Webinars

During webinars, presenters share their expertise and best-practices for working with and supporting Alaska's youth in strength-based ways. Trainings are presented for adults working or volunteering with youth, unless noted otherwise. These webinars do not provide a certificate of training hours.

From Data to Practice Series: YRBS Substance Misuse Results and Adolescent Health

The From Data to Practice Series offers an opportunity to learn how Alaska’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results are used to inform programs, policies, and priorities across Alaska. This quarter’s discussion focuses on YRBS results related to substance misuse and prevention, with a focus on marijuana use and shared risk and protective factors. Andrea Fenaughty, Deputy Section Chief & Senior Chronic Disease Epidemiologist; Alaska DHSS and Eliza Muse, Marijuana Education Program Manager; Alaska DHSS, will share how YRBS data was used to design and implement a comprehensive plan to address cannabis use in the context of legalization.

Communicating with Youth: A Strengths Based Approach

Webinar date: 5/7/15
Presenters: Chrystle Tebo, Program and Resource Coordinator of Boys and Girls Clubs, Alaska; and Thomas Azzarella, Director of Alaska Afterschool Network

This recorded training focuses on strategies to feel empowered in your interactions with youth – to be proactive vs. reactive, learning what to do when these strategies don’t work the first time and that persistence pays off, and how positive recognition supports youth development.

YRBS From Data to Practice Webinar Series: Student Health

The From Data to Practice Series offers an opportunity to learn how Alaska’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) results are used to inform programs, policies, and priorities across Alaska. Each webinar will provide a review of select 2019 YRBS topics and results; information on programs, projects, and resources available across Alaska; and a spotlight on services and outreach efforts in one or more of our local communities. These discussions allow communities to build supports and learn from one another as we endeavor to improve health behavior-related outcomes in Alaska. This quarter’s discussion focuses school health profiles and related 2019 YRBS school health data.

Youth Program Quality Initiative Informational Session

Presenter: Erin Moriearty

This is an informational meeting on the Youth Program Quality Initiative for the 2024-2025 school year. This session walks through the Initiative process and gives an overview of involved trainings and the timeline.

Agency Quality Assessment Form B

Presenter: Thomas Azzarella

This webinar is designed to prepare organizations to conduct an Agency Quality Assessment using Form B, which focuses on program quality at the organizational level and helps assess features of a program, such as policies and practices, staff development, connection to families and schools, program access, and strategies for program improvement. Form B focuses on program quality at the organizational level and assesses the quality of organizational supports for youth program offerings.

Social Media for Programs

Presenter: Jennifer Wienke

Social media is a powerful tool for fueling the success of your out-of-school time program. In this webinar, learn some useful tips and tricks to help your program succeed with free social media platforms. Get ideas for best practices and guidelines for success!

Theater and Social Emotional Learning

Presenter: Jennifer Wienke

This inspiring workshop offers an accessible introduction into theater and social emotional learning (SEL) and gives advice how to combine theater and SEL into your programs. Hear from real students about the impact that theater has had in their lives and how it can help with emotions and communication.

8 Magic Keys to Support Students with FASD

Presenter: Deb Evenson

Practical strategies to help children do better at home, in school, and in the community that are easy to implement and will make your job much easier.

Connecting Generations through Culture

Webinar date: 8/13/15
Presenters: Ella Tonuchuk (Leadership Development Coordinator) and Dewey Hoffman (Leadership Development Director), First Alaskans Institute; Wilma Bell-Joe (AmeriCorps BIRCH Member and Native Survivors Youth Group adviser); and Jake Bell (Health Specialist, Chilkoot Indian Association Tribal Youth Program)

Explore how communities and programs intentionally or naturally allow for generations to interact and learn from one another. Presenters share the importance of how interacting and creating strong connections across generations can lead to increased well-being and resiliency for youth, adults, and elders.

Strengthening Families

Webinar date: 11/19/15
Presenters: Shirley Pittz (Strengthening Families Project)

Go through the five Protective Factors of the Strengthening Families approach, as well as local examples of implementation by Alaskan communities. Research supports the notion that when Protective Factors are well established in a family, the likelihood of child abuse and neglect diminishes. Protective Factors also promote and build family strengths for optimal child and youth development.  To watch this webinar, first go to this recording (~12 minutes) before going to the main portion here (~45 minutes).

Increasing Youth Voice and Leadership

Webinar date: 2/4/16
Presenters: Thomas Azzarella, Director of the Alaska Afterschool Network; Julia Smith, Prevention Director of Sitkans Against Family Violence and the Advisor for the Sitka Youth Leadership Committee; Sherri Anderson, Youth Services Specialist for the Nome Eskimo Community and Nome Native Youth Leadership Organization.

Understand the value of incorporating youth voice in your youth programming/activities and decision making, and learn the levels of youth voice and input. Hear examples from two Alaska youth groups providing youth voice opportunities. Adults supporting youth in decision making allows for growing leadership skills.

Youth Bullying Prevention

Webinar date: 5/5/16
Presenter: Chelsie Morrison-Heath, Community Educator at STAR (Standing Together Against Rape)

Adult youth workers and volunteers will learn to recognize the characteristics/traits of bullying behaviors among youth. Attendees will also learn positive ways to address these traits and how to promote positive social behaviors.

Understanding Trauma and Promoting Resiliency with Youth

Webinar Date: 08/18/16

Presenter Desiree Compton, Licensed Professional Counselor

Adult youth workers & volunteers will learn about neurobiology and how trauma impacts brain development among youth. Skills will be taught for how to approach youth in trauma, as well as concepts that promote resiliency.

Inspiring Innovative Thinkers Through FIRST Robotics

Presenter: Alyson Cooper

This workshop provides an overview of the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics program, including the impact it has on students. We will look at how the program has adjusted to conditions this season, internationally and in Alaska, and the STEM education resources at FIRST @ Home. Finally we will look at how students have used what they have learned in past years to tackle the challenges created by COVID-19, and the FIRST culture that motivates them to do so.

Managing Chronic Health Conditions

Webinar Date: 04/19/19

Presenter: Barbara Pennington RN, State of Alaska

Adult youth workers & volunteers will learn about Chronic Health Conditions, such as asthma, allergies, seizures, and diabetes, and how to care for youth in their care with these conditions. Skills will be taught for creating emergency care plans and policies to ensure youth safety and how to give emergency care.

Helping Youth Thrive: How to Increase Youth Health and Wellbeing Part 2

Presenter: Becky Judd

Alaska youth are faced with mounting challenges related to isolation, depression, cyber bullying, substance misuse, etc. What helps or hinder young people’s ability to cope with today’s challenges? What can we do to support their success at school, navigate healthy relationships, develop life and workforce skills? This interactive session is broken into two parts: Part I: Overview of the national research and Alaska’s data that identifies the risk and protective factors related to adolescent health and wellbeing. Part II: Identifies what can communities do at home, in schools, after-school and community settings to increase the adolescent protective factors.

Helping Youth Thrive: How to Increase Youth Health and Wellbeing Part 1

Presenter: Becky Judd

Alaska youth are faced with mounting challenges related to isolation, depression, cyber bullying, substance misuse, etc. What helps or hinder young people’s ability to cope with today’s challenges? What can we do to support their success at school, navigate healthy relationships, develop life and workforce skills? This interactive session is broken into two parts: Part I: Overview of the national research and Alaska’s data that identifies the risk and protective factors related to adolescent health and wellbeing. Part II: Identifies what can communities do at home, in schools, after-school and community settings to increase the adolescent protective factors.