ACYCP

The Association for Child & Youth Care Practice, Inc.

                           ICYCC2009

The 9th Triennial International Child & Youth Care Conference:
May 26-29, 2009
Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA

Global Warning:  Their Lives -- Our Presence

Conference Sponsors:
¤Nova Southeastern University¤
¤The Association for Child & Youth Care Practice, Inc.¤
¤The Council of Canadian Child & Youth Care Associations¤

Global Warning: There is a similar trajectory between global warning and global warming and unless something realistically is done to reverse trends, the consequences could be disastrous. There is a real global warning that if we do not do for at-risk children, youth and families what they need, the world will continue to hemorrhage and lose valuable, promising, lives and with that the future is bleak. Global Warning: Their Lives-Our Presence is a laser focus from the perspective of:

  • The professionals and service providers

  • The people being served

  • The philanthropists and organizations that support the work being done.

The alignment of the stars, the organizations, philanthropists, the staff and the clients is imperative in order to produce stellar outcomes. Do we really know what is happening to children and youth in care? Think about what you know about at-risk young people, people in foster care, in residential care in independent living, children aging out of the system. Think about children who have nothing and do not even know that they can want something, children whose courage is being denied. Think about children who become relationship-reluctant. Think about children who are estranged from their kith and kin; their intimate environment and even alienated from who they really are, children for whom denial and the delusion of indulgence is the best safe space and hope for survival. We can make a difference through our communal presence in time and space.