News

Third Annual Youth Worker Leadership Conference

On Sunday, April 18, 2010, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, we will bring together high-school-age youth from schools and agencies serving children with disabilities to honor and educate these young professionals. The Youth Worker Leadership Conference will include a buffet lunch, dynamic speakers, break-out sessions, and hands-on activities to provide resources, strategies, and skills for working with children with disabilities. The conference setting and structure will serve to present this information in a way that is meaningful and immediately relevant for your youth workers.

In order for your teens to attend the conference, we ask that you:

• Be responsible for collecting all of your registration forms
• Make a copy for your own files
• Send them to my attention by March 31st, at:

Ramapo for Children
Attn: Maggie Torrance
15 West 36th Street, Suite 14S
New York, NY 10018

It is also very important that you send an adult chaperone to supervise your students throughout the event. Indeed, participants will be minors attending an event in Manhattan and we cannot assume responsibility for them. Therefore, they will need an adult from your agency who is over the age of 18 to accompany them and be present throughout the conference. Please contact me by March 31st with the name of the chaperone who plans to attend. You can reach me via email at mtorrance@ramapoforchildren.org or by phone at (212) 754-7003, ext. 106.

We look forward to providing you and your dedicated teens with this special opportunity. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions as we move closer to the conference.

Summary of Ramapo Training Evaluation Results – Teacher Trainings 2007-2009

Ramapo Training’s workshops and coaching provide skills in behavior management, focusing on preventing behavior problems that are avoidable and on techniques for dealing with disruptions that do occur. Since fall 2007, the effectiveness of Ramapo’s teacher training has been studied by an outside evaluator affiliated with Mt. Sinai School of Medicine.

This evaluation includes pilot studies of over 250 teachers at a total of 13 diverse New York City schools. Before and after trainings, teachers reported their: 1) perceived effectiveness in reaching and relating to students, engaging them in the classroom, and handling difficult behaviors; and 2) sense of resiliency, which includes job satisfaction and ability to build relationships with students. These two areas were measured using validated research instruments that have previously been shown to demonstrate an impact on teacher beliefs and behaviors, which in turn have been shown to have an effect on important outcomes including positive classroom management, attitudes about teaching, and individual student achievement.

The studies reported here have had statistically significant findings across years and in both of these areas, showing that teachers gain skills effective in classroom management and that they have an improved sense of ability and satisfaction in their jobs.

Effectiveness in the Classroom
Since 2007, we have seen statistically significant differences in teachers’ abilities to:

• Set classroom structure
• Deal with problem behaviors
• Keep classrooms safe
• Engage every child in the classroom and feel that they are making a difference
• Deal with the most challenging students – including those that have had past behavior problems or seem least likely to succeed
• Have a positive influence and to help students learn and grow

Teacher Resiliency
Since 2007, teachers have also reported statistically significant:

• Increased job satisfaction
• Improved ability to build relationships with students
• Decreased job stress in working with students
• Decreased likelihood to react emotionally to students (e.g., yelling)

Other Results
Teachers give high ratings to our trainings; 95% rate trainings as “good” or “excellent”. Almost all say that they would attend another training by Ramapo. Other frequent comments are that trainers are knowledgeable and responsive, and the trainings are relevant to their work.
Preliminary results of our ongoing teacher coaching show that increased sense of personal accomplishment and decreases in job stress are reinforced with just one coaching session. We have also found that coaching challenges teachers to think more closely about strategies to be effective. Based on these results, we therefore recommend an extended relationship with at least two coaching sessions in order to ensure that positive changes can be maintained, that teachers can facilitate safer and more inclusive classrooms, and that students are able to reach their full potential.

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Here and Now Skills for Youth Program Leaders

Many youth-service professionals move into supervisory roles without sufficient training. A 2006 Child Trends brief, The Importance of Professional Development for Youth Workers, asserts that a comprehensive professional development agenda is vital to enhancing and sustaining a cadre of quality youth workers. However, the brief also notes that few training opportunities exist for supervisors of youth workers, and states, “Supervisors can benefit from training that teaches them how to support youth workers in ways other than just by acting as a role model.”

