CES Sessions
All sessions are offered at no cost.
Helping Your Child Cope with Needles
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Understanding Needle Phobia in Children and Youth…
Many parents have experienced the dread of taking their children for shots. This issue has become even more apparent for families as the COVID-19 vaccines become available for children and youth. If your child (or you) are scared of needles, please join presenters John Laing and Dr. Mitch Colp of Hexagon Psychology for an engaging discussion about needle phobia in children and youth and learn practical strategies and tips to support yourselves and the children you care for on their vaccination journey.
The presenters will open with a general discussion about how anxiety can impact children and parents as they navigate the dreaded needle, including typical responses to the prospect of receiving a needle and what parents can watch for if they are concerned about their child’s reaction to the thought of an injection. Following this, there will be a discussion of practical strategies to ensure getting a vaccination is as easy and drama free as possible. The discussion will conclude with a Q&A session and a review of the practical strategies discussed throughout.
Personal Safety in the Community, at Home and Online
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Join Lorna Selig for an informative session on Personal Safety. Topics covered will include online and internet safety, and basic strategies for keeping yourself protected in the community and in the home. Lorna will offer links and articles for follow up and further support.
Understanding Childhood Stress & Anxiety
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
A discussion on anxiety and stress in children; what it is, what it may look like and how you can help your child. How to use strategies such as mindfulness and relaxation with your child as well as resources that can support caregivers and their children.
Starting or changing medication for your child/youth’s mental health? An introduction to genotype-guided prescribing
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Genotype-guided prescribing uses a person’s genetic information to help find medications that are most likely to be safe and beneficial for them. Some genes make it harder for the body to process certain medications, leading to side effects. Others can cause the body to use up medications too fast and a normal dose may not work. Genotype-guided prescribing can reduce the trial-and-error when selecting mental health medications for children and teenagers.
This presentation will:
• Provide an introduction to this emerging approach to prescribing
• Explain who can benefit from it
• Highlight current research examining genotype-guided prescribing
Habits of Mental Health
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Everyone has mental health which is equally important as physical health. Just like physical health, we need proper supports, strategies, and healthy coping habits to maintain an optimal wellbeing. In this webinar we will go through various ways to facilitate positive mental wellbeing as well as the many benefits of positive mental health.
From Homework to Housework: Raising Responsible Children for parents of children 5 – 12 years old
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Parents have a role to play in helping children establish good homework habits. Parents also play a critical role in building healthy school attitudes and effective home/school communication. Being responsible is more than just doing what you're told; it involves problem solving and decision making. Children are not born responsible; parents must teach the skills to their children. Children need to learn that their actions have consequences, good and bad and that it is their choices and decisions that largely determines what that consequence will be. They also need to learn from the consequences so that they can be a part of any solution that is required if their choices result in a need to "fix" things.
In this workshop, Parents will learn:
What role they play in teaching their child responsibility
The 3 parts to responsibility
Ways to encourage children to become responsible for themselves and their chores
How and when to start giving children chores and some age appropriate chores
Should we pay children to do chores?
Whose problem is it if the chores aren't completed?
Tips on setting up a family chore chart?
Children and Parenting After Separation ' Parenting Coordination and other Dispute Resolution Processes '
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Court is not the only way to resolve family law problems, and it’s not always the best way to resolve family law problems. In this webinar, we’ll talk about some alternatives to court. We’ll cover mediation, where a neutral person helps people reach an agreement on their own, and arbitration, where a neutral person makes a decision resolving a problem, just like a judge. We'll also talk about parenting coordination, a long-term process that combines parts of mediation and parts of arbitration to resolve problems while helping people learn to communicate better and resolve problems on their own.
Trans & Parent Perspectives: How to support transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming youth
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Tammy Plunkett (she/her) left her career as a registered nurse to stay home and raise her four children. It turned out that she could only take so much Sesame Street and returned to her first love - writing. After her third child came out as transgender, she focused her work on helping parents of transgender kids. Her next book, Beyond Pronouns: The Essential Guide for Parents of Trans Kids, is due in the summer of 2022.
Kiersten Mohr (she/her) is a speaker, advocate and openly transgender woman in Alberta. After two decades as a geologist and leader in the energy industry, she was inspired and empowered by the positive experience of her gender transition and now passionately uses her visibility and voice to promote positive public awareness and inclusion of transgender and gender diverse individuals.
Introduction - Gender Diversity 101
How do you trust a child to know? Is it a phase?
Is my child okay (medical, psychological, acceptance)?
Where do I start (do we wait until they are 18) and how do I support the transition process?
How does a community (school, city programs, extended family, etc.) support a transgender child?
