October 29th Conference to Discuss Issues and Initiatives for Tampa Bay's 150,000 Young Adolescents
Youth in the middle school, make-or-break years are faced with many physical, psychological and educational changes. With more than 150,000 youths within the ages of 10 and 14 now living in Hillsborough County, a conference has been scheduled October 29, 2002 to address the special needs of this age group.
Tampa Bay area community leaders, agency staff, youth workers, social service and mental health professionals, business leaders, funders, school personnel, policymakers and researchers will meet to discuss innovative projects, initiatives, strategies, and issues concerning these young adolescents. Statistics and information will be provided on youth in the Tampa Bay area, and on issues in need of being addressed.
The objectives of the conference are to: Provide a forum for community members to network; Encourage all to conceptualize community needs and strengths from a resiliency framework; Inform each other about the status of our community, and; Learn what kids in the 10-14 year old age group really want and need. The conference will address how to create more connections, more competencies, develop higher expectations, provide greater optimism and encourage giving to others.
Presentations will include:
- Transition from elementary to middle school;
- Issues faced in puberty;
- Relationships with adults;
- Recreational alternatives, juvenile justice â prevention and intervention;
- Gender and cultural competency,
- Community empowerment, and;
- Youth development.
The conference will feature guest speaker Laura Sessions Stepp, MS, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter who specializes in covering adolescence for The Washington Post. She is a champion for young teens and the critical need they have for a caring group of adults surrounding them as they travel through the perilous years. In her recent book, Our Last Best Shot, Stepp's powerful, real-life observations, combined with what she learned from dozens of experts in adolescent development, provide an intimate glimpse into the world of our next generation of leaders. Her expertise is of value to employers, policymakers, health professionals and teachers, as well as parents and grandparents.
As an organization approved by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, the Florida Board of Nursing and the American Psychological Association, the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute is offering this activity for up to 7 continuing education credits for clinical social workers, mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, nurses, and clinical and school psychologists (provider #s BAP #10, exp. 3/2003; 27P0001.) The Institute maintains responsibility for the program.
The Department of Child and Family Studies (CFS) is a department of the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida. The faculty and staff of CFS are committed to enhancing the development, mental health and well-being of children and families through leadership in integrating research, theory & practice.