To meet this urgent need for professional development, Ramapo Training’s comprehensive program, Strategic Supervision: Here & Now Skills for Youth Program Leaders, will offer youth service directors 16 hours of core training.

Ramapo Training’s Strategic Supervision© model is most helpful to young managers in diagnosing the demands of situations and developing appropriate strategies. Strategic Supervision is a balance between:

• the amount of direction (task behavior) a supervisor gives,
• the amount of support (relationship behavior) a supervisor provides, and
• the “readiness” level that staff exhibit on a specific task, function, or objective that the supervisor is attempting to accomplish.

The material covered in this professional development program is concrete and highly applicable to the fields of education, recreation and youth service. Strategic Supervision©, can be presented as a 16-hour series or as individual 4-hour sessions. At the conclusion of training, participants will be equipped with a core understanding of strategic supervision and a toolbox of skills and techniques to effectively supervise inexperienced staff.

To learn more about Ramapo Training click here.

The 2nd Annual Youth Worker Leadership Conference

“I learned a lot. As I listened to other people describe their experiences working with special needs kids, I knew this field was for me.”
-2008 Youth Worker Leader

With the overwhelming success of last year’s inaugural Youth Worker Leadership Conference, Ramapo has planned for an even bigger and better event to take place on March 22, 2009. More than 200 young and enthusiastic professionals who work with children with disabilities are expected.

The conference will honor and educate these high-school aged youth who are employed by 50 agencies in the greater New York City area. The agenda includes dynamic speakers, and hands-on activities to provide inspiration, resources, and information on strategies and skills for working with children with special needs. A wide variety of workshops will provide the participants with tangible tools and insightful information that they will be able to apply directly to their work. Gary Shulman, program director from Resources for Children with Special Needs, will be the keynote speaker.

This event is made possible through the generosity of the J.E. and Z.B. Butler Foundation and co-sponsored by Ramapo for Children, UJA-Federation of New York, and the Jewish Child Care Association.

To learn more about Ramapo Training click here.

Helping Parents and Caregivers to Manage the Behavior of
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

“Finally, I have a better understanding of my son’s behavior issues and how to help him control his behavior.” -Parent Workshop Participant

Ramapo Training is now in the second year of offering a series of workshops which focus on helping parents and caregivers to manage the behavior of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, made possible by a New York City Council Autism Awareness Initiative award.

Helping parents connect with other parents for support and for sharing concerns, these sessions provide a forum to discuss the ways that autism affects their lives and offer practical strategies for most effectively managing their children’s behavior.

Follow-up feedback illustrates that 100% of parents who have participated in these workshops reported that the training helped them feel less alone in their struggles as parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and that the training helped them to better understand their child. Parents also reported:

• Increased awareness of their child’s social anxiety and how this might trigger challenging behaviors
• Improved ability to prevent problem behaviors as a result of understanding their child’s triggers
• Strengthened capacity for carefully choosing which behaviors to address and which behaviors to tolerate.

By offering training programs for both parents and educators who work with children affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders, it is our goal to ensure that each child struggling with special needs gets the opportunity to be included in school and in community activities and events.

To learn more about Ramapo Training click here.

A Gym Grows in Rhinebeck

Ramapo is constructing a 9,000 square foot gymnasium and recreation facility scheduled to be completed in June 2009. This year-round facility will feature high and low ropes courses, a climbing wall, and basketball and volleyball courts.

With more than 80 years of experience providing adventure-based programming to children with a wide range of abilities and needs, Ramapo has designed a facility that will enhance our ability to provide an inviting, educational, and safe living and learning environment for these children in both summer and school year programs. All the elements for the gym have been designed to facilitate specific activities that foster relationship building and communication skills by involving two or more youth working together to plan, problem solve, and reflect on their challenging task and experience.

For more about our other programs click here.