How do I communicate the change in an affirming, supportive way?
Understanding Social Media Use in Teens
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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.
Supporting Your Children to have Healthy Relationships During a Pandemic
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
This presentation will focus on how parents can help children develop and maintain positive healthy relationships in their children. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a requirement for physical distancing from peers and increased social connection online. Physical distancing does not mean the same thing as social and emotional distancing. Children and teens can and should stay social and emotionally connected with their peers and others. Healthy relationships and social connections are key in fostering positive social-emotional development and resilience. Strategies to help parents promote healthy and positive relationships during a time of increased physical distance and stress will be provided. Parents will be empowered to have meaningful conversations with their children to build the parent-child relationship, as well as help their children develop and maintain healthy relationships with their peers in person and safely online.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
11:00 AM - Noon
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
Play with Purpose: The Impacts of Play on Development & Incorporating Play into Learning
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Play is one of the most important and impactful ways children learn. In this workshop, we will explore a variety of skills that can develop through play, the different types and stages of play, as well as working through those tricky moments when conflict arises during play. By the end of this presentation, you’ll have a better understanding and appreciation for play, and more playful tools that you can incorporate into your household or classroom!
Resilience
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties or hardship. So what makes humans resilient? And what is the role of resilience in our lives? Additionally, how does resilience relate to mental wellbeing? Resilience can also help offset factors that increase the risk of mental health conditions and can help keep mental health concerns like depression or anxiety at bay. Come join us for this presentation as we uncover the five pillars of resilience: self awareness, mindfulness, self care, positive relationships & purpose. By strengthening these pillars, we in turn, become more resilient.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
11:00 AM - Noon
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Caregivers – What’s it all about?
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
This workshop is about caring for the caregiver. Participants will be taught tools and techniques towards taking care of themselves so that they, in turn, can mindfully connect with their child/young adult. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) processes and how they can support caregivers of neurodiverse individuals (including autism and other developmental differences) will be discussed.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) seeks to help individuals to manage difficult things in their lives and mindfully connect with things that are most important in a way that is loving and respectful. With an introduction to the concept of ‘mindfulness,’ ACT helps to develop a new mindful relationship with unwanted thoughts and feelings. This process helps a person to be more open, and to take action consistent with what they care about.
Intergenerational Trauma- Learning and Healing
5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
In this session, you will be walked through some information about intergenerational trauma and how it has impacted the Indigenous peoples of Canada and societal imprints on a specific population. With this information participants will learn through questions, videos and examples and hopefully spark attendees to learn more. Attendees will also learn about a Boys & Girls Clubs of Calgary Indigenous led program for youth that is challenging systems and creating space for healing.
Understanding and Using Mental Toughness to Enhance Performance: When Toughness is Really NOT About Being “Tough.”
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Mental toughness (MT) has a great deal of evidence to support its use in education, but is also broadly misunderstood because of its roots in competitive sport and in high-performance arenas such as the military and business worlds. There are lots of stories of professional athletes and folks like Navy SEALS who talk about MT. But what about the rest of us? What about kids? In this webinar, we will discuss what MT really is – and the critical value of mental sensitivity and mental flexibility in enhancing our performance and in supporting kids and ourselves to become more willing risk takers, be more resilient, have more interpersonal success, and how to not only learn from mistakes but also actively seek out opportunities for new learning.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
11:00 AM - Noon
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
Emerging from the shadows - recognizing signs of mental distress in our children and youth as we navigate through the pandemic and beyond
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Overview on current mental health trends seen in children and youth, we will share universal approaches and an introduction to some easy screening tools parents can review and implement. The session will review the mental health impacts of the last 18 months - what physicians have seen and what is still emerging. Participants will learn to recognize normal distress reactions, including physical signs of emotional stress, when further assessment is needed and the importance of early detection. It will also explore who to turn to for more information and support. Building resilience together - takes a village.
Juno House presents: Healthy Brains = Healthy Children
10:30 AM - Noon
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.
Understanding Teen Mental Health & Wellness
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Everyone has mental health, teens included. This workshop will provide information to help parents and caregivers understand and support positive mental health for youth in their teen years. Learn to distinguish between normal feelings and behaviour of young people, and signs and symptoms of mental health concerns and issues. Relevant school and community resources will be shared.
Employment Workshops for caregivers and their youth: Resume Writing & Work Search Strategies, Networking and Conflict Resolution
6:30 PM - 7:30 PM
****These sessions are being run via Zoom - please register using the registration tab in the attached poster****
One-hour workshops, for parents/caregivers & their youth, covering:
May 4 & 8: Resume Writing – Learn how to create a youth resume, including an exploration of the different styles and uses for resumes.
