Building “Bridges” in Child and Youth Care - Summary |
Dr. Michael Ungar was the opening
keynote speaker and sketched out
the role of risk in adolescent lives.
It was an issue of balance
encouraging positive risk between
the extremes of too much safety
on one hand and too much danger
to the self and others, on the
other. This is a vital message in this
writer’s view as often youth care
staff can trend toward over safety
or perhaps using that as the easy
way out of providing recreational
activity. Getting out and doing, be
it work, volunteering or taking up
extreme sport as an alternative to
much of what is genuinely
negative and dangerous out there.
We all need such reminders
especially when we hit a rut along
life’s journey.
keynote speaker and sketched out
the role of risk in adolescent lives.
It was an issue of balance
encouraging positive risk between
the extremes of too much safety
on one hand and too much danger
to the self and others, on the
other. This is a vital message in this
writer’s view as often youth care
staff can trend toward over safety
or perhaps using that as the easy
way out of providing recreational
activity. Getting out and doing, be
it work, volunteering or taking up
extreme sport as an alternative to
much of what is genuinely
negative and dangerous out there.
We all need such reminders
especially when we hit a rut along
life’s journey.
 |
Building Bridges was fortunate to have a dedicated team behind it, one with an attention to personal warmth and detail that was remarkable. When
the workshops started this team swung into action directing and often taking delegates to their workshop locations. Each presenter had an
introduction offered and media support that was immediate and masterful. Indeed, the media support was generous with the provision of all the
equipment necessary to meet both the needs of the presenter and the room used. This is not the convention with such conferences.
the workshops started this team swung into action directing and often taking delegates to their workshop locations. Each presenter had an
introduction offered and media support that was immediate and masterful. Indeed, the media support was generous with the provision of all the
equipment necessary to meet both the needs of the presenter and the room used. This is not the convention with such conferences.
The Opening Reception was moved
to the first full evening of the
conference. It allowed delegates to
attend the Art Gallery at
Confederation Centre. A new show
had just opened: From the Inside
Out, a series of photographs of the
interiors of island homes running from
1770 to the present day with the
intent being to encourage the
integrity of renewal and replacement
work going forward. There is a
metaphor in there beyond the DIY
concern to the CYC ethic to center
on the inner child, perhaps. For those
who did attend it was a great way to
start a fine evening on the town,
which conveniently was just right
there on nearby streets.
to the first full evening of the
conference. It allowed delegates to
attend the Art Gallery at
Confederation Centre. A new show
had just opened: From the Inside
Out, a series of photographs of the
interiors of island homes running from
1770 to the present day with the
intent being to encourage the
integrity of renewal and replacement
work going forward. There is a
metaphor in there beyond the DIY
concern to the CYC ethic to center
on the inner child, perhaps. For those
who did attend it was a great way to
start a fine evening on the town,
which conveniently was just right
there on nearby streets.
The following evening brought the delegates dinner. It was billed
as a Thanksgiving Style dinner and was just that. The apple,
potato and Lady Gouda soup was a definite hit at our table and
hopefully at yours. The evening’s program featured the
announcement/receipt of a number of awards. The Prince Edward
Island Provincial Child and Youth Care Award of Excellence was
presented to Dave Ellis. Coincidentally, he, his brother and his
nephew soon demonstrated their musical skills in a presentation
detailing their song writing process, part of the Youth Justice
Services music program. Aside from being hugely entertaining,
(was I in Alberta?), the presentation nicely illustrated that team’s
efforts to bring positive risk to the youth in their care and custody.
The Council’s National Child and Youth Care Award went to David
Jull of Ontario. Dennis McDermott accepted it on his behalf
commenting his career had been notable. David has retired from a
40 year career constantly innovating, inspiring and administering
initiatives for his agency with profound appreciation. A full account
of the nomination letter is online and in a sister publication on the
award itself.
