The Boys and Girls at Risk Conference: The emerging science of gender differences

Boys and Girls at Risk. The Emerging science of gender differences. July 21-22, 2008

Boys and Girls at Risk Conference: The Emerging Science of Gender Differences

Presented by:

The Department of Professional Development & Applied Studies
The Gender Studies Project, Flo Hilliard, Director

Conference Overview

This conference examines boys and girls at risk from a gender sensitive perspective. It combines adolescent brain research with a gender responsive approach to programming in a variety of settings.

Due to its popularity and growing attendance, this cutting-edge conference has been expanded to explore both boys and girls! Our keynotes will present the latest scientific research on adolescent brain development and substance use, highlight sex-based brain differences, and speak to the issue of keeping our children safe in today’s communities. Workshop presenters will demonstrate gender sensitivity and how that can lead to better outcomes when used with existing programs and models.

This conference is designed for:

• AODA Counselors/Therapists
• Education Professionals
• Adolescent Treatment Providers
• Social Workers
• Mental Health Professionals
• Family Counselors/Therapists
• Psychologists
• Maternal and Child Health Workers
• School Psychologists
• School Counselors
• Juvenile Justice Professionals
• Domestic Violence Services Providers
• Criminal Justice Counselors/Therapists
• Adolescent Researchers
• Parent Advocates

About the Keynote Speakers

Dr. Susan F. Tapert
University of California–San Diego

Susan Tapert, PhD, will present “This is Your Brain After the Drugs: Neural Functioning in Adolescent Substance Users.” Dr. Tapert authored the well-known study comparing scans of 15-year-old nondrinkers to 15-year old heavy drinkers. Her presentation will provide an overview of what we know to date on how the brain continues to develop during adolescence for boys and for girls and the influence of alcohol and other drugs on this important developmental process.

Dr. Andrew J. Petto
UW-Milwaukee

Andrew Petto, PhD, is a biological anthropologist. He will present “Sex on the Brain: Why Do We Differ?” Join him in an exploration of the sex differences in humans in the context of evolution and sexual reproduction, and their effects on our brains, behavior, biology, mate choice, social organization, and longevity.

Don Coyhis
Founder and president of White Bison, Inc. Colorado Springs, CO

Don Coyhis, a member of the Mohican Nation, will present the closing keynote on the effects historical trauma have had on our communities, and how to keep our children safe. Using the Four Laws of Change to guide the healing process, his “Keeping Our Children Sacred” keynote will show how to get the Wellbriety Movement started at the grass-roots level.

Conference Agenda

Monday, July 21, 2008
7:15-8:15 am	Continental Breakfast and Registration
8:15-8:30	Welcome: Flo Hilliard, MSH, Director
8:30-10:15	Keynote: "This is Your Brain after the Drugs: Neural Functioning in the Adolescent Substance User" -Susan F. Tapert, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA
10:15-10:30	Break
10:30-11:30	Keynote: "Sex on the Brain: Why Do We Differ?" -Andrew J. Petto, PhD, senior lecturer in anatomy and physiology, UW-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI
11:45 am-12:45 pm	Lunch (provided)
11:55-12:35	Presenter: The Aaron House Program A pilot project serving college-age men and women in recovery. Combining peer support with the natural networks in the community, student-residents at Aaron's House build on their recovery foundations with a mix of education, employment, counseling, and healthy lifestyles. Aaron's House may be duplicated in any community.
12:45-1:00	Break
1:00-2:30	Workshops 1-9
2:30-2:45	Break
2:45-4:15	Workshops 10-18

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
7:15-8:15 am	Full breakfast
8:15-8:30	Welcome: Flo Hilliard, MSH, Director
8:30-10:00	Workshops 19-27
10:00-10:15	Break
10:15-10:30	Closing Keynote: "Keeping Our Children Sacred" - Don Coyhis, president, White Bison, Inc., Colorado Springs, CO
11:30	Adjourn

Workshops

Download the workshop descriptions (pdf 29kb)

1. Teaching the Male Brain: Understanding cognitive gender differences helps boys to learn.
Abigail Norfleet James, PhD, adjunct professor of education, University of Virginia, Northern Virginia Center, Falls Church, VA

Many boys are at academic risk, not because they can’t learn, but because what happens in the classroom does not connect with their learning strengths. Using knowledge of cognitive gender differences, teachers can easily differentiate instruction to accommodate the male brain, helping boys to become successful learners.

