ARKids First Updates

The Arkansas Finish Line Coalition in conjunction with the Arkansas Department of Human Services seeks to provide health care coverage for all children in Arkansas through increased public awareness of the benefits of ARKids First.  With the upcoming increase in eligibility, 3/4 of the states uninsured children will be eligible for ARKids First.  The Arkansas Finish Line Project is embarking on a renewed outreach campaign through community based programs and schools to help identify and address enrollment and reenrollment barriers that keep kids from receiving continuous, quality ARKids First coverage.  Kara Wilkins and Laura Kellams

Brain-Body Connection: Sensory Processing and its Impact on the Behavior and Learning of Young Children (2 part session)

Do you wonder why some children react so differently to the stimuli around them? Some embrace noise and activity while others seem to be disinterested, fearful or react with frequent “meltdowns.” Come hear about sensory processing and common sensory disorders seen in children.  Discover specific behavioral characteristics to help you recognize sensory processing difficulties. Learn how these sensory processing disorders impact behavior and learning and how some simple, effective intervention strategies can help.  Karan Burnette, M.A., CCC-SLP

Conflict Transformation Skills

The workshop will provide information about conflict and introduce key skills for mediating conflict.  It will be based on the Plowshares Peace Skills Manual which has been used around the world to train community mediators.  Ruth Craw

Cycles of Conflict and Cooperation: The United States Ethnic Experience

Cultural diversity is an important guiding force in individuals' lives and shapes not only their perceptions, but their relationships with people and the world around them. By taking a closer look at the interconnectedness of our history in the United States and around the world we can learn how to better understand one another and build strong relationships with the various families in our work across Arkansas.  Terry Richard, Ph.D.

Diversity and Generations in the Workplace (2 part session)

This workshop is designed to help participants expand their knowledge and skills that are necessary to work more effectively in a multicultural environment.  Nancy J. Branch

Domestic Violence:  Through the Eyes of A Child

Domestic violence affects every member of a family, including the children.  Each year an estimated 3.3 million children are exposed to physical and verbal violence in their homes.  This presentation will explore the behavioral, social, emotional and cognitive effects of children witnessing domestic violence.  Prevention and intervention tips will also be shared.  Kendra Koehler, M.Ed., L.P.C.

Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

This session will teach effective ways to communicate with people from different cultures and the effects of exclusion.  Participants will gain information about different cultures, which will allow for group discussions and cultural exchanges.  The session focuses on the effects of stereotyping individuals verses building relationships at work, within families, and in the community.  Participant interaction will bring better understanding and respect for people we serve and communicate with daily.  Antoinette Mitchell

Finding Your Balance

Do you sometimes feel pulled in 10 different directions? Are you keeping up with job and family, but not taking time to nourish yourself? Come and join us for a break in your busy week.  We'll talk about how a stressful life can take its toll, and we'll take some time to breathe.  You'll have the opportunity to assess the balance of your life and think about changes you would like to make.  Betsy Johnson, LCSW

Glowing Experiences Create Glowing Successes

Glowing experiences are the events in one’s life that contribute to our success.  Women throughout history have been denied the right to “be or not to be,” but many women have persevered and become successful.  The women on this panel represent diversity of thought, nationality, ethnicity, education, religion and family background, but have in common their strength and determination.  Panel facilitated by Rocio Ortega Hlass

Helping Children to Bloom Where They are Planted:  Improving the health outcomes for high risk newborns and children through home visits as well as health consulting for child care centers

Providing services for children through high-risk newborn home visits and through child care health consulting  Sandra Withers, APN and Tonia Ailsworth, RN, BSN, MHA

Immigration and Mental Health: Classroom Strategies for Successful Acculturation

Presentation will explore the essence of culturally-appropriate holistic classroom interventions that address the social and emotional needs of immigrant children and families.  Discussion of stages of acculturation and socialization patterns of new immigrants/refuges will be addressed. In addition, measures that teachers and school personal can take to facilitate this process will be explored.  Anarella Cellitti, Ph.D., MA

Interpreters this session is for YOU! (2 part session)

Bilingual persons who serve as interpreters in schools already as well as those who are interested in doing so come together to address interpreting and translating skill building,  specialized vocabulary and practice steps to create bilingual conferences that are effective and courteous for the teacher, parents, and you, the interpreter.  Participants must be able to speak fluent English and another language.  Presentation is done in English.  Darlene Kurtz, M.A., Maria E. Garcia and Yojaina Loyd

Is that a fake leg?"  "Why are they in a wheelchair?”

