SEL Methods: Emotion Coaching
Emotion Coaching is an approach to young people's emotions that accepts and validates the emotions, while still providing guidance and tools, when needed, to support young people's emotion management skills. Participants are given a step-by-step guide to emotion coaching and given opportunities to practice their emotion coaching skills.
SEL Methods Workshop: Intro to the Active Participatory Approach
This method introduces the "active-participatory approach" which is the foundational philosophy for all our other youth work methods workshops. In an active-participatory approach, adults engage young people socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically as active participants in their own learning and development. Positive Youth Development means young people can thrive when they feel safe and supported to learn and lead.
SEL Methods: Homework Help
This course focuses on making homework help time effective by helping youth get organized, by providing an atmosphere that helps youth focus on their work, and by building a supportive relationship with youth. This is done through communication, productive settings, and supportive interaction.
Planning
CARING ENOUGH TO MANAGE THE DETAILS
It is our job to control the things we can: our lessons, time, space and materials. Planning ahead with intentionality allows us to focus on children in the moment, which is always the point. The message young people get with each well-thought-out lesson plan, choice of materials, or age-appropriate option, is that they matter. And that’s everything at The Flourish Lab.
Discover…
• how to become a genius at managing time and materials
• effective space planning for greater engagement
• The connection between lesson-planning and relationships and presence
SEL Methods: Cooperative Learning
Cooperative Learning gives strategies for successfully incorporating interactive, interdependent, goal-oriented group work into youth programs. Working in pairs or groups supports young people in being active, self-directing and expressive.
SEL Methods: Fostering Teamwork
With time, support, and facilitation, youth workers can help young people have both strong teambuilding skills and a sense of trust and group identity. Participants in this workshop will learn and apply norm building and facilitation techniques. Time will be spent applying and scaffolding techniques to support youth in managing their communication styles and applying conflict resolution skills.
Presence
SHOWING UP MATTERS
Being truly present means consciously choosing to show up with a heightened level of awareness. And it matters big-time! Positive or negative — the choice is always ours, but either way, count on a ripple effect. Once we understand that our adult actions and attitudes have a direct impact on the youth we serve (and all who support them), we can choose to show up differently.
Discover…
• mindful strategies for showing up positively
• the ripple effect of adult attitudes & behaviors
• how your presence impacts relationships
SEL Methods: Active Learning
The Active Learning method provides practical strategies for actively engaging young people in their own learning process by providing meaningful, challenging content with strong adult support.
SEAL Bite Size: De-Escalation
EVERY BEHAVIOR STARTS WITH A FEELING
Children, like adults, have emotional emergencies — they just look different from ours. On closer inspection, we learn that there’s a predictable pattern to escalation — an arc of sorts, that if caught in time, can re-direct outcomes from explosive to calm. Using a child-first, relationship-centered mindset, this module teaches us that strong behaviors are no mystery, and that all feelings make sense. We also discover that preventative techniques (like focusing on connection), can help facilitate a sense of calm.
Discover…
• that the best strategy for de-escalation is prevention
• five specific strategies to help young people bring calm to strong feelings
• five adult behaviors to avoid, in the presence of strong feeling
SEAL Bite Size: Powerful Feelings
THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG
When it comes to strong emotions, what we see is rarely what is actually going on with a child. Powerful emotions invite us to check assumptions at the door and go deeper into what’s really causing the behavior. These micro-opportunities for long-term growth can have an indelibly positive impact on children. This workshop offers practical solutions and strategies to navigate the landscape of strong emotions — how they can present in unusual ways, and how we can support youth when they’re in the thick of what they’re feeling.
Discover…
• the underlying reasons for displayed behavior
• how emotions present in different and sometimes surprising ways
• targeted strategies to embrace emotional expression
SEL Methods: Promoting Responsibility and Leadership
In this workshop participants will explore how responsibility and leadership fit within a broader SEL framework and develop practical skills to model roles and responsibilities and support youth in leveraging their strengths, interests, and leadership style as part of groups and relationships. Participants will practice applying techniques learned to their programs with an eye toward facilitating youth ownership.
