Past Training/ Education

In 2019 the Coalition’s sixth annual training broadened our perspective from offering trainings on the unique issues that girls face and on the most effective approaches when working with girls to youth across the gender-spectrum. The Coalition in collaboration with the Oregon Youth Authority, DHS/Child Welfare, and Youth Development Council held the training “Supporting Youth Across the Gender Spectrum” for the Oregon Youth Authority, DHS Child Welfare Youth Development Council staff and management. We were able to bring in three national experts: Angela Irvine, Shannan Wilber and Aisha Canfield.

In 2016 our fourth statewide annual training on “Strengthening the Impact of Our Work with Girls” we offered two (1 and 1/2 hour) workshops with 3 workshop options per session to choose from to improve best practices girl-specific skills for those staff who work directly with girls. Additionally, there were two keynote speakers, the morning keynote was Dr. Candice Norcott, Licensed Clinical Psychologist (national consultant) spoke to “Treating the Whole Girl: Using what we know to create gender-responsive, trauma-informed services”. The afternoon keynote was Dr. Kristen Mackiewicz Seghete, Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the Stress, Cognition, Affect and Neuroimaging Lab at OHSU spoke to the “Consequences of Childhood Maltreatment - Integrating Behavioral, Clinical and Brain Research”.

In 2014 our second annual statewide “Strengthening the Impact of Our Work with Girls” Training offered the opportunity for staff who work directly with young women to sharpen best practice girl-specific skills. Nine new workshops were offered consisting of three rotations with a choice of three different workshops. The keynote speaker was Dr. Bonnie Nagel, speaking on Exploring the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development with some of the most current research on adolescent girls. We again had a panel of 3 amazing, strong young women who had been through either the Child Welfare, Oregon Youth Authority systems or Community Support Programs.

In 2000 the Coalition sponsored the second "Summit on Girls" with 500 in attendance and national presenters Elizabeth Debold on “How to Cultivate Hardiness Zones” for Girls and Janie Victoria Ward on “The Culture Girls Grow Up In”. Additionally there were workshops with gender-responsive models for girls from Oregon, California and Washington DC.

In 2017 the Coalition fifth annual “Strengthening the Impact of our Work with Girls” Training focusing on Trauma-Informed Work with Girls. The Keynote speaker was, Keri Hadley presenting “Sex Trafficking 101: Identification, Best Practices, and Response”. We offered two (1 and 1/2 hour) workshop sessions with 3 workshop options per session to choose from to improve best practices girl-specific skills for those staff who work directly with girls. We also offered our favorite, most positively received option, a panel of three young women who shared their personal experiences with State systems.

In 2015 our third statewide annual training was a Symposium for Juvenile Justice decision makers and stakeholders. The national keynote speaker and author of the publication GENDER INJUSTICE -System-Level Juvenile Justice Reforms for Girls, was Francine Sherman. She shared a comprehensive report on girls in juvenile justice system offering ideas on system level justice reforms that will support both healthy development of young women and public safety. Also, Jeannette Pai-Espinosa, President of the National Crittenton Foundation, spoke to Gender-Injustice. We had a panel of decision makers who spoke to Oregon’s response to Gender-Injustice in Juvenile Justice. The panel included Fariborz Pakseresht, Director of Oregon Youth Authority; Judge Nan Waller, Presiding Judge for Multnomah County; Faye Fagel, Juvenile Department Director for Marion County; Renee’ Hernandez, OYA staff and formerly in OYA custody.

In 2012 we offered our first statewide “Strengthening the Impact of Our Work with Girls” training for those who work directly with young women. Nine workshops were offered to strengthen best practice girl-specific skills consisting of three rotations with a choice of three different workshops. The keynote speaker was Janice Dilg, Project Director for the Century of Action where she shared the history of Oregon Women’s Right to Vote and our 100 year celebration. We also offered a panel of 3 strong young women who are in their 20’s but in their youth were involved in either Child Welfare or Oregon Youth Authority and shared what worked and what didn’t work when they were in the system.

In 1998 the Coalition sponsored the first Girls Summit "Gender-specific policies for girls at risk: Why girls? What works!". Over 400 attended and we had two national presenters on gender-specific services for girls, Leslie Acoca and Rebecca Maniglia. Also presented was a report funded by the Coalition, "At-risk adolescent girls: Profile of needs".