Young children often ask these questions and we as adults often have trouble answering them. The video "Labeled Disabled" will be used to address curriculum that challenges bias and prejudice about disability.  It addresses what children perceive to be to true and how to challenge stereotypes.  Billy Altom, Rodney Farley, Vincent McKinney, and Beth Bryant-Claxton

LGBTQ 101 – More Than Just Gay

Learn about the LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) community and give yourself an opportunity to ask the questions you've always wanted to ask. Topics include: the definitions of LGBTQ, challenging stereotypes, gender identity, how to be a good ally and issues important to this community including LGBTQ families with children. Randi Romo and Cynthia Davison

Living Well With Sickle Cell:  A Community-Based Program

This presentation is about the sickle cell disease/trait and how it affects an individual who is diagnosed with the disease.  Ruby Brown and Germaine Johnson

Meeting the Unique Needs of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Thanks to mandatory newborn screening, hearing losses are now diagnosed early when intervention has the best outcomes. However, the diagnosis of hearing impairment still impacts the life of both an infant and the family in many ways, particularly in the area of language development and often service providers misunderstand the child's lack of oral language. Working with young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families requires a unique understanding of how this disability impacts their development. By attending this presentation you will gain insight into the specific needs of this population and valuable resources to address them.  Karen Howard, M.Ed.

Navajo School Art

The Manueltio Navajo (Dine) Children’s Home and Gallup Christian School in Gallup, NM are a private school and residential facility for at risk children and adolescents.  The Home and School both have a focused art’s education program.  The arts program has developed several themes during the 40 years of MNCH and GCS.  Pride in individual accomplishment and in cultural identity are both promoted by the MNCH and GCS art program and the art contest that is held each year.  A look at the artwork of these students not only allows the viewer to understand the individual experience, but something of the cultural experience of the Navajo people.  This exhibit looks at some of the art work of Manueltio students and examines them on an individual and cultural basis.  Bob Sanderson, Ph.D. and John Freshour

Practical Strategies for Supporting Positive Behavior  

Challenging behaviors often serve as communication, and are most likely to persist when the individual’s communication of unmet needs are not fulfilled by the environment. When difficult behaviors occur, it is important to understand them and their function (i.e., purpose or communication), determine environmental factors that can reduce or prevent them, and replace them with behaviors that are as good if not better at obtaining the needs/wants of that individual. This seminar will address the overarching premises of Positive Behavior Support (e.g., quality of life) as well as discussing some practical strategies for behavior support in school and home settings.   Beth Bryant-Claxton, Ph.D. 

Reaching the Kids in the Neighbor“hood”

“At-risk” youth is a term that has become synonymous with fear, problems and failure. Many parents and youth service providers are sifting through mounds of information to find practical approaches to connecting with this segment of their communities. This interactive lecture allows participants the opportunity to get an up close and personal look at what is going on in the world of “extreme at risk.” In addition, this session offers suggestions, tips, and ideas for finding value and connecting with the young people they serve.  Kareem Moody

Springdale, Arkansas is a long way from the South Pacific…Marshall Islanders in Northwest Arkansas.

Springdale, Arkansas is home to the largest population of Marshall Islanders outside of the Marshall Islands.  Assisting Islander children and families in adapting to life in the United States while retaining their native culture is a challenging and rewarding endeavor.  We will introduce the beautiful land and people of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, review the history between the United States and the Islands, and learn how we work together in Northwest Arkansas.  Brenda Veach Zedlitz, LMSW and Cleopatra Jerilong

The Universal Language of Movement: Why it is important and how it can benefit children and adults

In this fun and interactive workshop we will (1) Explore and discuss the relationship between non-verbal communication in cross-cultural relationships and learning, (2) review basic research between movement and brain functioning, (3) explore fundamental principles of stress management and the integral part that movement has in living a wellness lifestyle (4) learn six easy movement patterns that enhance physical, cognitive and emotional well-being. (Teachers--you can use these with students of all ages.)  Lucy DuBose

Using Popular Education and a Human Rights Framework to Bring Justice and Equality

In this workshop, we will discuss a broad definition of human rights and popular education methods to help participants understand and learn how to ensure those rights. This general discussion will also include how to use human rights to name and stop discrimination and oppression.  Suzanne Pharr