school attendance, career progression, and developing healthy relationships with their peers. Youth who struggle with substance use will report troubles with breathing, coping with anxiety, being alone with their thoughts, joining activities that do not allow them to use, and increased emotional dysregulation. Each panelist will have an opportunity to speak to on the different warning signs, how to intervene, what the consequences of use are, what we are seeing used the most often in our communities, where to receive support, and answer questions given by the crowd.

• Panelists
  • Bryn Kojetin, Juvenile Probation Officer
  • Dr. Malcom Horn, Clinical Supervisor for Rimrock
  • Stacy Zinn, Retired Head of the Montana DEA office
  • TBA

 

• Collaborating With Government and Institutional Responses ~ Moderator: Mike Chavers, CEO of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. Collaborating with government and institutions is an important factor in providing services for at-risk youth and their families. We will focus on the impact to Montana youth and families.

• Panelists
  • Sierra Riesberg, Executive Director of Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana
  • Michael “Mike” Yakawich, Montana House of Representatives from the 51st district
  • Pat Cates, Senior Manager for Student Support Services for the Montana Office of Public Education
  • Meghan Peel, Deputy Administrator for the Children’s Mental Health Bureau

Special Keynote Speaker, Dr. Erwin Garcia, Billings School District 2 Superintendent

To purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-yellowstone-conference-community-strategies-to-prevent-youth-violence-tickets-1004714647557

5.75 CEUs and 6 OPI credits are available upon request and the conference will be offered both in-person and virtual. Lunch will be included for in-person attendees!

Conference Agenda:

o Registration 8:30am-9:00am

o Welcome 9:00am-9:15am

o Strengthening Family’s in Preventing Youth Violence Panel 9:15am-10:30am

o Break 10:30am-10:45am

o Partnering With Schools Panel 10:45am-12:00pm

o Lunch 12:00p-1:00p

o Counteracting Drug Culture Panel 1:00pm-2:15pm

o Break 2:15pm-2:30pm

o Collaborating With Government and Institutional Responses Panel 2:30pm-3:45pm

o Keynote Speaker-Dr. Erwin Garcia, Billings School District 2 Superintendent 3:45pm-4:30pm