Jump Start 2026

Parents and professionals will benefit from this playful approach to self-compassion for the positive social-emotional well-being of school age and preschool children. They will be introduced to developing awareness and a sense of curiosity using the feelings habit animals. Resilience habit animals will help us know we are not alone and we can be kind to ourselves. These characters will support adults in practicing and modeling self-compassion with children by responding to mistakes and stress with understanding and resilience. The habit animals provide a shared language of habits that can be used as external compassionate voices and to teach specific self-compassion skills to children. Online resources about the curriculum, training, and how to incorporate in programs will be discussed.

After-school professionals are often the first to notice when a child is struggling, yet many receive little training in recognizing and responding to youth mental health concerns. This interactive session will help participants understand common mental health challenges, distinguish typical behavior from signs of concern, and view behavior through a trauma-informed lens. Attendees will learn practical strategies to prevent and respond to dysregulation, support emotional well-being, and know when additional support may be needed. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools, activities, and resources they can immediately implement in their programs.

Most mental health models address struggles as they occur. But what if we focused instead on prevention — building sustainable well-being before problems start and giving students lifelong skills? The session will cover the evidence-based positive psychology topics WeBeWell teaches Utah youth in grades 6-12 — gratitude, applying strengths, goal setting, reframing negative thoughts, and more — and these skills' benefits. It also covers how to facilitate groups that engage adolescents, using a "Learn, Practice, Reflect, Connect" model backed by randomized controlled trials and published research with 667 Utah adolescents, proven to increase well-being and reduce depression and anxiety. Designed for administrators, afterschool staff, site leaders, and anyone invested in youth well-being.

Helping students who are involved in “bullying behavior” develop
their prosocial skills contributes to a positive classroom environment.
In this training, you will learn best practices for intervening and
resolving bullying scenarios.

Afterschool leaders, site coordinators, educators, and youth development professionals are invited to discover how resilience data can strengthen programming and improve outcomes for youth. This interactive session explores how Terrace Metrics connects resilience assessment results with practical, evidence-informed lessons and strategies that support social-emotional learning, behavior, and student success. Through real-world examples and hands-on activities, participants will learn how to identify student strengths and needs, select targeted interventions, and use data to guide continuous program improvement. Attendees will leave with practical tools, implementation ideas, and a framework for creating more intentional, responsive afterschool programs that help every young person thrive.

This presentation will lead the attendees through what the Window of Tolerance is and how it impacts students' behavior in the classroom. Attendees will be given the science behind regulation of students and self, what happens when students' environment moves beyond their own windows and how to better help students stay within their own windows so that learning can occur.

Did you know that you have the power to change a young person’s trajectory in just five minutes? In this interactive session, afterschool professionals will explore how Prevention Science and intentional interactions can significantly enhance protective factors such as resilience, belonging, and confidence in youth. Through motivational activities and thought-provoking reflections, participants will learn about the five simple steps to create little moments that lead to big outcomes. Making a difference in prevention efforts takes a village, and it can start with you. By the end of this session, you will be equipped with evidence-based strategies that you can immediately implement in your schools and communities.

Afterschool professionals and youth educators: managing challenging behaviors can often feel overwhelming, but connection is the key to transformation. In this interactive session, explore innovative, practical strategies designed to reach school-age youth when traditional behavior management falls short. Discover how relational approaches, creative de-escalation techniques, and intentional engagement can turn moments of friction into opportunities for growth. Walk away with an actionable toolkit of low-cost, high-impact strategies, real-world activity ideas, and practical resources you can implement immediately in your program. Join us to transform how you respond to complex behaviors and build lasting, positive connections with the youth you serve.