Dialoguing with the Funders!

Saba Brelvi , Program Director – The California Wellness Foundation

Panel of funders

This session is to introduce you to funders who fund work with children, youth and families in San Francisco . A panel of funders will dialogue with participants about funding trends and strategies for accessing more resources to meet the needs of your constituency!

It's High Time to Build Stronger Partnerships with the SF Housing Authority

Gregg Fortner, Director – San Francisco Housing Authority

Over 20% of San Francisco 's children live in public housing throughout the city.  This dialogue with Housing Authority staff will provide you with the opportunity to get a picture of where the kids and families live, what services do and don't exist and concrete strategies for how you can better engage and serve this most vulnerable population.

Making MUNI More Youth & Family Friendly

Transit Effectiveness Team Staff

Mayor's Policy Council on Children, Youth & Their Families

For the first time in many years San Francisco is assessing the effectiveness, accessibility and usability of its transit system – and you better believe that they are listening!  Come to this session to hear the current status of the redesign, hear youth and family solutions for improving public transit generated from community forums, and share your perspective about what needs to happen.

Building a Movement to Reverse Family Flight by 2011!

Youth & Parent Organizers, Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth

Thousands of SF families have raised their voices to say that the affordable housing crisis, the state of our public schools, and growing community violence are pushing low and moderate income families out of the city. But there is hope in winning real solutions to these crises! Participate in this fun, interactive, and educational workshop about Coleman Advocates' bold new plan to truly reverse the tide and make San Francisco a ‘land of opportunity' for all children and all families!

Maria Luz Torre, Organizer & Mary Ignatius, Lead Organizer – SF Parent Voices

Historical struggles of parents who have fought to improve children's lives and opportunities should be honored. This session will inspire participants to lead the way while sustaining our living history of battles fought and won for the benefit of children and youth in SF!

Jane Schisgal, LCSW, Program Director
Renee Lee, Childcare Coordinator
Nicole Hinton-Born, MFTI, Family Case Manager & Therapist Cara Connors, Afterschool Program Coordinator – Clara House

Rachel Kraft, Project Coordinator; Brigid Brannigan, Aftercare Coordinator – Compass Family Center

Juan Ochoa, Program Director, Connecting Point – The Family Shelter Access Center

Charleen Casey-Lerma, Program Director – Tenderloin Childcare Center

Providing comprehensive, concrete support to homeless families and families at risk of homelessness is an unfortunate reality in San Francisco . This workshop will share sustainable strategies for identifying the root causes of homelessness and the support strategies necessary to work with this population.

Anna Wong, Program & Policy Director, Children of Incarcerated Parents Project &

Youth Members of Project WHAT! - Community Works

Project WHAT is a team of youth that are spreading the word and building a curriculum to teach frontline workers about what it is like to be the child of an incarcerated parent. This session will give you an increased understanding of how many children are impacted, provide policy recommendations and share with you real life stories from these powerful young people!

Tavi Baker, Citywide Director of Health & Fitness – Boys & Girls Clubs of SF

Tom Heath, Program Director – Indochinese Housing Development Corporation

Panel of youth workers

SFUSD has implemented one of most comprehensive nutrition policies in the nation – but what happens after school? This interactive roundtable discussion will provide a forum for afterschool providers to discuss challenges and solutions to bringing healthy snacks to kids who need them the most.

Ted Lempert, President – Children Now

Deena Lahn, Policy Director – Children's Defense Fund California

Nancy Strohl, Executive Director – Child Care Law Center

These leaders, committed to policy advocacy for children at the local, state and federal levels will give an overview of current legislation and it's implications, as well as what is in the pipeline. Come to this dialogue about childcare, income security, juvenile justice, health – etc… to help inform them about the policies that are needed.

Kica Gazmuri, Project Director – California School-Age Consortium

Sue Eldredge, Executive Director – Community Network for Youth Development

Al Smith, Planner and Policy Analyst – Department of Children, Youth & Their Families

Do you know the latest research from the out-of-school world?  This session will explore findings from local, statewide and national studies while laying the groundwork for better understanding of who local youth workers are, why they are motivated to enter the field, the challenges they face and what needs to be done to support this critical profession.