Relationships
INVEST IN MOMENTS
We believe relationships are built (or broken), in a series of moments, and that fostering a sense of belonging is essential for all to thrive. Knowing how to build positive, youth-friendly relationships, and understanding exactly what to avoid in the process, is an invaluable skill set for every youth-serving adult.
Discover…
• why relationships matter
• the importance of belonging
• how trust is something you can bank on
September Coffee and Conversation: Hiring Next Gen Leaders
Let’s talk Next Generation hiring and retention!
Join members of DU's Career and Professional Development department for a conversation around strategies and best practices for successfully recruiting and hiring young adults and college-aged students for part-time and full-time positions.
SEL Methods: Cultivating Empathy
As adults, our ability to support young people in identifying and managing their emotions starts with our ability to do the same. In this experiential workshop, participants will deepen their understanding of how people interpret and feel emotions; how they personally experience hot buttons and emotional activation; and explore self-regulation.
SEL Methods Workshop: Facilitating Problem Solving
This workshop gives youth workers practical tools to build problem solving opportunities into programs and support young people with in-the-moment problem solving. Participants will learn the basics of how our brain solves problems and will practice a model for helping young people define and explore problems, preparing them to take action and learn from them.
SEL Methods Workshop: Engaging Youth in Supportive Struggle
Optimal growth and learning occur when trusted and encouraging adults provide young people with enough challenge, with enough support. This workshop helps youth workers learn practical ways to normalize struggle and foster growth mindset in a balanced and nuanced way that acknowledges social inequities while encouraging perseverance, high expectations, and hope.
Presence
Showing up matters!
Being truly present means consciously choosing to show up with a heightened level of awareness. And it matters big-time! Positive or negative—the choice is always ours, and either way, count on a ripple effect. Once we understand that our adult actions and attitudes have a direct impact on the youth we serve (and all who support them), we can choose to show up differently.
Discover…
mindful strategies for showing up positively
the ripple effect of adult attitudes & behaviors
how your presence impacts relationships
how to leave your “stuff” at the door
SEL Methods Workshop: Fostering Teamwork
With time, support, and facilitation youth workers can help young people have both strong teambuilding skills and a sense of trust and group identity. Participants in this workshop will learn and apply norm building and facilitation techniques. Time will be spent applying and scaffolding techniques to support youth in managing their communication styles and applying conflict resolution skills.
Planning
Caring enough to manage the details!
It is our job to control the things we can: our lessons, time, space and materials.
Planning ahead with intentionality allows us to focus on children in the moment, which is always the point. The message young people get with each well-thought-out lesson plan, choice of materials, or age-appropriate option, is that they matter.
Discover…
how to become a genius at managing materials
basic lesson-planning strategies
effective space planning for greater engagement
practical time management techniques
simple clean-up plans to help you rock what’s next
thoughtful back-up plans (exhale!)
SEL Methods Workshop: Emotion Coaching
Emotion Coaching is an approach to young people's emotions that accepts and validates the emotions, while still providing guidance and tools, when needed, to support young people's emotion management skills. Participants are given a step-by-step guide to emotion coaching and given opportunities to practice their emotion coaching skills.
Relationships
Invest in moments!
We believe relationships are built (or broken), in a series of moments, and that fostering a sense of belonging is essential for all to thrive. Knowing how to build positive, youth-friendly relationships, and understanding exactly what to avoid in the process, is an invaluable skill set for every youth-serving adult.
Discover…
why relationships matter
the importance of belonging- how trust is something you can bank on
how to make the most of every moment
mistakes you might be making, and how to own them
what it takes to be a positive adult role model
SEL Methods Workshop: Cultivating Empathy
As adults, our ability to support young people in identifying and managing their emotions starts with our ability to do the same. In this experiential workshop, participants will deepen their understanding of how people interpret and feel emotions; how they personally experience hot buttons and emotional activation; and explore self-regulation.
Ignite
The spark starts with you!
