CES Sessions
All sessions are offered at no cost.
Community Education Service acknowledges that the land on which we virtually gather is the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta. The City of Calgary is also home to Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
Mental Health & Youth ***please register using the poster only***
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Community Health Promotion Services (CHPS), Recovery Alberta
It is normal for children and youth to experience various types of emotional distress as they develop and mature. To promote positive mental health, it is important to be aware of mental illnesses, recognize signs, engage in meaningful conversations, and support a balanced life. This presentation will support you in gaining a greater understanding of mental health and reflect on how you can support the young people in your life.
Cyber Safety ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presenter: Adriana Dewar, B.A., M.A., Community Outreach Coordinator, YouthLink Calgary Police Interpretive Centre
Are you and your family cyber-safe?
In today's interconnected world, the internet and social media have revolutionized the way we connect and learn. However, with limited oversight, these digital realms also pose potential risks such as privacy breaches, cyberbullying, sextortion, and criminal activities.
YouthLink Calgary presents an essential program designed to empower parents and guardians with the tools needed to ensure your family's online safety.
ADHD is Awesome! ***please register using the poster only***
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Dr. Caroline Buzanko PhD, Registered Psychologist
Clinical Director, Koru Family Psychology
ADHD is often thought of in terms of its symptoms and associated problems. Unfortunately, a deficit-based approach, focusing on what is wrong, can be very impairing for children and their families. However, there are so many positive qualities of ADHD that need to be celebrated! In this session, you will learn about what ADHD is, why it is awesome, and how to capitalize on its assets to promote long-term success.
Executive Functioning Essentials for Parents ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By: Tanya Keto (MEd), Registered Psychologist
Clinic Director of AVERY Family and School Psychology Services
Executive Functioning (EF) refers to the behaviour management system of the brain. These cognitive processes tell us what to do, when to do it, and how well to do it. Individuals with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD may experience increased difficulty in the development and use of these functions compared to their same-aged peers. When kids struggle to regulate their executive functioning it can result in lower grades, lack of motivation, school avoidance, social difficulties, anxiety and stress. But these “problem behaviours” are simply symptoms of unmet needs. Join Tanya to learn how difficulties with executive functioning could be causing problem behaviours and what you can do to help!
Vaping: What’s Really Going On? ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Presenters: Health Promotion Facilitators, Community Health Promotion Services (CHPS), Recovery Alberta
• Youth vaping is increasing—let’s understand what they’re using and why.
• Learn about vaping devices, nicotine, cannabis, and the health risks.
• Discover how to have open, honest conversations with your teen about vaping.
Stressed but Strong, Anxious but Awesome: Understanding your child's worries through a strength-based lens ***please register using the poster only***
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Dr. Sterling Sparshu, MD, FRCPC, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Participants will:
- Understand the stress-anxiety spectrum in children and teens
- Recognize healthy vs problematic stress
- Learn how to respond to stress and anxiety through a strength-based lens
Navigating the Pressure to Perform: Benefits of Well-being Centered Identity Development for Children and Teens ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Shelbi Snodgrass, MC, RCC, CCC, CMPC, Registered Clinical Counsellor,
Snodgrass & Duff Performance Consulting and Counselling Inc.
The pressure to perform is increasingly impacting children and teen’s ability to cope, negatively impacting their confidence and sense of self. From navigating school pressures, friendships, after school curricular activities, and an ever-evolving political climate, the need for well-being focused values are more critical than ever.
Learning Objectives
- Understanding the pressure to perform influencing children and teens
- Identify vulnerabilities to and indicators of low confidence and self-esteem
- Reflect on the language, behaviours, and environments that help or hinder healthy identity development
- Explore dimensions of well-being and their benefits to identify development and confidence
- Review contributing factors to safe and accountable performance environments
Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers ***please register using the poster only***
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented by: Tracy Fields, BSW, MSW in partnership with Tracy Fields Counselling
Highly sensitive teens are often misunderstood by parents and teachers as they often have stronger emotional reactions. In this presentation, learn why this happens, and the necessary tools required to help these teens manage their emotions so they don't become derailed.