2. Girls/Young Women of Trauma
Steve Sawyer, LCSW, CSAC, clinical director/co-founder of New Vision Wilderness Program, Dynamic Interventions, LLC

This workshop will examine acting-out behaviors most common to
girls and young women when they are affected by traumatic events.
Options for more effective interventions will be examined. Current brain
research will be utilized to effectively develop an intervention plan.

3. Boys at Risk: Why we’re failing them and what to do about it. (Part I—continued in Workshop 12)
Scott Caldwell, MS Counseling Psychology, substance abuse counselor, Connections Counseling, Madison, WI
Jason Witt, MA Clinical Psychology, in-home family therapist, Discovery & Recovery Clinic, Greenfield, WI

How does the emerging science of gender differences suggest what we’re doing right and what we’re doing wrong with boys at risk? Best practices, assessment, and treatment with boys in clinical services will be addressed.

4. La Vida Loca (How to work more effectively with at-risk Latino boys and girls) (Repeated in Workshop 13)
Fred Garcia, BSW, social worker and Carla Rodriquez, MSW, social worker, Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services, Waukesha, WI

Participants will gain a better understanding of challenges facing today’s Latino boys and girls and will leave this workshop with tools, information, and resources to better meet the needs of this growing population. Immigration status, acculturation, assimilation, gang violence, family systems, and cultural gender differences will be addressed.

5. The Current Renaissance of Adolescent Treatment (Repeated in Workshop 14)
Michael Dennis, PhD, Chestnut Health Systems, Inc., Bloomington, IL

This presentation will: a) examine the prevalence, course, and consequences of adolescent substance use and co-occurring disorders and the unmet need for treatment; b) summarize major trends in the adolescent treatment system in the U.S. and Wisconsin; c) highlight what it takes to move the field towards evidence-based practice related to assessment, treatment, program evaluation, and planning; and, d) present the findings from several recent treatment outcome studies on substance abuse treatment research, trauma, and violence/crime. This includes looking at the similarities and differences in needs and outcomes by gender.

6. Brighter Futures Youth Survey: Program Implications (Repeated in Workshop 15)
Kathy Malone, MSW, Greenfield WI
Janice Wilberg, PhD, Wilberg Community Planning LLC, Milwaukee, WI

Using a recently completed survey on 439 Milwaukee youth, presenters
will contrast the findings individually for adolescent boys and girls.
The implications of these differences for gender-specific programming
will be discussed.

7. Turning Lives Around—Boys in the Juvenile Justice System
Tim Decker, director, Missouri Division of Youth Services, Jefferson City, MO

The Missouri Model of the juvenile justice system is nationally and internationally recognized for its humane therapeutic approach, cost-effectiveness, and ability to encourage boys to become law abiding and productive citizens. The underlying belief system, critical elements, gender-specific approaches, and lessons learned will be covered in depth.

8. All Girls Are at Risk: Rape prevention for girls, that empowers and doesn’t blame
Joseph Weinberg, 21 years as a community activist, author, and lecturer, Joseph Weinberg and Associates, Madison WI

The socially constructed paradigm of “female” continues to be fraught with oppressive stereotypes, unexamined assumptions and restrictions, and outright hate and fear of femaleness. All girls are affected; all are at risk.

9. Adolescent Girls and Substance Abuse: Opening Pandora’s Box (Repeated in Workshop 18)
Kathy Benson-Storrar, MS, AODA Counselor, LE Phillips Libertas, Chippewa Falls, WI

Today, adolescent girls are more prone to depression, eating disorders, self-mutilation, and substance abuse than ever before. This presentation will be both informational and interactive and provide a forum to dialogue about best practices and clinical assessment in serving young women from both a clinical and a community perspective.

10. Teaching the Female Brain: Girls excelling at math and science
Abigail Norfleet James, PhD, adjunct professor of education, University of Virginia, Northern Virginia Center, Sterling, VA

Stereotypically, many girls do not do well in math and science. Additionally, math anxiety and test anxiety are a real problem for many. An understanding of cognitive gender differences uncovers the reasons why these problems are so pervasive and gives participants practical strategies to help girls do better in all courses.

11. Boys/Young Men of Trauma
Steve Sawyer, LCSW, CSAC, clinical director/co-founder of New Vision Wilderness Program, Dynamic Interventions, LLC

This workshop will focus on acting-out behaviors that surface in boys and young men who have been affected by trauma. Boys of trauma are commonly misdiagnosed and require unique forms of intervention that often vary from the intervention used with girls. These interventions are being supported in current brain research and will be explored in this workshop.