May 10 & 15: Networking and Work Search Strategies - An exploration of youth job search strategies and how to create networks.
May 17 & 22: Conflict Resolution - Gain an understanding of what conflict is and how to resolve it in the workplace.
"All of my coping strategies went out the window": How neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers are coping during the pandemic
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on our lives. Many people are facing challenges that can be stressful and cause strong emotions in children, youth, and families. We will describe findings from a study examining the experiences of families of autistic individuals during the pandemic. We will present information about changes in autistic youth's traits and social-emotional symptoms, caregiver stress and resilience, and disruption to households and disability-related supports. We will discuss contributing factors to mental health and well-being in these individuals and families. Lastly, we will suggest healthy ways to cope with stress when current strategies need to look a little different than pre-pandemic times.
From Homework to Housework: Raising Responsible Children for parents of children 5 – 12 years old
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Parents have a role to play in helping children establish good homework habits. Parents also play a critical role in building healthy school attitudes and effective home/school communication. Being responsible is more than just doing what you're told; it involves problem solving and decision making. Children are not born responsible; parents must teach the skills to their children. Children need to learn that their actions have consequences, good and bad and that it is their choices and decisions that largely determines what that consequence will be. They also need to learn from the consequences so that they can be a part of any solution that is required if their choices result in a need to "fix" things.
In this workshop, Parents will learn:
What role they play in teaching their child responsibility
The 3 parts to responsibility
Ways to encourage children to become responsible for themselves and their chores
How and when to start giving children chores and some age appropriate chores
Should we pay children to do chores?
Whose problem is it if the chores aren't completed?
Tips on setting up a family chore chart?
Supporting LGBTQ2S+ Children and Youth: A Workshop for Parents and Family Members
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
This workshop will support parents and caregivers to create a more inclusive family environment. Deepen your understanding of the differences between sex, gender, and sexual orientation, and discuss the impacts of homophobia, biphobia, transphobia on LGBTQ2S+ children and youth. Participants will also gain practical tools and skills to support their LGBTQ2S+ family members and friends.
** This presentation is being delivered via Zoom. Please register within the attached poster.**
Mental health for highly sensitive teens; unique struggles for these emotional feelers
10:30 AM - Noon
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.
Easier Than You Think –Workshops for Parents and Natural Supports: Parents of 12-18-year-old kids
10:00 AM - Noon
This session is aimed for parents of 12-18-year-old kids.
The Easier Than You Think programs provide interactive learning to parents on how to communicate with their children on topics related to sexuality and sexual wellness.
Research by SEICUS shows that kids want to hear from their parents about not just sexual activity, but also about love, values, and relationships. This program will provide you with tools to have those important and meaningful conversations with your kids throughout their childhood and teen years.
After participating in this program, parents can expect:
• To feel more comfortable & confident talking with their children about sexuality and relationships.
• To practice basic strategies to effectively communicate with children about sexuality and relationships.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJctd-ugqD8qHNAfPeYiAQJyZ3Cl4C8iG0IL
** This presentation is being delivered via Zoom. Please register within the attached poster.**
Understanding the Brain and Stress
1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
This presentation will focus on increasing knowledge of brain development, brain functioning, the stress response system, the impact of trauma on the brain, and ways to increase functioning in the context of caregiving relationships. The lens from which these topics will be discussed is from Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model. This presentation will aim to increase caregiver compassion, flexibility and confidence.
ADHD & Executive Functioning with Covid-19 Considerations
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
The session will be an overview of ADHD and how issues with impulsivity and/or inattention impact children's ability to manage their environments. The session will also explore the impact ADHD has on Executive Functioning and how it relates to managing everyday tasks, and meeting daily expectations at home and at school, including social, emotional, behavioural and academic demands
Anxiety in the Classroom: strategies and approaches to supporting anxious students
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Are you a parent, educator, or supportive adult in a child’s or youth’s life? Do you want to better support them in moments when anxious thoughts and feelings are getting in the way of their learning or academic performance?
Learn ideas and strategies around how to help children and youth cope with anxious thoughts and feelings that add to the difficulties in their school days or homework nights. Jory has been a clinical social worker and clinical supervisor for 15 years in the area of school-based mental health and is very familiar with the reality that saying “Don’t worry about it” is more often a hopeful wish than a successful intervention for an anxious child. With a mix of proactive and “in the moment” interventions, this webinar will provide ideas and approaches that will add to the helping adult's toolbox when they are faced with the task of helping a child cope with those worries.
