Greetings Everyone! The Onondaga County Department of Aging & Youth is currently recruiting participants for the next Advancing Youth Development (AYD) Training for Front Line Youth Workers. The training will be held on five consecutive Wednesdays beginning April 2, 2008 at the Syracuse Vineyard Church.  Click here for more information. The PPYD Youth Development Training for Supervisors and Administrators took place over two days in November.  The revised format was well received and will be used when the training is held again on November 19 and 20, 2008.  For more information, click here. The 21st Annual Youth Bureau Show and Tell was a great success! Over 140 people were present to hear 35 presenters talk about youth programs in Onondaga County. Organizations represented parks and recreation, community based after school programs, runaway and homeless youth shelters, domestic violence services and so much more. We even had an outdoor adventure program talk about their facilities and services. It's too late if you missed it this year, but look for it again next January. It's a great opportunity to learn about youth services and programs, and to network with others in the field. Keep checking this website for more information. The popular "Living With Teens" program is back! After a brief hiatus for the winter holidays, Marnie and Alis are back with more sessions of "Living With Teens", a program where families can share with and learn from others who are facing the challenges that come with having a teenager. We encourage participants to connect with each other as you seek the answers to managing the teen years at home. We also offer help with understanding what teens are thinking and why they do some of the things they do. Effective communication can be the key to your success! For more information, click here.   Asset Champion Network -  If you've ever smiled at a young person, gave a word of encouragement, offered a safe place or stimulating activities, or in any way supported, advocated for, or taught a young person or his/her family, then you are an Asset Champion.  The Asset Champion Network is another opportunity for people who work or live with youth to learn about how we are helping to build the 40 Developmental Assets in our young people. Youth workers, coaches, parents, administrators of youth programs and business people are invited to come and share information about your asset building activities, and learn what others in Onondaga County are doing. Research shows that the more assets (support, empowerment, boundaries and expectations, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, positive identity) a young person has, the more likely he/she will refrain from risky behavior and engage in thriving behaviors.  If you are unfamiliar with the 40 Developmental Assets, click on the Asset Building button on the left hand side of this page. Onondaga County is proud to promote the Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth Iniative to help insure that all young people have access to the supports, services and opportunities they need to build assets. Please join us in our efforts by sharing your work, knowledge and experience about youth and their families at our bi-monthly Breakfast For Champions. Upcoming dates and locations: February 13, 2008 Noon to 1:30pm Teen Challenge 124 Furman Street Syracuse   April 9, 2008 8:00am to 9:30am Location to be Announced   If you are interested in helping to Create A Parenting Rich Community in Onondaga County, please join us for our next meeting on February 29, 2008 from 9:00am until 11:00 at the Teacher's Center, West Fayette Street, Syracuse.  Join us as we plan for Parent University, a day in which parents/families can come together to share information and build upon the skills, knowledge, supports and resources needed to raise safe, healthy and successful children from birth to adulthood. A Parenting Rich Community is one in which parents have the internal and external resources needed to support the optimal development of all children at every stage of life, and where the job of parenting is supported and celebrated by the community. Contact Marnie Annese at 315-435-2362x115 or by email at mannese@ongov.net for more information.  Everyone is welcome!  The Central New York Out of School Time Network is a coalition of community members dedicated to promoting, providing and increasing opportunities for youth to engage in quality programs and experiences before and after school. The Network is a partnership of public, private, and not-for-profit agencies passionate in their mission to ensure that all children have access to out of school time resources in their communities. For more information about the Network, contact Alis Sefick by email at asefick@contactsyracuse.com   On Thursday, January 24, the CNYOSTN brings Scott Vinciguerra to Syracuse for a presentation on the adolescent brain and what the latest research tells about it. Learning about the adolescent brain can help us work more effectively with the young people in our programs.  Even if you aren't working in a program, this is a great opportunity to learn about what makes young people tick. Combining professionalism with a sense of humor, Scott is a former public school teacher and principal and has experience in working with children, parents, teachers, and administrators in grades K-8. Areas of interest include: curriculum, instruction, assessment & evaluation, neuroscience, the inclusion model, middle-level teaching and adolescence, and effective teaching practices. Scott is currently an associate professor of education at Cazenovia College.  The Central New York Out of School Time Network is an active member of the Afterschool Alliance and an affiliate of the New York State Afterschool Network.      New York Parents Are Talking (NYPAT) is a network of parent educators that meets quarterly to share resources, challenges and successes in the world of parent education. The group includes folks who have worked with parents for over 30 years and those brand new to the field. Our meetings are informal, informative, and always practical. Join us!  For more information, contact Jane Arras at REACH CNY at 424-0009 or by email at jarras@familytiesnetwork.org Check out our calendar to find other Youth Development Training and Events