HONORING PATRICK TOLAN — WELCOMING DIRECTOR DEUTSCH!





As Youth-Nex enters its 9th year, Patrick Tolan, founding director of Youth-Nex has requested to step down as director. Tolan, the Charles S. Robb Professor of Education who led the Center since its inception in 2009, came to UVA to found, organize, and grow Youth-Nex. “I am proud to say the Center is now established as a well-recognized part of the University and as a national leader in developmental science about positive youth development," said Tolan. 

Nancy Deutsch Ph.D., Professor in the Curry School, at UVA since 2004, took the helm as director of Youth-Nex this summer. "Nancy is one of the most exciting emerging leaders of the field and is just the right person for this,” said Tolan.

Deutsch is Professor of Research, Statistics, & Evaluation; Applied Developmental Science; and affiliated with the Youth & Social Innovation Program (YSI). “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to take on this role,” Deutsch commented. “Dr. Tolan set a strong trajectory for Youth-Nex, establishing the center as a national leader in the field. Because of his work and vision, we have become a go-to place for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers interested in the science of youth development."

Deutsch continues, "Adolescence is a time of tremendous opportunity, and the center’s focus on how youth succeed represents the future of the field. As a country, we have taken great strides to level the playing field for children during the pre-school years. Given all that we now know about the adolescent brain and the influence of settings on youth, it is time that we apply that same approach to the middle and high school years. I look forward to continuing our influence in this area, both at UVA and nationwide." Read More including Tolan's role, the Compassionate Schools Project, and Nancy Deutsch.

Our recent event #YOUTHACT17, featuring youth participants and panelists, was illuminating and inspiring. We're currently processing video of the presentations and will send an update when they are posted! In the meantime, view a large collection of photos in the slide show here. Also, check out the Twitter Moment bringing together a curated list of the discussion on social media. 

Conference Media Coverage:

• "Valerie Adams-Bass on Youth Act" - Radio Dispatch - Prof. Adams-Bass discusses the conference.
• "Deutsch and Williams Column: If Hate Groups Can Do It, We Can Too" - Richmond Times Dispatch - Nancy Deutsch and Joanna Lee Williams' Commentary.
• "UVA Conference Highlights Youth Activism, Civic Engagement" - Charlottesville Tomorrow 
• "Activism in Youth: It's a Good Thing" - UVA Today - Nancy Deutsch on the scope of youth civic and political engagement and efforts to increase that engagement.
   

THIS THURSDAY, NOV.16



"Getting Under the Skin: Exploring Physiological Indicators of Program Engagement in the Early Adolescent Coping Power Program"
12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - Ruffner Hall, Rm 206. Lunch will be served. DETAILS.
Presenters:
Jessika Bottiani, Ph.D., M.P.H. - Assistant Professor of Education, Curry School of Education
Amanda Nguyen, Ph.D., M.A. - Assistant Professor of Education, Curry School of Education
Catherine P. Bradshaw, Ph.D., M.Ed. - Professor, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development

Advances in wearable technologies highlight the potential of physiological measures as an emerging, objective approach to assess youth engagement in preventive interventions; however, limited research has examined how discrete indicators of physiological arousal, such as heart rate variability and galvanic skin response, correspond to engagement. In this Youth-Nex Works-in-Progress talk, we will present initial study findings on how physiological measures of arousal corresponded with traditional measures of youth and clinician rated engagement across 10 sessions of Coping Power (Lochman & Wells, 2004), a school-based, indicated preventive intervention that targets youth with aggressive behavior problems using a clinician-facilitated, weekly small group format. Learn More.
This talk is part of the YN WORKS IN PROGRESS SERIES - (Works In Progress Meetings are primarily for Ph.D. students & faculty. Others who are interested, please contact Ellen Daniels: edaniels@virginia.edu)
 

COMPASSIONATE CURRICULUM - CSP Featured in Louisville Magazine

Louisville Magazine takes an in-depth look at the Compassionate Schools Project (CSP) in its November issue.
"Does teaching mindfulness lead to kinder, more focused kids? Nearly 20,000 Jefferson County Public School students will help determine that." Read the story, "Compassionate Curriculum."
 

HAPPENING NOW


Youth-Nex is participating in the Presidential Precinct's Global Leadership Forum on Promoting Gender Equality in Education, November 15-17.

The 2017 Global Leadership Forum will convene 30 emerging leaders from over two dozen countries, students and faculty from the University of Virginia, and other scholars and experts for a three-day event, “Promoting Gender Equality in Education.” The program format will include plenary sessions, small group discussions, breakout workshops, site visits to community organizations, and a hands-on, project-based learning component. Together, participants will develop innovative ideas and effective solutions to ensure that women and girls around the world have access to quality educational opportunities that will set them up for lifelong success. Free for UVA students. Learn more, view agenda. Register here.

• "Cultivating Mindfulness for Educators Using Resources From The New York Times" - The New York Times

• "Self-care program helps Pennsylvania juvenile justice caregivers combat stress" - Penn State News
   
• "The Future of Education: Mindful Classrooms" - Mindful Magazine
  “It is how they teach, not just what they teach, and if a teacher is mindful in a classroom, the kids learn to be mindful” — Jennings.
   
• "How Teachers And Schools Can Help When Bad Stuff Happens" - WABE Radio, Atlanta 
   
• "There’s Lots of Social-Emotional Support for Students, but Not for Teachers. Here Are Some Programs Looking to Change That" - The 74. The article includes a guide for bringing mindfulness to your school.