You’ve chosen to impact future generations.
WHAT IF… you could foster a true sense of belonging in any group simply by leaving your stuff and the door, and showing up fully? Could it change your impact? In this introductory workshop, we will begin connecting the dots between adult/youth relationships, effective planning and powerful adults presence.
Discover…
what SEAL means and why it matters
your role in supporting the SEAL development in young people
how your own personal development is part of the process
the three pivotal areas for creating impactful SEAL
inspired youth programs
what it means to inspire positive behavior
the connection between your why and your work
Trauma-Informed Practices: Considerations for self-care and wellness
How and why does self-care support sustaining a trauma-informed environment? In this workshop, we will present information about the negative effects of helping (recognizing warning signs) and strategies for building resilience. We will look at some considerations for organizational and individual wellness, and we will take some time to create a roadmap for having a plan for your wellness.
SEAL Bite Size: Purposeful Pause
Have you ever found yourself showing up in a way that is less than your best? You may be extra reactionary with the youth in your program. You snap at your co-workers. The voice in your head screams "I'm DONE!" What if you could learn to PAUSE before getting to this point? When we learn this invaluable skill, we show up as our best more often, making the positive impact we want to make.
Discover...
- that we all encounter workplace situations that have us acting in less-than-positive ways
- how to recognize your feelings early, to avoid your breaking point
- specific strategies for pausing in the moment
Presence
Being truly present means consciously choosing to show up with a heightened level of awareness. And it matters big-time! Positive or negative—the choice is always ours, and either way, count on a ripple effect. Once we understand that our adult actions and attitudes have a direct impact on the youth we serve (and all who support them), we can choose to show up differently.
Discover…
- mindful strategies for showing up positively
- the ripple effect of adult attitudes & behaviors
- how your presence impacts relationships
- how to leave your “stuff” at the door
Mandatory Supporting Workshop
The current system of mandated reporting is not a fully trauma-informed, community-centric, needs-based model. This training hopes to help educate and inform, creating awareness around what support and reporting looks like while complying with our legal obligations for reporting.
Takeaways
- An understanding of mandatory supporting vs mandatory reporting
- A deeper awareness of the nuanced differences between neglect and need
- Questions to ask yourself and coworkers before making a report
This training will be led by Mirror Image Arts Manager of Social Work - Nicholle Harris (MSW).
Planning
It is our job to control the things we can: our lessons, time, space and materials.
Planning ahead with intentionality allows us to focus on children in the moment, which is always the point. The message young people get with each well-thought-out lesson plan, choice of materials, or age-appropriate option, is that they matter.
Discover…
- how to become a genius at managing materials
- basic lesson-planning strategies
- effective space planning for greater engagement
- practical time management techniques
- simple clean-up plans to help you rock what’s next
- thoughtful back-up plans (exhale!)
Relationships
We believe relationships are built (or broken), in a series of moments, and that fostering a sense of belonging is essential for all to thrive. Knowing how to build positive, youth-friendly relationships, and understanding exactly what to avoid in the process, is an invaluable skill set for every youth-serving adult.
Discover…
- why relationships matter
- the importance of belonging- how trust is something you can bank on
- how to make the most of every moment
- mistakes you might be making, and how to own them
- what it takes to be a positive adult role model
Ignite
You’ve chosen to impact future generations.
WHAT IF… you could foster a true sense of belonging in any group simply by leaving your stuff and the door, and showing up fully? Could it change your impact? In this introductory workshop, we will begin connecting the dots between adult/youth relationships, effective planning and powerful adults presence.
Discover…
- what SEAL means and why it matters
- your role in supporting the SEAL development in young people
- how your own personal development is part of the process
- the three pivotal areas for creating impactful SEAL
-inspired youth programs
- what it means to inspire positive behavior
- the connection between your why and your work
ELCS presents "Ignite"
In an effort to enhance the workshop experience, we have decided to combine our SEAL training efforts with that of our friends at DPS-ELCS. ELCS runs SEAL: Ignite sessions for staff, and has opened space for the DAA community.
