Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers ***please register using the poster only***

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Presented by: Tracy Fields, BSW, MSW in partnership with Tracy Fields Consulting

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.

Poster

Earth Play: The Benefits of Outdoor Exploration ***please register using the poster only***

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

They don’t call them the great outdoors for nothing! Getting outside is great for both mental health and physical health! This session will provide individuals with information about the benefits of messy play, exploration, and adventure for supporting positive mental health and provide practical, age-appropriate ideas for kids to get outside, get moving, and get messy!

Juno House presents: Healthy Brains = Healthy Children ***please register using the poster only***

Noon - 1:30 PM

Before High School graduation, one third of adolescent girls will experience depression, anxiety disorders, self harm or an eating disorder.
At Juno House www.junohouse.ca we believe in the extraordinary healing power of parents and caregivers. We believe that you can learn all of the skills that you need to become your teen’s emotional coach. We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. We will share steps and strategies from the Juno House Therapeutic Model that will give you effective emotional coaching tools for your children as they develop through adolescence and into young adulthood. You will learn about :
• Neuroscience and the developing brain,
• Brain integration of the left and right brain,
• How anxiety develops,
• The background of emotions and how to understand them in your child,
• The five emotional coaching steps,
• Strategies to help guide your adolescent through the challenges they will face in their academic, peer, and emotional environments.

Responding to Disclosures of Child Sexual Abuse ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Presenters: Souheir Jamil, PhD (she/her) Clinical Senior Sexual Violence Educator & Paula Russel, BA, BSW (she/her) Education Program Supervisor, CASA

This workshop will focus on how to provide a supportive response to disclosures of child sexual abuse. Topics include support skills, reporting obligations and how to provide key messages of support to children who are disclosing.

Supporting Children and Youth through Grief & Loss ***please register using the poster only***

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Presenters: Kelvin Ganpatt, BA Psychology & Stephanie Sands, BSc. Psychology
Rocky View School Division and MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

To watch a child, grieve and not know what to do is a profoundly difficult experience for parents, teachers, and caregivers. There are many life experiences that can produce feelings of grief in a child, from the death of a relative or a divorce in the family to more everyday experiences such as moving to a new neighborhood or losing a prized possession. The pandemic has added even more reasons, with children grieving the loss of normalcy and a sense of safety. This session is to help adults counter the false idea of "not feeling bad" and to empower children with positive, effective methods of dealing with loss. We will look at guidelines for helping children develop a lifelong, healthy response to loss and how you can support them through these tough times.

PharmaFacts: An Introduction to Commonly Used Medications in Pediatric Mental Health ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:00 PM

Presenter: Rekha Jabbal, BSP, Pharmacy Clinical Practice Leader, South Zone
Child and Adolescent Addiction and Mental Health, AHS

Learning Objectives:
• Review key factors that are considered when making a decision to initiate medication.
• Become familiar with commonly used medications in pediatric mental health.
• Recognize and manage common side effects of commonly used medications.

Understanding Teen Mental Health & Wellness ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Presenters: Ashley Meagher BA CYC & Shauna Perrior B. Ed, Dip. CYCC, Rocky View School Division & MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

Everyone has mental health, teens included! This session will provide information to help caregivers understand and cultivate positive mental health for youth during their teen years. Learn to distinguish between normal feelings and behaviour of teens, including signs and symptoms of mental health concerns. School and community resources will be shared.

Growing Young Brains: Putting Science into Practice ***please register using the poster only***

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Presenter: Melanie Olorenshaw M.Sc (Applied Psychology), Founder/Director Brilliant Beginnings

Post-pandemic statistics have shown a significant increase of screen use in children under 3 years old. Parenting in our current digital world has become even more difficult to navigate as personal screen time shapes our children’s learning environment.

How can early brain science positively influence development in the early years? What is the current research on direct and indirect exposure to screens? How can we respectfully discuss and modify current parenting practices to promote healthy brain development in this formative time?