Secrets Mothers Keep – Let’s Talk About Postpartum Scary Thoughts
10:30 AM - Noon
The focus of this presentation will be on discussing a specific struggle that can occur during the Perinatal Period, called Scary Thoughts. The material presented will be from the book, “Dropping the Baby and other Scary Thoughts: Breaking the Cycle of Unwanted Thoughts of Motherhood” by Karen Kleiman and Amy Wenzel. I will be breaking down what Scary Thoughts are, how to recognize them, how to cope with them, and when to access professional supports.
Easier Than You Think –Workshops for Parents and Natural Supports: Parents of 0-11-year-old kids
10:00 AM - Noon
This session will be best suited for parents of children aged 0-11 years old.
The Easier Than You Think programs provide interactive learning to parents on how to communicate with their children on topics related to sexuality and sexual wellness.
Research by SEICUS shows that kids want to hear from their parents about not just sexual activity, but also about love, values, and relationships. This program will provide you with tools to have those important and meaningful conversations with your kids throughout their childhood and teen years.
After participating in this program, parents can expect:
• To feel more comfortable & confident talking with their children about sexuality and relationships.
• To practice basic strategies to effectively communicate with children about sexuality and relationships.
This session will be best suited for parents of children aged 0-11 years old
In this workshop we will reflect, explore, and gain tools to build, grow and maintain your family’s conversations on topics of sexuality, sexual health, and relationships. Topics include language, boundaries, consent and answering questions.
** This presentation is being delivered via Zoom. Please register within the attached poster.**
Building Resiliency in Children
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
During the presentation, a description of stress in its various forms is provided as well as practical means to develop skills that help reduce stress in children and youth. There is an emphasis on connection and promoting buffering relationships so we can diminish the impact of toxic stressors by converting them to tolerable stressors. Brain and physiological mechanisms will be introduced and integrated into the discussion of stress and relationships.
Let me triple check that: Childhood Perfectionism and Bossing Back OCD
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
This session offers an overview of child and adolescent perfectionism and how intrusive thoughts around “getting it right” can impact a child’s academic and social abilities. The Cognitive Behavioural Therapy technique of Exposure and Response Prevention for parents and/or school personal to help children and/or adolescence to fight back against their obsessive-compulsive symptoms will be discussed along with:
Background information on what Perfectionism and OCD is
Ability to notice signs of perfectionistic tendencies within your child
An understanding of Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Fun and exciting ways to tailor ERP to children/adolescence
Taming Anxiety Gremlins using the Anxiety Compass
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
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.
Sleep Soundly: A workshop to support better sleep habits for teens and adults with autism
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Counting sheep not helping you or your family sleep? “The Sleep Workshop” will discuss common sleep challenges for teens and adults with autism and provide you with strategies to support healthy sleep habits. This workshop is intended for teens or adults with autism and those who support them.
Slaying “Examaphobia” How students can approach tests with more confidence and strategies
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
Youth welcome to participate.
Learn how to understand “exam anxiety” as well as strategies to better address stress and improve performance.
This webinar will help us understand how some students often become very stressed and overwhelmed around taking exams. As a mental health clinician and MRU professor who has taught courses in optimal learning strategies, our presenter, Kathy Jarrell is ideally suited to take on this topic. Kathy will address mental health aspects along with practical study and test-taking strategies for students and those who support them.
Let’s take a little time to learn how to learn and slay the dreaded “Examaphobia” dragon!
Respect2Connect Session 2
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
** This presentation is being delivered via Zoom. Please register within the attached poster.**
ADHD & Executive Functioning
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
This session will be an overview of ADHD and how issues with impulsivity and/or inattention impact children's ability to manage their environments. The session will also explore the impact ADHD has on Executive Functioning and how it relates to managing everyday tasks, and meeting daily expectations at home and at school, including social, emotional, behavioural and academic demands.
ADHD & Executive Functioning with Covid-19 Considerations
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
The session will be an overview of ADHD and how issues with impulsivity and/or inattention impact children's ability to manage their environments. The session will also explore the impact ADHD has on Executive Functioning and how it relates to managing everyday tasks, and meeting daily expectations at home and at school, including social, emotional, behavioural and academic demands
Children and Parenting After Separation: Hearing the Voice of the Child in Family Law Disputes
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
This webinar is about how children’s views and preferences can be heard when family law problems are being resolved in court and out of court. We will talk about the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, how the Convention gives children the right to be heard, and the research on the benefits to children and parents when children are heard. We will also talk about the strengths and weaknesses of hearing the voice of children through parenting assessments (also called custody assessments and bilateral reports), through shorter views of the child reports and through other options.