Youth Development Expert Tackles Engaging Families, Professionalism

Lisa Jones half-day trainings are learning opportunities for youth workers and administrators

A nationally renowned trainer will present two workshops in Merrillville to help youth workers better engage parents and to provide youth program managers ways to enhance the professionalism of their employees.

The Indiana Youth Institute (IYI) is offering two half-day trainings on March 8 featuring Lisa Jones of Lisa Jones Consulting. Jones will teach one morning and one afternoon session, each focusing on a different topic and aimed at different, though related, audiences.

“Engaging Parents and Non-traditional Families” will run for 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. and is designed for youth workers, teachers, youth ministers, family service providers and others who work directly with children, youth and families. Participants will discover how to use the program environment in which they serve children, organizational attitudes and specific activities to encourage more successful relationship building with parents and non-traditional caregivers.

The afternoon session, “The Pursuit of Peak Professionalism,” runs from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. and targets executive directors, managers, principals and other senior staff members responsible for leading and directing employees. The presentation will explore and evaluate ways to help staff pursue excellence in professionalism.

The trainings will be presented at Geminus Corporation, Room B4 & B5, 8400 Louisiana St., Merrillville, 46410. The cost of each session is $20 and individuals can register online with a credit card at www.iyi.org/training_registration. Onsite check-in begins 30 minutes in advance of each session. Individuals are welcome to attend both sessions for $40.

Jones has more than 20 years of experience providing leadership in both preschool and school age programs, including as program monitor for more than 200 Southern California school-age programs. Jones has been a consultant and workshop facilitator and trainer for 10 years, providing workshop sessions at nationally acclaimed conferences such as the National AfterSchool Association, and BOOST (Best of Out of School Time). She prides herself on providing highly interactive, fast-paced, fun workshops in a high-energy environment.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for the workshops are available through various professional organizations; details can be found at www.iyi.org. These workshops also will be presented in Ft. Wayne, South Bend, Evansville, New Albany and Indianapolis.

These trainings are supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc., The Clowes Fund and the Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation.

The Indiana Youth Institute promotes the healthy development of Indiana children and youth by serving the people, institutions and communities that impact their well-being.

Related Articles

• Screening Youth Mentors Topic of April 25 No-Cost Luncheon-Community
• Deadline for Mentor Matching Luncheon is April 18-Community
• Youth Development Trainings Focus on Bullying, Behavior Management-Community
• Indiana’s College Presidents Call on Hoosiers to Mentor-Community