How to use Family Engagement Strategies to Positively Impact System Involved Youth Outcomes

Rafael Avendaño

Training Description

The class aims to support practitioners working with system involved youth by offering them strategies and tools to build strong families with the community and environment around them. This class will touch on the importance of family engagement and how it impacts the development of system involved children. In this training we will cover the importance of time, resources and community. As a caretakers or practitioners, it is important to learn about how system involved youth can achieve greater success with the power and support of their community. This course offers a framework for practitioners of all experience levels to exchange ideas, experiences and resources to further their development on family engagement with system involved youth and families.

Learning Objective

• Participants will learn about the importance of community involvement and how that assists positive system involved youth outcomes
• Participants will learn methods to strengthen active listening for system involved youth participation
• Equip system involved families with tools to enhance and extend learning
• Participants will take time to learn more about system involved youth development and empathy.

Agenda 

9:00am-9:20am-Introductions

9:20am-9:30am-Icebreaker

9:30am-10:00am-Family Engagement in Schools, Communities and Societies

10:00am-10:15am-What family engagement programs are in your community that you know of?

10:15am-10:45am-Get the caregiver, get the kid!

10:45am-11:00am-Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

11:00am-11:40am-The Power of Community For Greater System Involved Youth Success

11:40am-11:50am-Groupshare

11:50am-12:00pm- Evaluation

Meet Our Trainer

Rafael has over a decade of experience in nonprofit management. He is currently the Executive Director of Redwood City Together a collective impact organization. From 2012-2020 he was the program director of the Siena Youth Center of St. Francis Center which specializes in education, art and self-expression, advocacy and health and wellness programs for youth and families. Rafael Joined the St. Francis Center in January of 2012 and was hired to help start the youth and community programs for Siena Youth Center. Prior to his tenure at the center he was the program director of programs at the San Leandro Boys and Girls Club for five years.  Rafael knows firsthand what the impact of not anything having to do after school can mean as youth programs helped him when he was a youth. He brings enthusiasm, charisma, and passion to his work of creating quality sports programs and enrichment programs for youth and adults. Rafael believes that with the support of the community, youth, and local county government working together families can achieve their dreams.

Rafael’s drive, unique teaching ability and belief in the power of mentorship have helped him inspire children and adults to find the confidence they need. Rafael currently holds his Bachelor’s in Science degree in public management with a specialization in human resources degree from Colorado State University and has earned his Master’s in organization and leadership from the University of San Francisco. On his free time Rafael loves to spend time with his wife and family, support programs that advocate towards injustice and spend time outdoors with friends and the Trips For Kids Bulldog Riders Youth Biking Club around the peninsula.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CEUs for LCSWs and MFTs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.