ADHD, Autism and Anxiety - Can you have them all? ***please register using the poster only***
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Presented By:
Dr. Cheryl Gilbert MacLeod, Registered Psychologist
The Family Psychology Place
ADHD, Autism and Anxiety share common characteristics. This presentation aims to help parents, caregivers, and educators understand what these characteristics are, how they are often misdiagnosed, and ways to help support your child/student with one or all of these diagnoses.
Can We Talk: Healthy Relationships ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented by:
Diana Wark (She/Her), Parent Program Coordinator for Centre for Sexuality
Join us for an interactive workshop to learn how to navigate those sometimes awkward but essential conversations that foster well-being, healthy relationships and informed decision-making. We empower parents with knowledge, skills and confidence to engage in open, honest and supportive conversations about sexuality and sexual health with their children.
This session we will describe and explore healthy, unhealthy, and abusive relationship patterns. We will learn about effective communication and practice discussing topics related to romantic/intimate relationships in ways that are grounded in your values.
The Elephant in the Room: The Lived Experiences of Diagnostic Disclosure and Nondisclosure in Autism ***please register using the poster only***
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Presented by: Brittany R. Lorentz, MSc.
Doctoral Candidate & Provisional Registered Psychologist
School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education
ASERT Research Lab
Objectives:
- Understand the nuanced experiences of guardians and autistic individuals regarding diagnosis disclosure.
- Recognize the decision-making process and the emotional/developmental significance of disclosure timing.
- Apply practical insights to support families in navigating whether, when, and how to disclose an autism diagnosis.
Dyslexia Essentials ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By:
Tanya Keto, Registered Psychologist
AVERY Family and School Psychology Services
This presentation is suited for both caregivers of children/youth and educators working with children/youth.
Occurring in an estimated 5-15% of the population, Dyslexia refers to individuals who have foundational and often extreme difficulties with reading, spelling, and writing. These difficulties span academic settings and grades and can impact reading comprehension, the development of vocabulary, and the ability to spell and communicate in writing. Educators and caregivers play a critical role in the trajectory and outcomes of students with Dyslexia, and there is so much we can do to help these kids and alter their trajectories.
In this session we will discuss:
• Red flags
• Diagnosis, statistics, and developmental trajectory of students with Dyslexia.
• Cognitive processes involved in reading.
• Evidence-based Tier 2 and 3 interventions.
Supporting Youth: How to Respond to Sexual Health Misinformation ***please register using the poster only***
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Presented by: Primary Care Alberta, Sexual & Reproductive Health, Calgary Zone
Everyone needs quality information about sexuality to be healthy, yet misinformation and disinformation about sexuality continues to cause problems for youth. In this session, we will talk about:
• Mis-, dis-, and mal-information - where do youth come across them and how they impact youth mental and sexual health
• How sexuality education and media literacy offer useful responses to mis-, dis-, and mal-information and support youth mental and sexual health
• Tips for supporting youth media and sexual health literacy
• Reputable, youth friendly resources for credible sexuality information
Is Your Child Struggling at School? It May Be Time for a Psychoeducational Assessment ***please register using the poster only***
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Presented By:
Tanya Keto (MEd), Co-Clinic Director AVERY Family and School Psychology Services Registered Psychologist
Psychoeducational assessments combine standardized assessments of a child’s intellectual and academic abilities and behavioural rating scales with the dynamic clinical judgment of a trained psychologist to determine the what, how, and why of struggling students. This process measures overall aptitude and academic achievement in core academic skills, as well as any additional factors that may impact a child's performance at school (e.g., attention and concentration, learning disabilities, mood, anxiety, etc.), and provides strategies to support them.
Whether a diagnosis is made or not, the information can be used to identify what the student needs to reach their potential. This session will take a deep dive into what teachers need to know about the psychoeducational process including:
• The psychological processes that underlie learning to read, write, and do math
• The specific academic skills being investigated including reading, writing, math, language, etc.
• Aspects of social/emotional and behavioural functioning that may be impacting the student, including attention and concentration, depression, anxiety, etc.
• The diagnostic process
• Recommendations, strategies, and accommodations
• Using the psychoeducational assessment report for Individual Education/Program Planning (IPPs, IEPs, etc.)