Poderismo: The Power of Mentorship in the Lives of System Involved Youth

Rafael Avendaño

Training Description

The class aims to support system involved youth practitioners by offering them strategies and tools to build stronger relationship through the power of mentorship. This training will also over current issues that system involved youth face in schools, communities and societies. In addition, the class will offer effective mentorship approaches leading to more effective, happier, and successful system involved youth and practitioners the course offers a framework for system involved youth practitioners of all experience levels to exchange ideas, experiences and resources.

Reference topic themes will include:

• Communication skills when working with system involved youth and families
• Cultural competence in working with system involved children, families and adolescents
• Healthy relationship capacity building
• Community engagement
• Storytelling practices
• System-involved youth and family motivation

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 and mentorship avenues
• 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-System Involved Youth and the power of mentorship

10:10am-10:30am- Groupthink Time

10:30am-10:50am-Learning Examples

10:50am-11:05am-Break (CEUs will not be issued for this time)

11:05am-11:30am-Youth development and Empathy Building

11:30am-11:45pm- Group share

11:45am-12:00pm-Evaluations and Closing

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.