*Space is limited, so if you would like to attend this “Ignite” training that is being hosted by ELCS, please email Sydney Price (sydney_price@dpsk12.net)!
Self-Advocacy
Self-advocacy can be a valuable tool in one's growth. It can also be difficult to do on a consistent basis. In this workshop we will talk through what makes it difficult to self-advocate. We will also talk through different strategies to help us advocate for ourselves in a meaningful way.
Discover Quality 201
Join the Denver Afterschool Alliance to discover how participants of the DAA’s Quality Counts work utilize the Weikart Center’s Youth Program Quality Intervention to impact the quality of their programs. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn key components of the program intervention process and have the opportunity to explore the Youth Program Quality Assessment.
Takeaways:
• Understand the continuous quality improvement process that is used by DAA participants.
• Explore and grow personal knowledge of the Program Quality Intervention process and the Social Emotional Learning Program Quality Assessment.
Recommended for: Youth developers who want to dive deeper into the world of program quality, are curious about using the Program Quality Assessment at their site/organization, or are current participants of the DAA that are new to their role (e.g., newly hired site leads or managers).
Acknowledging and Validating: We ALL Want to Feel Seen and Heard
To feel seen and acknowledged by adults, is vital to the positive development of children. When young people feel valued and respected, they are much more likely to trust, which deepens any exchange. In this workshop, we explore the empowering skills of acknowledgement and validation (along with their opposites), examining the potential impact of each.
Discover…
• what it feels like to be validated
• why validation is essential to moving conversations forward
• key strategies to use while acknowledging and validating
Reaction to Response: Emotions Are Human
We all have emotional hot buttons that cause us to show up as less than our best. Once we see and recognize these triggers, we can regain control over them. One important part of the process is to understand what sets us off. When we add clear action steps for what to do in these moments, we can quickly get back to showing up fully for our youth.
Discover...
• what part the brain plays in reactionary behavior
• how past messages impact our current emotions
• your personalized plan for managing hot buttons
Youth Work Methods: Building Community
This method supports staff in creating a safe space in which youth feel a sense of belonging. Young people and adults can get to know each other better and build relationships through the icebreakers, games, team-building exercises and concepts engaged with in this method.
ELCS presents "Ignite"
In an effort to enhance the workshop experience, we have decided to combine our SEAL training efforts with that of our friends at DPS-Extended Learning and Community Schools (ELCS). ELCS runs SEAL: Ignite sessions for staff, and has opened space for the DAA community.
*Space is limited, so if you would like to attend this “Ignite” training that is being hosted by ELCS, please email Sydney Price (sydney_price@dpsk12.net)!
You Matter!
The last couple of years have tested us as humans. We have endured, watched, and heard a tumultuous time in history. In this workshop we will talk about strategies to take care of yourself as we continue to climb back toward normal. We will discuss why it is important to take time to focus on YOU.
Relationship-Based Approaches in a "Post-COVID" World
This interactive workshop will provide a broad overview of relationship-based approaches in the wake of the pandemic and subsequent disconnections between youth and youth and youth and adults. Participants will learn how to participate in and and facilitate connection circles to foster an environment in which youth and adults can thrive together. Participants will also gain knowledge around the philosophy and foundation of restorative approaches as well as the positive effects of restorative language and dialogue on creating and maintaining healthy relationships with the people in their lives.
Healthy Masculinity
This workshop explores how to help young men examine their values, compare their beliefs in real time to others and uniquely transform their lives.
Planning
Caring enough to manage the details.
It is our job to control the things we can: our lessons, time, space and materials.
Planning ahead with intentionality allows us to focus on children in the moment, which is always the point. The message young people get with each well-thought-out lesson plan, choice of materials, or age-appropriate option, is that they matter.
Discover…
• how to become a genius at managing materials
• basic lesson-planning strategies
• effective space planning for greater engagement
• practical time management techniques
• simple clean-up plans to help you rock what’s next
• thoughtful back-up plans (exhale!)