The conference committee took a risk booking a comedian for the
evening. This had never been done before and there was a
murmur of concern prior to the event. They soon forgot such
concerns as local Patrick Ledwell sketched out island qualities such
as the total lack of privacy before turning on to childhood itself
consuming prodigious amounts of puffed wheat to gather
together a small regiment of toy soldiers. He also got a rise out of
this writer using the device of the centrally located Flin Flon to
read his audience. I just had to make the point some in his
audience may have just grown up there. Now, a run on comedians
at future conferences may be a future concern as this was just
right and a great reminder to us all that childhood is both
survivable and hilarious with a little creative re framing.
as a Thanksgiving Style dinner and was just that. The apple,
potato and Lady Gouda soup was a definite hit at our table and
hopefully at yours. The evening’s program featured the
announcement/receipt of a number of awards. The Prince Edward
Island Provincial Child and Youth Care Award of Excellence was
presented to Dave Ellis. Coincidentally, he, his brother and his
nephew soon demonstrated their musical skills in a presentation
detailing their song writing process, part of the Youth Justice
Services music program. Aside from being hugely entertaining,
(was I in Alberta?), the presentation nicely illustrated that team’s
efforts to bring positive risk to the youth in their care and custody.
The Council’s National Child and Youth Care Award went to David
Jull of Ontario. Dennis McDermott accepted it on his behalf
commenting his career had been notable. David has retired from a
40 year career constantly innovating, inspiring and administering
initiatives for his agency with profound appreciation. A full account
of the nomination letter is online and in a sister publication on the
award itself.
The conference committee took a risk booking a comedian for the
evening. This had never been done before and there was a
murmur of concern prior to the event. They soon forgot such
concerns as local Patrick Ledwell sketched out island qualities such
as the total lack of privacy before turning on to childhood itself
consuming prodigious amounts of puffed wheat to gather
together a small regiment of toy soldiers. He also got a rise out of
this writer using the device of the centrally located Flin Flon to
read his audience. I just had to make the point some in his
audience may have just grown up there. Now, a run on comedians
at future conferences may be a future concern as this was just
right and a great reminder to us all that childhood is both
survivable and hilarious with a little creative re framing.
It fell to Thom Garfat to bring the conference to a close with his
keynote address. He chose to reflect on the child and youth care
family using the aboriginal four directions of growth model to
demonstrate the roles of belonging, mastery, generosity and
independence. The man who has the wisdom to remind us
constantly to draw upon the everyday things in our work drew
upon his own past, telling of a foolish moment of freedom and
curiosity at one level, an outright B&E at another to illustrate the
benefits of belonging to a family, to a tribe, a nation and so forth.
His tribe, his people are child and youth care people and he
promoted the building of relationships between delegates and
beyond. Now, this is not a convenient device on Thom’s part as his
career and work touch us all through his many projects as a
presenter, editor of the Relational Child and Youth Care Practice
journal and as a co-editor of the online CYC-Net and so by being so
open in his embrace of the work we share and ourselves by
extension he gave permission for delegates to revel in this very
reality.
The conference ended with a lot of picture taking, smiles and
good will. The group pictured here were from Moncton Youth
Residences I believe it was, Moncton certainly. Now I do not really
know any of these people, and certainly would like to see them in
a revived CYCANB yet as they smile out at the camera, the
individual and collective power of their presence is obvious.
Our biannual conference is the national expression of the talent,
resources, qualities and care child and youth work demands of you.
Thom ended asking us to Build Bridges and may you remember to
do so every day. ~ Garth Goodwin
keynote address. He chose to reflect on the child and youth care
family using the aboriginal four directions of growth model to
demonstrate the roles of belonging, mastery, generosity and
independence. The man who has the wisdom to remind us
constantly to draw upon the everyday things in our work drew
upon his own past, telling of a foolish moment of freedom and
curiosity at one level, an outright B&E at another to illustrate the
benefits of belonging to a family, to a tribe, a nation and so forth.
His tribe, his people are child and youth care people and he
promoted the building of relationships between delegates and
beyond. Now, this is not a convenient device on Thom’s part as his
career and work touch us all through his many projects as a
presenter, editor of the Relational Child and Youth Care Practice
journal and as a co-editor of the online CYC-Net and so by being so
open in his embrace of the work we share and ourselves by
extension he gave permission for delegates to revel in this very
reality.
The conference ended with a lot of picture taking, smiles and
good will. The group pictured here were from Moncton Youth
Residences I believe it was, Moncton certainly. Now I do not really
know any of these people, and certainly would like to see them in
a revived CYCANB yet as they smile out at the camera, the
individual and collective power of their presence is obvious.
Our biannual conference is the national expression of the talent,
resources, qualities and care child and youth work demands of you.
Thom ended asking us to Build Bridges and may you remember to
do so every day. ~ Garth Goodwin
