For the third year in a row, Stafford County will host the regional Youth First 2009, the Annual Collaboration of Community Youth Services. The meeting will offer human services professionals an opportunity to learn about the local agencies and organizations that work with young people in the Fredericksburg area. This year, the meeting is scheduled for Friday, February 6, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center in Stafford.

This year’s theme is “Remembering Your Inner Child.” The keynote speaker will be Dr. Clifton Mitchell, a professor at East Tennessee State University, whose work has focused on the mind/body connections to health, weight loss, smoking cessation, and the influence that words and language have on people’s lives. For the past 20 years Dr. Mitchell has been the keynote speaker at several conventions and spoken to hundreds of businesses, leadership groups, and civic organizations on effective techniques for improving communications and for creating change through an understanding of how the mind works. Dr. Mitchell’s teachings and programs have also been used in Tennessee’s Families First welfare reform initiative to empower women to develop the skills and attitudes necessary for major life changes.

Dr. Mitchell will also be facilitating a training session on techniques to deal with highly resistant clients. The second session, “Play Therapy,” will be taught by Mary E. McGhee-Pasternak, MA, CCMHC, NCC, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Mental Health Resources, PC.  Ms. McGhee-Pasternak provides counseling services, education and training groups, conducts assessments and psychological evaluations, and facilitates public awareness seminars on child sexual abuse. She also treats a wide range of mental health problems, such as post traumatic stress disorders, depression and anxiety. 

“Sometimes, the best way to understand the challenges that a young person faces is to put yourself in their shoes, and remember what it felt like to be a child,” said Donna Krauss, Community Services Administrator for Stafford County. 

Due to overwhelming response, participant registration has already closed for 2009. However, space for vendors is still available. For more information, interested individuals can visit the Youth First Web site at www.officeonyouth.org/youth1st, call Ben Nagle at (540) 372-1149, or contact him via e-mail at ben@officeonyouth.org. There is no cost to attend the meeting, and a continental breakfast and lunch is included.

Youth First 2008 – The Annual Collaboration of Community Youth Services is sponsored by Stafford County with collaboration from the City of Fredericksburg, Rappahannock Area United Way, Rappahannock Area Office on Youth and Snowden at Fredericksburg, a MediCorp affiliate. 

The Riverside Center is located at 95 Riverside Parkway off of Warrenton Road (State Route 17).

 

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