Fred Blackwell, Director – Mayor's Office of Community Development

Panel of experts

With a well documented exodus of families, San Francisco is quickly becoming one of the most expensive and inaccessible city for families in the country! Come to this session to hear what the city and local experts are thinking and doing to ensure that families can viably stay in San Francisco !

Katie Albright, Policy Director – San Francisco Education Fund

Gentle Blythe, Director of Public Outreach and Communications – San Francisco Unified School District

Stephanie Choy, Vice-Chair – Parent Advisory Council

Fernanda Gonzalez, Ph.D candidate – University of California, Berkeley

Ruth Grabowski, Coordinator – Parent Advisory Council

Kate Steinheimer, Chair – Parent Advisory Council

Hugh Vasquez, Executive Director, San Francisco Education Fund

Lorraine Woodruff Long , Executive Director, Parents for Public Schools

Over the past six months a coalition of parents, educators and activists reached out to over 750 community members to get their thinking on issues of school choice and the state of the SFUSD. Come to this session to hear the findings and provide feedback and recommendations on ensuring your child's access to quality education.

Panel of experienced Executive Directors

No funders or non Executive Directors Allowed! Come to this session to connect with other ED's who are going through the same things you are – day in and day out!

San Francisco’s Affordable Housing Crisis:  A Conversation with the Experts

Matt Franklin, Director – Mayor’s Office of Housing
NTanya Lee, Executive Director – Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth
Calvin Welch – Council of Community Housing

Organizations San Francisco is a town where housing is one of the biggest boom industries – but is there enough housing for the people who actually live here?  Come to this session to hear about what’s in the pipeline to be developed, what housing activists have been fighting for and how this matters to everyone you serve.

From Dusty Loaves of Bread to ‘Alive’:  Food Access from Bayview to Pacific Heights

Dr. Nadine Burke, MD, MPH, Medical Director – Bayview Child Health Center/CPMC

Have you ever tried to shop for fresh produce along the 3rd St. corridor?  Access to nutritious and fresh foods is almost impossible to find in certain neighborhoods in San Francisco.  Come to this session to hear the latest research on what food is accessible to whom, how much it costs and what you can do to help to bring more equitable food access to all San Francisco neighborhoods.

Foster Youth Support Organizations and Services: Addressing the Needs of San Francisco Foster Youth. 

Sara Razavi, Interim Director – Honoring Emancipated Youth

Kim Levine, School Health Programs Department Foster Youth Services Program Manager

Shira Andron, First Place for Youth Emancipation Specialist Program Manager

Michael McPartlin, CCSF Guardian Scholars Administrative Analyst

Xochitl Sanchez-Zarama, SFSU Guardian Scholars Program Director

Jeff Perry, Court Appointed Special Advocate Case Supervisor

Emily Schwartz, Independent Living Skills Program Outreach Coordinator

This workshop will address the education, housing, health and employment needs of foster youth, while looking at available community services and resources.  Participants will engage in a discussion with panel speakers and receive materials on local resources.

Toni Bernardi, Chief of Children & Youth Services - SF Public Library

Christy Estrovitz, Early Literacy Specialist - SF Public Library

Core to a child's ability to read is the development of the 6 key ‘pre-reading skills'. Come to this session to learn about the latest research and strategies for improving early child literacy as a foundation for teaching children to love reading and learning!

Ramona Santiago Burnell, Training & Evaluation Coordinator – Experience Corps Bay Area

Janet Oh , Executive Director - Experience Corps Bay Area

T. Christopher Crandall, Consultant & Legacy Programs Coordinator – Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly

Lanya Samuelson, YouthCares Program Director – International Institute of San Francisco

Patricia Lee Jackson, M.A., Senior Caregiver Coordinator – New Leaf Outreach to Elders

This lively and interactive workshop will focus on the tremendous benefits for children, youth and older adults of intergenerational school and community programs. Presenters will present 4 successful models to demonstrate the power and potential that intergenerational programs have to promote and strengthen child, youth and adult development, including improved health and well-being for older adult volunteers, as well as the myriad benefits for the community at large.

San Francisco Arts Commission staff

San Francisco Arts Commission and Arts Providers San Francisco is one of the most vibrant arts communities in the world. Find out how teaching artists from the visual, performing and literary arts provide one time workshops to year long residencies for nonprofit organizations. Hear about the exciting programs that exist, meet artists and identify ways to being or expand the arts for your participants!