This workshop is for professionals working with parents of young children or parents wanting strategies to link science with positive parenting practices.

ADHD is Awesome! ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:00 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.

Navigating Technology with our Youth ***please register using the poster only***

Noon - 1:30 PM

Presented by: Andrea Halwas Larsen, in partnership with Juno House

In this 1.5 hour presentation, we will discuss the role of technology and today’s youth. The message of this presentation is not only based on technology, but also about a child’s healthy brain development and the necessary parenting/caregiver role in creating healthy, emotional, regulated, and integrated brains. This presentation will address the underpinning of a child’s emotional brain development and how to grow it, as well as how technology can dangerously hijack this.

We believe that talking does not grow neurons; experience grows neurons. This workshop is designed to give attendees the skills to become their child’s emotional coach. The workshop will provide participants with:
• An understanding of the basic neuroscience behind healthy brain development,
• The dangers of technology for healthy brain development,
• Technology use rules that will help your child
• When building healthy brains, how to identify emotions in your child/student, and
• How to become your child’s/student’s emotional coach in only five steps and in that, build a resilient child.

The presentation is facilitated by a therapist from Juno House who has years of both clinical and facilitating experience. Juno House was founded in 2008 as a Centre of Excellence for adolescent girls and young women who are experiencing anxiety-based mental health issues of self harm, obsessive compulsive disorders, depression and eating disorders.

Adolescent Brain Development and Navigating Parent-Teen Relationships

Online Course

Adolescence is a magical time when children enter a period of huge growth and change. Bodies and brains change, emotions become more volatile, friends become more important, and the parent-child relationship morphs into a parent-teen relationship. In this session we will discuss the adolescent brain, how to support healthy brain development, promoting resilience, and navigating the ways that your relationship with your teen will evolve as they slowly but surely become little adults.

Adolescent Brain Development and Navigating Parent-Teen Relationships (Oct.20 recording)

Online Course

Presenters: Kelvin Ganpatt, BA Psychology & Tashia Christie BA Psychology
Rocky View School Division and MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

Adolescence is a magical time when children enter a period of huge growth and change. Bodies and brains change, emotions become more volatile, friends become more important, and the parent-child relationship morphs into a parent-teen relationship. In this session we will discuss the adolescent brain, how to support healthy brain development, promoting resilience, and navigating the ways that your relationship with your teen will evolve as they slowly but surely become little adults.

Birth Control and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) What do you need to know? ***please register using the poster only***

Online Course

Presenter: Christine Sturgeon, B.Ed., Child Development Supervisor (Level III) Education Coordinator, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Alberta Health Services

Are you a trusted adult to a teen but are worried that your knowledge about birth control and STI might be out of date? Youth make healthier sexual choices when they can talk to an adult they trust about these topics. In this session for parents and professionals, build your ability to support youth by learning about:

• Creating a safer space to talk with teens about birth control and STI
• Current birth control methods that are effective for teens, how they work and how teens can get them
• Sexually transmitted infections – what they are, how people get them, how to lower risk and where teens can get testing and treatment

LGBTQ2S+: What grandparents need to know and do

Online Course

Grandparents and Elders play an important role in the health and well-being of the young people in their lives. You will build on your ability to help all of the youth in your life feel loved, safe and like they belong by learning about:

• SOGIE related terms
• Personal, family and cultural values
• Health, education and social impacts of stigma
• Inclusive language
• Safer family strategies

Mindfulness: Supporting Your Child’s Social and Emotional Learning ***please register using the poster only***

Online Course

Presenters: Allison Salazar, MA, School Counselling & Stephanie Sands, BSc. Psychology,
Rocky View School Division & MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

Feeling a little blue and not particularly cheery this time of year? You're not alone. In this session you will learn about mindfulness and take away practical tools that will help brighten these cold days. This session will explore the topic of mindfulness and how mindfulness strategies can support your child’s social and emotional well-being. Explore how the brain’s stress responses may impact social and emotional well-being and how to use mindfulness to calm the brain. Using mindfulness can lead to better focus in school, better cooperation with others, improved self-awareness, self-regulation, decrease stress/anxiety, and improve overall well-being.

