Jump Start 2026

Explore how small, intentional shifts away from directive, compliance-based strategies to open-ended, curious facilitative communication approaches can strengthen staff-youth relationships, amplify youth voice, and create environments where young people feel encouraged and empowered to contribute to their learning and development. Appropriate for all youth development professionals, this interactive workshop will leverage ideation, reflection, discussion, and practice. Learn to listen deeply, collaborate boldly, and design interactions with intention that nurture competence, appropriate risk-taking, persistence, and joy in youth. Leave with simple, effective, and immediately implementable tools and frameworks designed to create more responsive, engaging, and youth-centered experiences.

This advanced leadership session connects strategic organizational communication with daily program management, focusing on how supervisors can empower front-line staff to build immediate trust with families. Led by a veteran communications director and a seasoned principal, this interactive workshop teaches leaders how to train their direct-care staff in clear, empathetic communication techniques that de-escalate parent concerns.

Attendees will leave equipped with a practical, three-step ""Bridge to Focus"" communication framework. This tool is designed to turn stressful daily interactions into positive, trusted connection points—proving that the little moments of deliberate, reframed communication yield big outcomes in staff retention and strategies for meaningful family engagement.

What do youth-serving adults across Utah say they need to develop confident youth leaders? This session shares findings from a statewide needs assessment of more than 225 professionals and volunteers working with youth, highlighting the greatest challenges they face, priority professional development needs, and the supports they believe would make the biggest difference. Learn what youth leaders across Utah identified as their biggest barriers, why ADHD and autism emerged as the highest training priorities, and how these findings can inform future staff development, programming, and resource planning. Whether you supervise staff, coordinate programs, or work directly with youth, this session will provide valuable insight into the evolving needs of Utah's youth-serving workforce.

Little moments can create big outcomes when youth feel seen, heard, and connected. This session is for after-school leaders, site coordinators, and front-line staff who want simple, engaging ways to strengthen youth voice, family connection, and positive peer interaction. Participants will explore how Discovery Hunt-style activities can turn everyday program moments into meaningful opportunities for belonging, skill-building, reflection, and recognition. Walk away with practical ideas for creating quick challenges, family engagement prompts, and youth-led activities that support resilience, confidence, and connection for ages 5–18.