Rebecca Randall, Director of Outreach – Common Sense Media

Kids today live in a 24/7 media world that envelopes and bombards them nearly from birth. Come learn how to help the families you serve to embrace the creativity and educational potential of the media while better navigating the media landscape.

Jerry Endres, Institute for Community Collaborative Studies California State University , Monterey Bay Studies

Judi Sherman, Strategies

This session will provide an overview of structures and benefits of the Family Development Matrix and how it is used as a strength-based family-focused outcome evaluation.

Hester Dooley, M.S., Manager Child Care Inclusion Challenge Project - Children's Council

Claire McBride, MA, MFTI, Child Development Specialist Child Care Inclusion Challenge Project - Children's Council

This presentation is designed to increase understanding of children’s behavior, socioemotional development and temperament and to provide strategies and resources that aid in preventing and responding to challenging behaviors.  Specific scenarios and behavior plans will be reviewed and discussed.  

Javier Antezana, Case Manager – SF General Hospital Wraparound Project

Mike Texada, Community Liaison - SF General Hospital Wraparound Project

Roberto Ariel Vargas, Coordinator, Community Partnership Resource Center – University of CA , SF

Do you know what happens when someone is shot or stabbed in San Francisco ? This session will introduce you to this innovative project that works day in and day out with those affected most by violence by advocating for patients, providing case management and raising awareness of what we all need to do to help stop the revolving door of violence.

Dana LoVecchio, Community Training Program Coordinator – Sports4Kids

Youth programs that use physical activity in a way that is accessible, inclusive and fun have an easier time retaining their participants. Through hands-on practice and interactive discussions participants will walk away with concrete tools and curriculum to create healthy opportunities for all children to play!

Sara Bresselor, Associate Director of Programs – BAYCAT

Will Hammond, Digital Film Instructor – BAYCAT

Come see a showcase of the show “Zoom IN” a youth led/run production of BAYCAT that airs regularly in San Francisco ! This session will show how project based, collaborative learning and building media literacy can be integrated into your curriculum to better engage your participants.

Kathleen Martinez, Ph.D., Consultant – Creative Out-of-School Learning

Sue Edwards, M.Ed., Consultant - Creative Out-of-School Learning

Substitute quarter cups for one cup measuring cups in your afterschool cooking class and you have a great opportunity for reinforcing fractions and just like that your program is aligned with the state academic standards! This session will teach you ways to be intentional about providing learning opportunities while getting credit for your good work.

Ethel Seiderman, Executive Director – Parent Services Project

Lorena Garcia, Project Manager – Parent Services Project

Most of the teacher training in the early childhood field has been focused on the children while parents remain little more than an afterthought. This workshop will help you to create new training and learning opportunities focused on strength-based and respectful partnership with families as the key stakeholders and decision makers – ensuring that together we can be the champions that our children need to succeed!

Chagua Camacho-Olguin, Co-Founder – Project Commotion

Susan Osterhoff, Co-Founder – Project Commotion

Discover how parents, educators and caregivers can support children with difficult behaviors by providing opportunities for exploration along with guided movement patterns and exercises. Participants will develop an understanding of the importance of secure relationships, the brain-body connection, and why movement is critical for the healthy development of a child's awareness of their emotional and physical selves.

Social Enterprise 101

Cynthia Gair , Director of Portfolio and Field Advancement - REDF

You've heard terms such as "social enterprise", "social venture", "earned income stream", and "social entrepreneurism" – now understand how these strategies can benefit your organization! Come see the range of strategies being used and figure out what will work for you.

Are You Talking Like Businesses Think? Getting the Private Sector to Hire Your Youth!

Larry Robbin, Executive Director – Robbin and Associates

Do you know why businesses resist working with you and the young people you serve? Come to this session to get a behind the scenes look at how the business world thinks and learn the language of the private sector in order to open the doors of opportunity for your young people!

Debby Jeeter, Deputy Director - Human Services Agency

The redesign of SF's foster care system is well underway! Come to this session to hear about and share your thoughts about the vision, strategies and opportunities for change that are in the works.