Promising Practices for Supporting Individuals with FASD ***please register using the poster only***

Online Course

Presenter: Gagan Sandhu B.Sc., Education Facilitator, Calgary Fetal Alcohol Network (CFAN)

Participants will learn:

• What is FASD?
• How can I recognize individuals with FASD in my Practice?
• Alcohol and Pregnancy
• What can I do to support individuals affected by FASD?

Transform your Stress: The Resilience Advantage (Part 1)

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

*There are two parts of this training and, to enroll in the second session, you must complete part 1*

Presenters: Meena Sangha & Paulina Gornicki
Health Promotion Facilitators, Community Health Promotion Services
Mental Health Collaborative, Alberta Health Services

Stress affects people physically, mentally, and emotionally. In this first workshop, we will learn about stress and how to manage stress with 2 HeartMath stress- reducing techniques.

Objectives
1. Discuss the stress response and identify warning signs of stress
2. Review how emotions impact the body, brain, and our overall health
3. Demonstrate 2 stress-relieving techniques

Brain Science: Sciences of Hope and Resilience ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Presenters: Ashley Meagher, BA, CYC & Stephanie Sands BSc. Psychology
Rocky View School Division and MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

This session exists to support caregivers with the fundamental elements of brain science with a focus on the strengths of knowing how this can positively impact children and youth development. The interactive session will provide insight into brain structure and the stress response. In addition, we will explore adverse childhood experiences and life events as they relate to brain development, while providing information and strategies to build resilience.

Supporting Your Child’s Journey to Wellness ***please register using the poster only***

Noon - 1:00 PM

Presenter: Brittany Cornwall, BHSc, Youth Facilitator
Closer to Home Community Services

In this presentation, you will learn about:
• teenage brain development
• mental health statistics affecting our youth
• how to advocate for your youth

From Finsta to FOMO: Understanding Social Media Use in Teens ***please register using the poster only***

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Presenters: Stephanie Sands, BSc. Psychology & Syeda Afreen, BASc Psychology,
Rocky View School Division & MHCB Stepping Stones to Mental Health

The world of social media is constantly changing, and it can be hard to keep up. This session will look at some of the most popular platforms among Canadian youth and how to protect privacy and keep everyone safe. We will also discuss the effects of social media use on teen mental health and how to promote healthy social media habits in a digital world.

Early Childhood Caries: It's about more than just baby teeth

6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

Presenter: Dr. Leonard Smith DDS, M.Sc., FRCD (C), FAAPD, FIIC, Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

This presentation will discuss early childhood caries (decay) ECC (baby bottle decay) and how it is caused. ECC is the most common chronic, progressive infectious disease in children 5 and younger in North America. There will be a discussion about the serious consequences to the child if it is not treated, and participants will gain a better understanding that ECC is a disease about more than just “Baby Teeth”.

Taming Anxiety Gremlins using the Anxiety Compass ***please register using the poster only***

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Presenter: Dr. Caroline Buzanko PhD, Registered Psychologist
Clinical Director, Koru Family Psychology

Anxiety is at epidemic levels among children and is the most common mental health concern they face. Anxiety is not something you outgrow, and early intervention helps minimize later problems with depression and other social, emotional, behavioural, and physical difficulties. Unfortunately, most kids go without effective support until too late, if at all. Since 70% of all mental health problems begin in childhood and adolescence, there is a clear need to support our children and youth.

In this workshop, parents, teachers, and professionals will learn how traditional ways of helping children and teens may unwittingly worsen their anxiety. They will also learn about the anxiety compass, which outlines eight essential steps in helping children and teens manage anxiety effectively.