12. Boys at Risk: Why we’re failing them and what to do about it (Part II—continued from Workshop 3) See #3 for Description
Scott Caldwell, MS Counseling Psychology, substance abuse counselor, Connections Counseling, Madison, WI
Jason Witt, MA Clinical Psychology, in-home family therapist, Discovery & Recovery Clinic, Greenfield, WI

13. La Vida Loca (How to work more effectively with at-risk Latino boys and girls) (Repeat of Workshop 4) See #4 for Description
Fred Garcia, BSW, social worker and Carla Rodriquez, MSW, social worker, Waukesha County Department of Health and Human Services, Waukesha, WI

14. The Current Renaissance of Adolescent Treatment (Repeat of Workshop 5) See #5 for Description
Michael Dennis, PhD, Chestnut Health Systems, Inc., Bloomington, IL

15. Brighter Futures Youth Survey: Program Implications (Repeat of Workshop 6) See #6 for Description
Kathy Malone, BSSW, Greenfield, WI
Janice Wilberg, PhD, Wilberg Community Planning LLC, Milwaukee, WI

16. Turning Lives Around—Girls in the Juvenile Justice System
Jennifer Booher, staff training and development coordinator, Missouri Division of Youth Services, Jefferson City, MO

The Missouri Model of the juvenile justice system is nationally and internationally recognized for its humane therapeutic approach, cost-effectiveness, and ability to encourage girls to become law abiding and productive citizens. The underlying belief system, critical elements, gender-specific approaches, and lessons learned will be covered in depth.

17. Why Men Hate Sex: Helping boys unlearn the lessons of a rape culture
Joseph Weinberg, 21 years as a community activist, author, lecturer, Joseph Weinberg and Associates, Madison, WI

Growing up emotionally neglected by fathers, bullied, abused, and misled by other boys and men, lied to by peers, pornography, preachers and pontiffs, the logical outgrowth of how boys are taught about power, gender, and female and male sexuality will be examined in this workshop. All boys are affected and at risk by these experiences, which can result in them growing up to hate and fear sex.

18. Adolescent Girls and Substance Abuse: Opening Pandora’s Box (Repeat of Workshop 9) See #9 for Description
Kathy Benson-Storrar, MS Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Le Phillips Libertas, Chippewa Falls, WI

19. Equal Opportunity Destroyer: Eating disorders among girls and boys
Thomas Shiltz, MS, CADC III, training specialist, Rogers Memorial Hospital, Oconomowoc, WI

While both males and females with eating disorders experience similar biological and psychological problems, girls and boys tend to manifest their symptoms differently. This workshop will explore gender-specific factors in the development and maintenance of eating disorders among boys and girls, and offer general guidelines for effective treatment.

20. Young Saplings in an Old-Growth Forest
Steven Dakai, PhD, treatment supervisor, Maehnowesekyiah Wellness Center, Gresham, WI (Introduction by Michael Waupoose, Gateway Recovery)

If boys are from Mars and girls are from Venus, how do we connect with Native youth?

21. From Star Wars to Scream: Gender differences in responses to media
Joanne Cantor, PhD, professor emerita; director of the Center for Communication Research, UW-Madison, Madison, WI

This workshop focuses on how boys and girls differ in their interest in media violence and their reactions that are psychologically harmful. Recent brain studies may explain why. A variety of interventions are offered.

22. Film Screening and Discussion with the Director of the Award-Winning Documentary, CUT: Teens and Self-Injury
Wendy Schneider, Madison film director and activist, Coney Island Studios, Inc., Madison, WI

Schneider will present her film, CUT, and share her experience working on the two-year project that is helping to create much-needed dialog around the issue of female and male self-injury. A reciprocal conversation about the issue, resources, and approaches to working with adolescents who struggle will follow the screening.

23. Ready . . . Set . . . R.E.L.A.X.: Teaching children and teens cognitive behavioral strategies to treat and manage anxiety disorders
Roger J. Klein, PsyD, licensed psychologist, Watertown, WI

This presentation examines the physiological and psychological effects of stress in relationship to anxiety and details a research-based program that reduces anxiety and depression, improves school performance, and enhances self-concept in children. Differences in ratio of anxiety disorders among boys and girls will also be discussed.

