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Indianapolis, IN 
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                   June 16-18, 2008
        Indianapolis, IN-Hyatt Regency

A Message from our Co-Hosts Join us for the 4th Annual Midwest Healthy Choices for Youth Conference! Don’t miss this unparalleled training opportunity emphasizing the social, emotional and physical development of your students — this event is packed with practical sessions presented by the nation’s best! Network with your colleagues while enjoying all downtown Indianapolis has to offer: fine shopping and restaurants, museums, performances and other exciting cultural events. We’ll see you in Indianapolis!

The "I.S.S." Boys Today’s educational system is being confronted with young boys who struggle to maintain grades and appropriate social behavior. As parents and professionals deal with these concerns, boys are often found in barren classrooms designated for I.S.S. (In-School Suspension). This presentation will focus on current conceptualizations of boys and the methods professionals can use to intervene positively. Rod Berger, Psy.D, currently works with children and their families at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in the Division of Community Psychiatry.

Legal & Ethical Issues for School Counselors Participants in this session will develop a decision-making framework for analyzing and resolving ethical issues. Topics of discussion will include confidentiality, minors’ rights to privacy, malpractice in academic advising, sexual harassment, sexually active minor clients, and more. Dr. Carolyn Stone was the American School Counselor Association’s Ethics Chair for six years prior to becoming ASCA President in 2006. She now teaches at the University of North Florida in the area of school counselors in the accountability climate of educational reform.

Books that Make a Positive Difference This entertaining discussion centers on using storybooks to offer children, counselors and teachers a fun way to gain important people skills. Subjects include tattling, interrupting and personal space. The writing and publishing process will also be explained—learn how to become a published author!  Julia Cook is a former elementary school guidance counselor and the author of nine children’s books.

Bullying and Normal Conflict — Recognizing the Differences and What to Do About It! Bullying is a common, sometimes severe form of school violence, often misidentified and underreported. As statistics report the harmful impact of bullying on academics, it is imperative that adults and students be equipped with the skills to address a critical social issue. This session will focus on the facts and myths of bullying, how to identify and confront perpetrators, and how to help victims of bullies. Rodger Dinwiddie is the President of Students Taking a Right Stand (STARS), in Nashville, TN.

Self-Injury–The Next Teen Disorder? What do you do after learning that a student engages in self-injury? School personnel are encountering self-injury at an alarming rate, and most are unprepared to deal with it. Drs. Melissa Hakman and Elizabeth Jones will provide participants with a conceptual framework to guide an initial assessment interview and design sensitive school response procedures. Drs. Melissa Hakman and Elizabeth Jones are Assistant and Associate Professors of Psychology at Western Kentucky University.

Positive Youth Sport Coaching This session will discuss how coaches can create a challenging, yet positive, character-building environment for young athletes. Dr. Chris Carr will discuss coaching philosophy, motivation, and holistic techniques to enable young people to maximize their sport experience. Dr. Chris Carr is the Sport and Performance Psychologist and Coordinator of Sport and Performance Psychology Services at the St. Vincent Sports Performance Center. He has counseled numerous U.S. Olympians and professional athletes.

An In-Depth Look at Childhood Overweight/Obesity and Chronic Disease (particularly Types I & II diabetes) This session will address the state of childhood overweight/obesity in America and its significant impact on the expansion of chronic disease with a focus on Types I and II diabetes. Chris Toppe, PhD, is Chief Research, Evaluation & Policy Counsel for Shaping America’s Health, a strategic initiative of the American Diabetes Association.

Finding the Hidden Dollar: Funding Your Health & Wellness Program This session will provide participants with the tools and techniques to secure the resources to deliver a robust student education program. Participants will learn to match their program with the resources needed and will also receive free consulting services following the conference. G. Gary Deverman, CFRE, is CEOof Shaping America’s Health. He has been recognized as Washington, D.C.’s "Fundraiser of the Year" and is responsible for securing over $200 Million throughout his distinguished career.

Innovation in Health & Wellness Learning: Developing your Health & Wellness Program This will be an interactive session on innovative approaches to help students understand the importance of having a positive "HealthStyle" – good nutrition, fitness, and proactive health management. Health & Wellness: The Key to Quality Education This session will address the state of key childhood/family health problems in America, the critical importance of health & wellness in quality education, and the power educators have to profoundly affect the teacher/student learning experience by addressing the health & wellness issues that confront them. Allen Schmieder, PhD, is co-founder of Positive Futures. He is a 33-year veteran of the U. S. Department of Education and founded the Teacher Centers movement while pioneering the counseling & guidance profession.

Creating a Culture of Character What began 5 years ago as a celebration of "National Random Acts of Kindness Week" in a Kentucky elementary school has grown into a yearlong emphasis on kindness. Learn how the staff and students look for unique ways of showing kindness in the school and community. This presentation provides practical means for improving school climate and will show how to establish a kindness program in your classroom or school. David Greene and Kevin Smith are the Principal and Counselor at Hatcher Elementary School in Ashland, Kentucky.

Sing, Dance, Laugh and Build Character Learn innovative, inspirational, intriguing ways to make character come alive while integrating core ethical values into school culture and climate. This session shows how to put the "active" back into activities. Tap into different learning styles, and students will soar to new heights! This session, with over a dozen take-home ideas, promises to entertain and be instrumental in your character education efforts. Barbara Gruener is the Guidance Counselor at Westwood Elementary in Friendswood, Texas.