David Mauroff, Coordinator, Secure Our Schools Coordinator – San Francisco Unified School District

Claudia Sandoval, City/School District Liaison – Department of Children, Youth & Their Families

Panel of Community Based Organizations

Though we all have the same goals we often speak different languages. Come hear about student support services available at schools and how you can access them effectively as well as coordinate and share resources with other cbo's and the rest of the school district!

Kimberly Wicoff, Deputy Director – Communities of Opportunity

Communities of Opportunity is a new initiative in San Francisco to transform our most disconnected neighborhoods. Come hear about what we learned from both our data and directly from residents in the southeast sector that lead to this initiative and get an overview of the strategy that connects the City, residents, philanthropy and nonprofits to create change in these communities.

It’s all About the Money:  Understanding the City Budget (This WORKSHOP is FULL - CLOSED !!!)

Supervisor Chris Daly, Budget & Finance Committee
Nani Coloretti, Budget Director – Mayor's Office

Who holds the purse strings to the city coffers?  How does the budget process work?  Come to this session to meet and share your thoughts with the people who manage, define and ultimately allocate the resources that you use to serve the children, youth and families of San Francisco.

A Conversation with Mark Leno

Assemblyman Mark Leno

Come prepared for an exhilarating dialogue with one of the most outspoken people in the state Assembly.  Hear the inside story about what is really going on (what you can't read in the paper) and take advantage of an intimate discussion about advocacy strategies and new legislation that is needed.  Don't be surprised if you leave the workshop with a commitment to carry your idea into the coming year's legislative agenda.

Youth & Parent Organizers, Coleman Advocates for Children & Youth

Thousands of SF families have raised their voices to say that the affordable housing crisis, the state of our public schools, and growing community violence are pushing low and moderate income families out of the city. But there is hope in winning real solutions to these crises! Participate in this fun, interactive, and educational workshop about Coleman Advocates' bold new plan to truly reverse the tide and make San Francisco a ‘land of opportunity' for all children and all families!

Rachel Antrobus, Director – SF Youth Commission

Diana Pang, Program Coordinator – SF Youth Commission

Youth are not only able to articulate problems, but given the right tools are often the agents of change! This session will present a framework and a toolkit for how your program can be about empowering young people to lead their own projects.

Young People Taking on Community Violence
      (This WORKSHOP is FULL - CLOSED !!!)

Kenisha Bush, Dominique Dorham & Erick Manigo – Youth Treatment & Education Center

What are the root causes of violence in our communities?  This session – led by young people – will present the reality of what young people are facing on a daily basis as well as some practical thoughts about what we can all do to make our communities safer!

Community United Against Violence staff

Understanding relationship violence and abuse as part of the cycle of community violence is key to helping young people develop healthy relationships. In this session we will study different forms of abuse and look at some statistics to learn strategies for becoming better allies for LGBTQQ youth who are experiencing multiple forms of violence.

Caitlin Ryan, Ph.D., ACSW, Director, Adolescent Health Initiatives & the Family Acceptance Project – Cesar Chavez Institute, SF State University

Wendi Williams, Ph.D., Project Coordinator, Family Acceptant Project - Cesar Chavez Institute, SF State University

LGBT young people are coming out at earlier ages; family acceptance or rejection has a very important impact on their physical and mental health. This workshop will explore new research that has broad implications for the need for family based care strategies as well as other changes in practice and policy.

Young Adult Team members of the Transitional Youth Task Force

The city has begun to look at issues faced by transitional aged youth – and has newly minted the Transitional youth Task Force to make it happen! Come to this workshop to hear the latest research and hear what the action steps are to move forward the agenda to provide stronger educational, housing, health and employment opportunities for one of the most often forgotten population in SF.

Maya Dillard Smith, Citywide Violence Prevention Coordinator – Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice

Howard Pinderhughes, PhD., Chair of the Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences - University of California San Francisco

Tinisch Hollins , Community Liaison – Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice

Violence in San Francisco is rooted in poverty, neglect and displacement. Come and meet the team that is working to develop a comprehensive plan to address violence at the roots, through community engagement and interdepartmental collaboration.

Gretchen Ames – Gateway to Quality

This session will use the data and information gathered using the Harms Scales (ITERS, ECERS, FDCRS) to talk about promising practices in licensed child care centers across the city. Participants will be encouraged to engage in conversation about how to use the lessons learned to inform practice and policy and will have an opportunity to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of defining and quantifying “quality”.