24. Creative Gender-Specific and Gender-Neutral Counseling Techniques—Presented by Turn Around Teen Educational Counseling Services, Inc., Madison, WI
Nick Burrows, MA Guidance Counseling
Shannon McDonough, MS Educational Psychology
Laurie Mullen, MEd Counseling, founder and president of Turn Around Teen

Expand your repertoire of effective and engaging counseling approaches and activities for adolescent males and females. Hear and learn from a panel of three licensed counselors on staff at Turn Around Teen Counseling Services, Inc.

25. Adolescent Male and Female Exposure to Alcohol Advertising: What Wisconsin communities can do today
Julia Sherman, outreach specialist, Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Prevention Resources, Madison, WI, national field director for the Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth

The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth (CAMY) used advertising industry data to determine when and where adolescent males/females were exposed to alcohol advertising. Later research found evidence that alcohol use, by boys and girls, is affected by exposure to alcohol advertising. Learn how communities in Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania used reports on adolescent male/female exposure to alcohol
advertising to reduce local exposure to alcohol advertising. Wisconsin’s exposure to alcohol advertising will also be addressed.

26. The Power of Youth Voices!
Shelly Dutch, BS, CSAC, CSI, director of Connections Counseling, Inc., Madison, WI

This two-male/two-female panel provides an authentic and inspirational journey into the personal struggles and celebrations of young people’s recovery. It is critical that the “voices of our youth” dispel the myths that peer connection, fun and coping-with-life depend on alcohol and drugs.

27. Girls & Boys “At Promise” Versus Girls & Boys “At Risk”
Bevelyn Johnson, MSW, LCSW, licensed clinical social worker, AJA Counseling Center, AJA Enterprise LLC, Milwaukee, WI

This workshop will help attendees develop a fundamental understanding and increase sensitivity to the unique needs of “Girls and Boys at Promise,” taking the strengths of “Girls & Boys at Risk” and changing our focus. Using role-plays, individual and small group activities, and audience participation, participants will learn concrete skills and tools to assess and treat the needs of boys and girls. This workshop will offer an opportunity for case consultation.

General Information

Registration: Monday, July 21, 2008, 7:15–8:15 am

Fee: The $175 registration fee before July 7 ($225 after July 7) includes conference packet and handouts, continental breakfast, full breakfast, breaks, lunch and CEUs. $150 each for 3+ attendees from the same agency.

Refund policy: If you cancel your registration and do so three working days prior to the program, you will be charged an administrative fee of $20. If you are a confirmed registrant and cancel less than three working days prior to the program date, you are responsible for the entire fee. When you cancel your registration, the registration staff will give you a cancellation number. Please make a note of it.

Conference Lodging/Location/Parking: The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club, 1 W. Dayton St, Madison WI 53703; complimentary airport shuttle, complimentary wireless internet, underground parking, fitness center, indoor pool and whirlpool.
Parking available for $7/day.
Web site: www.concoursehotel.com
Map: www.concoursehotel.com/directions_main.html

Reservations: Local: 608-257-6000 Toll Free: 800-356-8293 The reservation cut-off date is midnight CST on Sunday, June 22, 2008. Any individual reservations or rooming list received after the cut-off date will be accepted on availability. You must present your State I. D. at check-in to receive the State rate of $62. Non-state rooms begin at $99.

Credit: 0.9 CEU = 9 hours of professional continuing education.

CEUs: UW-Madison defines one (1.0) continuing education unit (CEU) as 10 hours of participation in an organized continuing education event under responsible sponsorship, capable direction, and qualified instruction.

Social Workers: UW-Madison, Professional Development and Applied Studies (PDAS), (Provider #1042), is approved as a provider for social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB), (1-800-225-6880) through the Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. PDAS maintains responsibility for the program. Social workers will receive 9 continuing education clock hours for completing this course. WI, IA and MI Boards of Social Work recognizes ACE programs. MN Board of Social Work CE Approval Number: 06-138.IL Registered Social Worker Continuing Education Sponsor #159.000243.

Counselors: approved continuing education provider through the National Board for Certified Counselors. WI Psychologists, and Marriage and Family Therapists: qualifies as an accredited university continuing education course relevant to professional practice.

WI Substance Abuse Counselors: qualifies as a continuing education course consisting of relevant subject matter taught by qualified presenters.

Educators: this program may qualify towards your Professional Development Plans (PDPs).

Other professions: completion of this program qualifies for 9 continuing education hours. Contact your own board or organization for specific continuing education requirements.