MEET OUR CONFERENCE KEYNOTES   KEEPING THE FIRES LIT D.J. Vanas April 16, 2008 9:10 am - 10:15 am   D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas is a husband, father and internationally acclaimed speaker. A former military officer, he is the author of The Tiny Warrior: A Path to Personal Discovery & Achievement which is printed is six countries. D.J. is Odawa Indian and uses traditional concepts to inspire others to achieve their best in life and career. He’s delivered his dynamic programs in 49 states and overseas to over 1,700 audiences including NASA, IBM, Walt Disney, and hundreds of tribal governments and communities. He holds a B.S. from the U.S. Air Force Academy and an M.S. from University of Southern California. Helping Kids Eat Smart: Replacing Calorie Counting with Nutrient Nibbling Dr. Robert Murray April 17, 2008 11:20 am - 12:30 pm   Dr. Murray is a professor of Pediatrics at the Ohio State University. After 20 years of working in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, he became the pediatric medical director at Ross Laboratories (Abbott Labs) from 2003-06. Currently, he is the director of the Center for Healthy Weight & Nutrition at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, working on obesity prevention and treatment. Dr Murray is the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health and is their representative to the National Action for Healthy Kids initiative, which seeks to improve school-based nutrition and fitness.

PRECONFERENCE WORKSHOPS

This year Head to Toe is excited to offer 5 FREE preconference workshops on April 15, 2008. Please see below for times and descriptions for these workshops.

PC #1 8:30 – 11:30 am

Helping Students Graduate: Tools and Strategies To Prevent Student Dropout

New Mexico now shares the title with Georgia of having the lowest high school graduation rate. The National Dropout Prevention Center, in association with presenter Franklin Schargel, has identified 15 effective strategies that have the most positive impact on the high school graduation rate. Learn about these strategies and tools developed as “best practices” by some of America’s outstanding schools and programs. You will find out not only what to do but how to aid at-risk youth to graduate.

Franklin Schargel, Senior Managing Associate, School Success Network

PC #2 9:00 - 4:30 pm

Exploring Ethical Concerns

Through individual, small group and large group activities, participants reflect on at least one ethical concern that they bring to the workshop. This workshop offers the opportunity to receive support, investigate new ideas and discuss perspectives on possible actions and outcomes. Intended outcomes for participants include providing a safe and supportive environment to explore possible ethical challenges that arise in the work place, to review current ethical standards and to gain a deeper understanding of their choices of interactions and interventions with clients and their peers.

Betsy Sue Kramer, LMHC, LCC

PC #3 9:00 - 4:30 pm

Utilizing Environmental Strategies to Prevent High Risk Drinking

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in collaboration with the RAND Corporation, has worked with prevention experts to develop a manual about how to implement evidence-based environmental strategies to prevent high risk drinking (e.g., underage drinking, drinking and driving). Learn about this valuable resource and specific methods and tools for implementing these strategies including building the capacity of community coalitions. The manual will be provided to all participants.

PC #4 10:00 – 3:00 pm

Pandemic Influenza in Your School - Mitigation, Management and Recovery

Is Pandemic Influenza a threat in New Mexico? What is the role of schools during an outbreak of Pandemic Influenza? If schools need to be closed for an extended period of time, how this will impact the entire community? Participate in a scenario which realistically outlines the events that are likely to take place in the event of a Pandemic Influenza in New Mexico. Breakout groups will outline how they would proceed with the development of response plans to such a scenario. Explore how schools should be closed, what plans need to be in place to address continuation of education, how teachers and school personnel will be affected and the potential psychosocial consequences that will result from Pandemic Influenza.

From the NM Department of Health, Bureau of Emergency Management: Joan Murphy, Population Outreach Planning Coordinator and Donald Torres, Epidemiologist/Senior Pandemic Planner

PC #5 12:30 – 4:30 pm

Who Moved My Cheese?

This highly interactve four-hour session focuses on creating positive changes in our personal lives, professions and organizations, within families and communities. Attendees examine “sources of strength” that allow us to increase our resiliency when faced with challenges. Some of the challenges addressed include substance abuse, violence, depression/suicide and trauma. Attendees will be asked to “Step up and not hold-back” and use a sense of humor and other core values to navigate through this session.

Clayton Small, PhD, Albuquerque, New Mexico

CONFERENCE AGENDA

CLICK HERE for the official Head to Toe 12 Conference Brochure!