Partnering for Strength 2015

Take Charge: It's Your Life!

The Parent Information Center, NH Family Voices and the YEAH Council are very excited to bring you the Take Charge: It's Your Life! Youth Conference as part of the Partnering for Strength Conference at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, NH on March 27 and 28, 2015.  The youth sessions are planned by youth for youth!  If you are between ages 14-26 and have a disability/special health care need, please join us to learn more about taking charge of your life including sessions on home, doctors, and school.  There will be plenty of good food and time to socialize.  Come meet other young adults in NH!  Registration cost is $ 20 for youth with a disability/special health care need.  This conference fee includes Friday night dinner, Saturday youth only breakouts along with a full lunch buffet and refreshments throughout the day.  For information/registration for parent(s) and/or professional(s) please click here.

Friday night networking event! Join us for a complimentary dinner and discussion with  Tracy Strombom, PhD., Warren Street Counseling who will help us learn different ways to use humor.   Also, Michelle Wilson will join us to teach us how yoga can help us to relax!   Pre-registration is required.

Saturday morning we will have Olivia Smith-Hammond, Youth Advocate as our keynote speaker. Olivia will be sharing her ideas on how you can become more independent and take charge of YOUR life.

Friday evening registration starts at 5:30.  Saturday morning registration begins at 8:30 AM.  See the full agenda break down on the left hand column and below for breakout descriptions!  

Overnight accomodations are available at the Courtyard Marriott at a discounted rate. Please call the hotel at 603-225-0303 and mention you are attending the Partnerships for Strength Conference!

Friday Night Youth Event

Humor for the Health of It!- Tracy Strombom, PhD., Warren Street Counseling

Discuss the different ways we can use humor to deal with life difficulties including health issues.  Learn how humor works and how it can help us, hear other people's experiences on how they have used humor. lots of fun exercises in the workshop taht can be used at home.

Adaptive Yoga: Michelle Wilson

Yoga is a great way to relax, unwind and just breathe.  Come and enjoy an adaptive yoga class for all abilities.

Saturday Youth Key Note Speaker - Olivia Smith-Hammond, Youth Advocate, The Vermont Family Network. 

Choose Your Own Adventure: 

Still living at home?  Living independently but want to become more involved in your community?  Learn tools for how to increase your independence and take charge of your life.  

Olivia Smith-Hammond is a youth advocate focused on disability awareness.  Upon graduating from the Community College of Vermont with an associate's degree in Human Services, Olivia began gaining work experience at the Vermont Family Network.   During her time at the Vermont Family Network she has worked to develop a Facebook page dedicated to youth with disabilities and transition experiences with education and employment. She has also created and completed an interview project that addresses the challenges of transition services facing youth and families in the education system and post-graduation services. Olivia is also the Resources Development Chair on the Vermont Family Networks Board of Directors. When she is not advocating improving youth services she can be found outdoors, practicing yoga or spending time with friends. She resides in Burlington Vermont with her cat Lucy.      

Saturday Youth Conference Sessions                                                                   Come and learn how to "Take Charge" in three important areas of your life.  We will hear from speakers in the fields of Special Education, Healthcare and Home Life, talking about your roles, your rights and how you can be fully informed to make the best decisions for positive outcomes in your life!

Session 1:  Take Charge at Home - Sylvia Pelletier, NH Family Voices and the YEAH Council    
Session 2:  Take Charge at the Doctors - Lisa Plotnik, MD and the YEAH Council
Session 3:  Take Charge at School - Mary Grillo, Parent Information Center and the YEAH Council