2014 Older Youth Retreat

1. 2014 Older Youth Retreat Staff Training

2. Purpose of this WebEx • Provide overview of youth retreat • Review expectations for youth and staff • How to choose the “right” youth • Concept of community and shared supervision • Love and War during the youth retreat • Emergency procedures • Registration FAQ • Highlight changes for 2014

3. Older Youth Retreat Overview: The Basics • University of Pittsburgh Johnstown (UPJ) • August 11-15, 2014 • Theme: We are Infinite! • Expecting over 100 youth and alumni, 70+ staff • Planned by Older Youth Retreat Steering Committee • Funded by Department of Public Welfare, Office of Children, Youth and Families • Coordinated by PA Child Welfare Resource Center

4. Youth Retreat Week: Schedule- The #1 document for the week • Wednesday • Dance / Movie • Thursday • Games • Activity Presentations • Banquet • Talent Show • Friday • Closing Ceremony • Cleanup • Departure • All Week • Peer Group and Activity sessions • Dorm Room Sharing (Youth and Staff) • Agency responsible for dorm keys • Meals • Wrap-Up • Free Time • Monday • Volleyball Tournament • Board Games • Tuesday • Tournaments/Board Games • Open Gym/Pool Party

5. Dress for the Week • Throughout the week • Very casual- athletic shorts, jeans, sweatshirts, hats • Pool Parties • If wearing a bikini, you will be asked to wear a colored t-shirt over the bathing suit • Dance • Dress varies • Jeans, dresses, formal wear (not required) • Banquet • Business attire: sun dresses, dress pants and tie

6. Youth/Alumni Expectations • Safety first! • Attend all sessions and follow schedule • We are all part of a community • Participate, participate, participate! • “The retreat is not a vacation.”

7. Staff Expectations • Supervision-You are responsible for your youth/alumni at all times. • We are all part of a community • On-call 24/7 • Please keep cell phone on • Reduce opportunities for “triangulation” • Coverage throughout the week including Activity Sessions • Wrap-up

8. Changes for 2014 • We are looking for increased county/provider staff support in managing the overall activities of youth. • Grounds coverage – expectation of all staff • Registration deadline • Youth attendance for classroom and activity sessions. • This information will be distributed to all IL Coordinators and Administrators. Please share accordingly.

9. Choosing the “Right” Youth/Alumni • Know your youth/alumni • Good relationship • Attitude and behavior • Interest • Alumni and the restrictive nature of the retreat

10. Youth Characteristics(compiled from youth leaders) mature positive attitude compassionate respectful willing to participate friendly open minded sympathetic punctual want to be there! non-judgmental courteous role model/leader time management may have had problems in the past but have shown improvement patient

11. Community and Shared Supervision • We are all responsible for each other • “If you see something, say something.” • Role modeling positive values and behavior • Effectively intervening with youth/alumni • Strength-Based, Solution-Focused

12. Youth Retreat supervision Example • Managing wrap up, transition to dorm and lights out • Wrap Up Concludes- • Staff escort females/males to their dorm buildings • Dorm Socialization in Lobby/ Dorm Outside Smoking Area allowed until 11:00 p.m. • In own dorms at 11:00 p.m. • Quiet hours 11:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.

13. Love and War During the Youth Retreat • Set expectations BEFORE arriving at UPJ • Youth should be mindful and respectful of themselves and others. • Appropriate vs. inappropriate interactions • The dance- reasonable guidance about dancing space • Defuse potential hostile situations • Checking-in during wrap-up

14. Youth Will Be Sent Home For… The following are immediate grounds to be sent home: • Fighting • Drugs and Alcohol • Weapons *These are not the only reasons youth will be sent home. Additional reasons will be evaluated on a case by case basis. • If youth are sent home, the youth must be supervised by agency staff until they exit the campus. • It is important to have backup staff or all other youth will need to go home as well.

15. Emergency Procedures • Nurse on campus at high activity times • When in doubt, dial 911 • You are responsible for administering and holding medications as necessary for your youth/alumni • List special needs accommodations during registration (i.e. dietary restrictions, food allergies). • Back-up staff needs • Fire safety procedures – Do not ignore an alarm! • Directions to hospital and emergency numbers will be provided

16. ONLINE REGISTRATION PROCESS • Registration information and agency slot allocations will be emailed in May. • All registrations are due July 11, 2014. This is a firm deadline, no new registrations will be accepted after this date. • Agencies are encouraged to submit registration for waiting list youth and staff. • We no longer will be able to accommodate last minute swaps. All same sex swaps from youth on the waiting list with completed paperwork are due July 28, 2014. • All registration must be submitted through this online registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7Y6F76H

17. Online Registration Components • Includes same participant information as previous years! • Agency person who is completing the registration will need ALL participant information in order to proceed. • Encourage agency to have individuals fill out paperwork in registration packet so information is together. • After Completing Online Registration-You will need to mail, fax, email releases by July 11, 2014. • No registration is final without releases!

18. Registration FAQ • May I have extra slots? • Am I allowed to “swap” youth/alumni? • What should my youth/alumni and I pack? • Are my youth/alumni able to change activity sessions during the week? • Are my youth/alumni able to change roommates? • What releases are required? • Authorization to participate • Health Information • Multimedia Contact Meghan O’Hare with questions: meo43@pitt.edu or 717-605-0230

19. Retreat Marketing Video • http://www.independentlivingpa.org/ILRetreat.htm

20. Conclusion • Veterans Words of Advice: Youth and Staff • Questions, Comments or Concerns • Visit the Retreat page on the YAB website to view previous retreat videos and slideshows www.independentlivingpa.org