Teen Volunteer Conference Makes a World of Difference

“Destiny is not necessarily what we get out of life, but rather, what we give.” – Anonymous

On a bright and sunny morning in early November, 45 high school students gathered in the open field on Ramapo’s Rhinebeck campus. Although their morning consisted of the same team-building games and leadership initiatives that accompany a typical school-year retreat, their mission at Ramapo will have an even greater impact. These teens were taking part in Ramapo’s first Teen Volunteer Leadership Conference; learning how to make a difference in their schools and their communities.

Organized and led by Ramapo’s AmeriCorps members, the purpose of this conference was to educate high school students on the benefits of volunteerism, and inspire them develop the leadership skills needed to engage their peers in community service projects. In addition to the group activities that were designed to build teamwork skills and forge collaboration, the attendees enjoyed an opportunity to meet and learn from community leaders who addressed the issues of hunger, environmental preservation, domestic violence, and community health.

The success of this Teen Volunteer Leadership Conference serves as a model for engaging our partner agencies in future conferences and volunteer projects. At the conclusion of the conference the students made a commitment to organize food drives through their schools. They will return to Ramapo in the spring for a follow-up conference, in order to plan a larger community project for Global Youth Service Day.

For more about our other programs click here.

Job Postings:

Teacher Trainer/Coach

Ramapo for Children, an innovative, youth service agency serving at-risk youth and children with special needs, seeks a Teacher Trainer/Coach to provide professional development and staff training focused on behavior management to New York City high-school professionals.

Specific Responsibilities

• Deliver effective, dynamic, interactive, and well-organized behavior-management training workshops to professional staff in New York City high schools
• Provide on-going coaching, observations, and feedback to school professionals and administrators
• Be a resource, coach, and management consultant to schools
• Document trainings and coaching sessions. Keep well-organized records of professional activities according to procedures established by Ramapo for Children; submit documentation in a timely manner according to procedures established by Ramapo for Children

Qualifications

• Excellent communication skills
• Engaging and dynamic presentation skills
• Speak from personal experience about working in urban areas with a wide range of high-school students, including those with special needs
• Strong understanding of the needs of high-school students and substantial experience training and coaching high-school teachers
• Proficiency delivering information in the following formats: lecture, workshop, individual and group coaching, and mentoring
• High level of independence and initiative, energy, enthusiasm

Located in Midtown Manhattan, Ramapo Training is the professional development program of Ramapo for Children and provides training for staff in schools, after school programs, and summer camps to effectively manage difficult behavior in children.

Salary based on experience. Position reports directly to the Executive Director. Email resume and cover letter to HR@ramapoforchildren.org

No phone calls please.

Administrative Assistant

Ramapo for Children, located in midtown Manhattan, is an innovative youth-service agency serving high-risk children and those with special needs. We are seeking an Administrative Assistant to assist with the clerical functions of the agency. This position is ideal for an enthusiastic professional who takes initiative and works well in a collaborative environment.

The Administrative Assistant’s responsibilities require the ability to answer phones in a professional and courteous manner; manage supplies inventory; coordinate multiple tasks; assist our sales associates by collating materials; and work frequently with volunteers, and colleagues with special needs.

Qualifications:

• Mature
• Professional
• Hard working
• Eager to be of assistance to a charitable organization
• Flexible

Excellent benefits and flexible hours. Email resume and cover letter to: HR@ramapoforchildren.org

No phone calls please.

Marketing Associate

Ramapo for Children, located in midtown Manhattan, an innovative youth service agency serving high-risk children and those with special needs, seeks a part-time Marketing Associate with experience in Internet marketing to promote Ramapo for Children’s programs and assist in increasing Ramapo’s sales by developing and maintaining mailing lists for electronic and traditional marketing campaigns; creating flyers to promote Ramapo’s programs; and writing and distributing press releases and articles for publication.

Qualifications:

• Relevant marketing experience including performing Internet research
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite

• Proven experience Marketing programs through Constant Contact and other e-marketing programs
  

Flexible hours, possibly from home. Email resume and cover letter to: HR@ramapoforchildren.org

No phone calls please.