Fred Blackwell, Director – Mayor's Office of Community Development

Panel of Experts

What will it take for families to achieve economic success in San Francisco ? This session will present some of the key tools that can be used to aid families to get on a better economic footing, including the National Economic Development and Law Center 's Economic Self-Sufficiency Calculator, Individual Development Accounts available through SF Earn, the Earned Income Tax Credit and other tools.

Kathleen Martinez, Ph.D., Consultant – Creative Out-of-School Learning

Sue Edwards, M.Ed., Consultant - Creative Out-of-School Learning

Tired of planning activities one day at a time? This session will give you planning tools and practice for how to systematically plan a fun and structured four-week project based curriculum that integrates academics in fun and engaging ways.

Eliza Gibson, Chief of Programs – Larkin Street Youth Services

Housing first and harm reduction strategies is core to working effectively with homeless youth. Come to this workshop to learn concrete tools as well as hear about the importance of ensuring the availability of a variety of types of housing, supportive services and other strategies for building self-sufficiency.

WritersCorps staff

For 13 years, WritersCorps has taught creative writing to a wide range children and youth all over the city – helping them to express themselves, improve their skills and discover their love for language. Come to this session to learn more about WritersCorps and gain some strategies for how you can infuse writing into your programming. Materials include a free copy of Jump Write In, creative writing exercises by WritersCorps (Jossey-Bass).

Charles Higgins, MSW, Executive Director – Slide Ranch

Walking, hiking, bicycling, playing on the shore, sitting by a campfire or sitting in a grassy field can have a big impact on children. This session will provide strategies for how you can include outdoor exploration into your programming, as well as share a series of local hidden gems that are free/low cost and accessible ways to treat your participants to a special trip that they will never forget.

Ishmael Tarikh, Professor – University of California , Santa Cruz

When was the last time that you read the Bill of Rights? This session will bring this and other legal doctrine front and center while providing you with a ‘cheat sheet' of your civil rights and how you can help young people to protect themselves within the law.

Judy Appel, Executive Director – Our Family Coalition

There are a growing numsber of LGBT families in San Francisco.  LGBT parents may be hesitant to approach traditional family service providers for fear of exposing their children to discrimination.  This panel discussion will feature LGBT parents who will share their experiences and suggestions as well as creating the space for you to ask the questions that you have always been afraid to ask.

Panel of experienced Executive Directors

No funders or non Executive Directors Allowed! Come to this session to connect with other ED's who are going through the same things you are – day in and day out!

Rebecca Goldberg, Co-chair – Youth Development Peer Network

Jason Wyman, Director of School Community Relations – Small Middle School for Equity

Vicky Valentine, Health Educator & Trainer – Health Initiatives for Youth

Marquez Gray, Senior Outreach Coordinator - CHALK

Do you sometimes wonder why you work day in and day out with young people without enough pay, support or resources? Come to this session to find out about the Youth Development Peer Network – a professional group of youth workers just like you who struggle with motivation, job retention and stability, yet continue to be the warriors on the frontlines in the community.

Larry Robbin, Executive Director – Robbin and Associates

Making the most of your pre and post employment services can be the key to ensuring that the young people you work with get placed in and keep their jobs! Learn how to shift your retention efforts from an ineffective crisis intervention model into a powerful prevention system that can help your reinvent your whole program!

Judi Sherman, Strategies

Panel of Experts

Engaging the fathers of your participants is critical for the success of your participants. Come to this session and hear tools, strategies and models for how programs have done this successfully.

Jo Mestelle, Managing Director - Rec Connect Initiative

What are the key qualities of effective leadership? At this interactive session you will identify essential leadership characteristics and skills and consider your own leadership style.

Alison Stewart, Operation Access Coordinator, Special Needs Inclusion Project – Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

Do your policies and procedures address the inclusion of all children into your program? This session will help you strategize ways to change your policies and practices to ensure that your organization can overcome barriers to successful inclusion.

Stacey Daraio, Deputy Director – Community Network for Youth Development

Michelle Cusano, Director – Richmond Village Beacon Center

Panel of community based organizations

Recruiting and retaining teenagers in afterschool programs can often prove to be very challenging. This session will bring forward some field experts who through trial and error have developed strong programming targeting teens – programming that address the real life challenges that teens face.