Good News, Kind Words, and Funny Things Learn how to bring out the best in young people! This enthusiastic master teacher will share successful strategies developed over a long and rewarding career. This session will help you create a character-based environment to transform your classroom and school. There will be handouts, plenty of laughs, and a plateful of practical ideas. Hal Urban is one of America’s leading proponents of character education and is a former 35-year public school educator. He is the author of Positive Words, Powerful Results, and Life’s Greatest Lessons.

Implementing Character Education in an Alternative Education Setting This presentation highlights the implementation phase of the Partnerships in Character Education initiative, focusing on a successful collaboration among Indianapolis-area organizations. Academic achievement and teacher performance in an alternative education setting will be explored and innovative student-led examples will be presented. Don Peslis is Director of the Center for Character Development at Anderson University’s School of Education. Sondra Quarles-Towne is District Supervisor of Alternative Education Programs for Indianapolis Public Schools.

C.A.R.E.S.: Connecting, Accepting, Respecting, Engaging and Supporting Always a favorite, this high energy, interactive session will teach you how to use development-based activities in a classroom or small group setting. Activities will focus on connecting character, accepting differences, respecting oneself and others through engagement and support. Excellent activity handouts and "Character Rocks" will be provided in this entertaining and practical session. Duane Hodgin and Gina Apple are practitioner-based character educators from Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis, IN.

Earn Graduate Credits and CRUs... Through the Indiana Department of Education and Anderson University, while attending the conference! Document your professional development while attending this comprehensive training experience addressing the social, emotional, physical and character development of children and youth. • 15 CRUs will be offered for an additional fee of $75 and by attending the conference. No course work is required. • 2 or 3 M.Ed. graduate credits will be offered for an additional fee of $285 per credit hour ($570 for 2 hours/$855 for 3 hours) and by attending the conference. A research/writing component will be required for class completion. A separate registration fee for the conference is required. Click here for Pre-registration, a syllabus and additional information regarding credits . Payment for the CRUs and graduate credit hours must be by cash or a check made payable to Anderson University, and can be paid on-site at the conference.

General Sessions

Tuesday Luncheon Keynote Harry Pickens has performed internationally with many of the finest artists in jazz including Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Freddie Hubbard and others. His international reputation as an outstanding jazz pianist is complemented by his deep commitment to help struggling children succeed in school and in life. Fostered by his experience as a K-12 music teacher, Harry champions the power of the creative arts to enhance learning, creativity and personal achievement. With endearing wit and charm, Harry speaks to diverse audiences across the globe, using music to help individuals, organizations and communities get in tune with their greatest possibilities.

Wednesday Leadership Institute Glenn Singleton has devoted his life to addressing systemic issues of educational inequity by providing guidance to districts to meet the needs of underserved students of color. He has written numerous articles on the topics of equity, racism, leadership and staff development for national publications, and is co-author of the award-winning book Courageous Conversations About Race: a Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools. Glenn’s session, "Beyond Diversity," will identify, define and examine the powerful intersection of race and schooling. Today, thousands of educators throughout the country have implemented his recommendations as they strive to usher in culturally proficient curriculum, instruction and assessment.

Conference Schedule Monday, June 16 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Registration 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Exhibits Open Kickoff Reception 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres and Entertainment Tuesday, June 17 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Exhibits Open 7:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. General Session–Opening Ceremony 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Sessions 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Luncheon - Keynote: Harry Pickens 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Breakout Sessions Wednesday, June 18 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Exhibits Open 7:15 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Breakout Sessions 11:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. Break 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Networking Lunch 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Leadership Institute (Part 1): Glenn Singleton 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. "Sweet-Tooth" Break 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Leadership Institute (Part 2): Glenn Singleton 3:00 p.m. – 3:20 p.m. Closing Ceremony & Door Prizes

Click here  to link to the Hyatt in Indy and make your hotel reservation! This rate expires Friday, May 23, 2008.

REGISTRATION FORM Mr. Ms. Mrs. Dr. Name _______________________________________________ Job Title _____________________________________________ Organization/School District ______________________________ Work Address ________________________________________ City __________________________ State _____ Zip _________ Work Phone (________)________________________________ Home address ________________________________________ City _________________________ State _____ Zip __________ Home Phone(________)_________________________________ E-mail (required for confirmation*) ______________________________________________ *Your confirmation will be sent to you via e-mail. Four Ways to Register By Phone: (800) 477-8277 By Fax: 423-899-4547 By Mail: Midwest HC for Youth Conference c/o National Center for Youth Issues P.O. Box 22185 Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185 By Internet: Click here to register online with a credit card. Click here to download the brochure Make your check or purchase order payable to National Center for Youth Issues. Then mail the check or purchase order and registration to the address above. Conference Registration       Early Bird Special - $275.00 (on or before 5/6/08)    Regular Price - $299.00 (after 5/6/08) $_______  Group Rate $250.00 per person in groups of 4 or more (groups must register together) $_______ Total* $_______ Conference price includes four meals and "Sweet-Tooth" break! Payment Method Check (enclosed) Credit Card : Personal Corporate Credit Card Type: MC Visa Discovery Amex Card No.____________________________ Exp. Date ________ Name on Card (Please Print)______________________________ Credit Card Billing Address ______________________________ City _________________________ State _____ Zip __________ CID# (3-digit code on back of card)________________________ Authorized Signature ___________________________________ Purchase Order# ______________________________________ (please attach a copy of the purchase order) * There will be no refunds after May 30th, 2008. All cancellations before that date will be refunded less a $25 handling fee.