Past GOASA Trainings/Seminars

• Behavior Workshop Presented by speaker Matt McNiff, Behavior Consultant for ESU #5. This GOASA training session focused on behavior strategies about having opportunities for positive change in students and increasing task behavior. Megan Addison from Collective for Youth was also there to talk about the organization and its dedication to creating opportunies for out-of-school time providers and youth.
• Youth Leadership And Summer Programs Presented by Michelle Krehbiel, University of Nebraska-Extension, 4-H State Youth Development Specialist. This GOASA training session focused on members learning how to develop leadership in youth. Members were encouraged to create ideas and questions to help plan out of school programs that develop youth leadership. Representatives from the Omaha Public Library and Parks and Recreation also presented their summer programs.
• Breaking Down MAS Barriers Presented by Scott Wissing and Whitney Prenzlow, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Movin' After School members participated in an open discussion to help break down barriers and challenges the after school program sites face. The University of Nebraska at Omaha also presented results from year 1 of the Movin' After School initiative.
• Nutrition, Youth, and Zumba! Presented by Martha Nepper, Hy-Vee Dietitian and Jennefer Avant, Skinner Magnet Center School. This Movin' After School training session focused on youth nutritional resources available in the community. It  provided an overview of the complexities of youth overweight and obesity. Participants also received a free zumba lesson. Zumba is an emerging fitness technique for youth and adults.
• Turn Off the Tube. Get Up and Move!, presented by Scott Wissing and Whitney Prenzlow, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Participants learned about the affect technology is having on youth and nutrition. The presentation focused on positive ways to use technology to improve health such as using the Wii Fit for program for physical education classes. The presentation also covered the affects of advertising on youth.
• How to Up Your Odds with Difficult People, presented by Mike Hansen, University Supervisor, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Participants learned how to interact with difficult and angry youth. The presented encouraged attendees to use "I" statements and "and" statements. Participants learned how paraverbals are the most important component of communication and were encouraged to use the supportive stance to up their odds with difficult people.
• It's All About Movin' After School Part II, presented by Scott Wissing and Katie Novicki, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Participants learned physical activity games that promote youth development; learned techniques to enhance knowledge based activities for youth; and learned nontraditional, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive games. Participants also engaged in team building activities and strategies to achieve and maintain a lifetime of physical activity.
• It's All About Motivation, presented by Scott Wissing and Katie Novicki, University of Nebraska at Omaha. Participants learned new ways to engage youth in physical activity games. Presenters suggested techniques to enhance traditional group games such as freeze tag with a twist. Participants also set S.M.A.R.T. goals to increase physical activity at their after school programs!
• Life Course Model II, presented by the Douglas County Department of Health, Megan Addison, MSLCI Co-Coordinator, Julie Chytil and Emily Ortner.  Participants increased their awareness and knowledge of the Life Course Model, created strategies for implementation of the Life Course within curriculum and practice, learned how to utilize the Life Course perspective in daily work, and learned how to put the Life Course Model into perspective indecision making.  See the presentation.
• Middle School Youth Development Providers, presented by Michelle Krehbiel, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Participants learned about: Youth and Leadership, Youth as Teachers, Positive Youth Development, and Engaging Youth in Service Learning.
  
• 40 Developmental Assets: From Choices to Healthy Habits, presented by Suzi Yokley-Busby, Program Coordinator UNO Building Bright Futures. Knowledge about the 40 Developmental Assets was expanded to include: a framework of skills for successful living that creates common language, common sense, and common practice, which would ultimately guide our community from healthy choices to healthy habits.
  
• Hope & Omaha's Youth Findings from the Gallup Student Poll, presented by Shane Lopez, Ph. D., Senior Scientist in Residence and Jerlene Mosley, Education Consultant. Participants learned: what the results of the Gallup Student Poll revealed about Omaha's youth; how to enhance hope in what people already do; about Strengths-Based Development; and about tools that would boost the level of hope in young people
  
• Nebraska School-Age and Youth Development Core Competencies: Focus Group, presented by Jeff Cole, Nebraska Children & Families Foundation and Megan Addison Middle School Learning Center Initiative.  Participants learned about the core competencies of a youth development professional and how to use them in day-to-day operations.  Sessions were tailored to the role of the individual (director vs. staff) to better develop each participant.
• America's Greatest Untapped Resource: First Generation/Low-Income Students, presented by Mel Clancy, Director of UNO's Project Achieve Upon completion of the training, participants were able to: better understand how to communicate effectively with first generation/low-income caregivers, develop strategies to remove academic barriers, understand how first generation/low-income students view academic and support systems, and advocate effectively for students.
• Working with Challenging Youth, presented by Shelley K. Pool, LPC and Eric Stec, LMHP, LCSW from Family Strategies, P.C.  This training outlined a new perspective on how to think about adolescents, detailed specific steps and skill on how to work with difficult behavior, and offered several strategies applicable to children of all ages and levels of behavior management (mild to severe).
• The Lifecourse Model – Helping Youth Stay on Track, presented by the Douglas County Health Department, Baby Blossoms and CityMatCH.  The goal of this presentation was to increase awareness of the Lifecourse Model and help identify strategies to implement the Lifecourse Model within curriculum and practice.
• Recruitment and Retention of Middle School Students, presented by Steven Amick, Co-Founder and Executive Director, League of California Afterschool Providers.
• How to Engage Difficult Youth, presented by Shemille Brown, BSquared Training and Consulting Services.
• How to Support Grieving Children and Teens, an interactive workshop presented by Ted E. Bear Hollow.  Presenters:  Sarah Flanagan, MSW, MPA – Program Director; Kay Kronholm, MS, LMHP  Consultant, Trainer and Volunteer; and Rita Paskowitz, BA Professional Storyteller and Board Member.
• Live Homework Help Online Tutoring from Tutor.com, a service of the Omaha Public Library, presented by Kristin Becker, Tutor.com. - Attendees learned how to use and promote this free service to youth.
• "Conflict Resolution Management"- Attendees learned basic tools for resolving conflict whether in the workplace, at home, or in the community. This training included the opportunity to role play conflict scenarios and their solutions.
• "Behavioral Health in Middle School Youth"- Alice Drake from Region Six Behavioral Health discussed identification techniques, trends among middle school youth, and resources that are available to help parents and schools with behavioral health issues.
• "Quality Standards and System Building"- Presenter Ellen Gannett engaged attendees in a discussion on the importance of quality standards in afterschool. She also stressed the importance of building a citywide collaboration.
• "Gangs and Community Involvement" - Bruce Ferrell, retired Omaha Police Detective presented on the history of gangs located in Omaha, how to identify gang members and specific strategies for working with gang members and associates.
• "Academic Content/Afterschool Style Training," presented by The Center for Afterschool Education. This training included sessions on "Coaching English Language Learners" featuring strategies for maximizing English learning and practical techniques to help language learners, and "Homework in Action" providing strategies and tools to make the most of homework time.
• "Ways to Engage African American Youth," presented by Catrice Jackson from EMERGE Consulting, LLC focused on cultural awareness and specific ways to engage and relate to African American youth.
• "40 Developmental Assets," presented by Scott Butler and Kraig Lofquist on the Search Institute's 40 identified categories of positive things all young people need to grow up healthy and responsible, and how youth providers have the power to bring these positive experiences and qualities into the lives of youth.
• "Eight Life Skills for After School Programming," presented by motivational speaker, Mary Kay Mueller to energize and encourage youth development providers.