Child & Youth Mental Health Conference - Service Providers

Fri Nov 21 2025 at 08:30 am to 04:45 pm UTC-08:00

Spencer Middle School | Victoria

The Village Initiative
Publisher/HostThe Village Initiative
Child & Youth Mental Health Conference - Service Providers
Advertisement
Join The Village Initiative for a conference designed to strengthen child and youth mental health supports across the West Shore.
About this Event

This Eventbrite registration is for the second day of the Village Initiativeโ€™s two- day conference dedicated to strengthening child and youth mental health supports across the West Shore and Sooke region. This day will feature tailored sessions for frontline service providers.



Frontline Service Providers Day

๐Ÿ“ Spencer Middle School | ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ Nov 21, 2025 | โฐ 8:30 am โ€“ 4:45 pm | ๐Ÿฅช Lunch included

A full day dedicated to frontline community workers who support children, youth, and families. Topics will include:

  • Emerging issues in child and youth mental health
  • Practical tools to strengthen frontline practice
  • Strategies to support staff well-being
  • Opportunities to connect and share with peers across the region



Why Attend?

This gathering is more than a conferenceโ€”it is a space to build connections, share knowledge, and work together toward a stronger, more resilient community for children, youth, and families.


Agenda

๐Ÿ•‘: 08:30 AM - 09:00 AM
Opening Activity: A Conversation On Hopes & Dreams
๐Ÿ•‘: 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM
Welcome And Territorial Acknowledgement
๐Ÿ•‘: 09:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Preventing And Dealing With Vicarious Trauma

Info: Plenary Session: Burnout and vicarious trauma are increasingly acknowledged challenges amongst youth service providers. This session will teach tangible steps to take to identify burnout and enforce professional boundaries and will inform staff about the shared responsibility between employers and employees to foster a healthy workplace, highlighting the employerโ€™s role in supporting well-being.


๐Ÿ•‘: 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Transition Time and Break
๐Ÿ•‘: 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Helping Youth Build Healthy Digital Relationships: AI & Social Media

Info: Plenary Session: Technology, especially AI and social media, can provide useful tools for everyday life. Given young people are increasingly engrossed within their digital lives, it is essential to understand how this reality shapes them. Based on global research, we will discuss how various forms of technology positively and negatively impact young people. We will share practical strategies for frontline workers on supporting young people to build healthy relationships with technology, including AI and social media.


๐Ÿ•‘: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Supporting Youth and Families Experiencing Grief

Info: Plenary Session: Grief can arise from many different experiences of loss and is not only tied to death. This session will allow us to explore different types and sources of grief and will teach child and youth service providers tangible skills for supporting families through experiences of loss.


๐Ÿ•‘: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
Lunch and Networking
๐Ÿ•‘: 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
Neurodiversity-affirming Support: What Does It Mean

Info: In this keynote, we will learn about the importance of neurodiversity affirming support and how child and youth service providers can take a strengths-based approach to supporting neurodiverse children and youth.


๐Ÿ•‘: 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM
Transition Time and Break
๐Ÿ•‘: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Break-out Session: Supporting Youth by Empowering Caregivers

Info: This panel will bring together experts who work with diverse groups of children, youth, and families who all have diverse needs. They will discuss tangible skills service providers can teach to caregivers so they are able to support their own children and youth and will explore the utility of peer support groups to help caregivers feel less alone. This session is also offered at 3:30 pm.


๐Ÿ•‘: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Break-out Session: Addressing Complex Trauma - Strategies & Referrals

Info: This session is designed to offer frontline service providers with practical, adaptable tools and frameworks to support clients affected by complex trauma, particularly those impacted by displacement, cultural loss and collective adversity. Special care will be given to reflect the realities of working with newcomer and Indigenous communities. This session is also offered at 3:30 pm.


๐Ÿ•‘: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Break-out Session: Adapting Attachment Strategies Across Development

Info: This panel will bring together experienced professionals to discuss what attachment may look like throughout different developmental stages, specifically, they will discuss how to maintain attachment throughout adolescence. The panel will also discuss how to recreate attachment in the event that it is lost. This session is also offered at 3:30 pm.


๐Ÿ•‘: 02:15 PM - 03:15 PM
Break-out Session: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients

Info: Many mental health services are not equipped to support neurodiverse children and youth, and many disability supports are unable to support with mental health. This workshop will provide tangible tips that frontline service providers can integrate into their mental health interventions with neurodiverse children and youth. This session is also offered at 3:30 pm.


๐Ÿ•‘: 03:15 AM - 03:30 PM
Transition Time and Break
๐Ÿ•‘: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Break-out Session: Supporting Youth by Empowering Caregivers
๐Ÿ•‘: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Break-out Session: Addressing Complex Trauma - Strategies & Referrals
๐Ÿ•‘: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Break-out Session: Adapting Attachment Strategies Across Development
๐Ÿ•‘: 03:30 PM - 04:30 PM
Break-out Session: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients
๐Ÿ•‘: 04:30 PM - 04:45 PM
A Conversation on Hopes & Dreams: A Networking Gathering

Info: How can we take what weโ€™ve learned today and take it forward?


Advertisement

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Spencer Middle School, 1026 Goldstream Avenue, Victoria, Canada

Tickets

CAD 107.83

Sharing is Caring:

More Events in Victoria

Colwood Clinic Foundation Inaugural Gala Dinner and Fundraiser
Thu, 20 Nov at 05:30 pm Colwood Clinic Foundation Inaugural Gala Dinner and Fundraiser

Olympic View Golf Club

Explore Moroccan Cuisine
Thu, 20 Nov at 06:00 pm Explore Moroccan Cuisine

751 Travino Ln

Brew School - Happy Anniversary Vessel Liquor!
Thu, 20 Nov at 07:00 pm Brew School - Happy Anniversary Vessel Liquor!

Vessel Liquor

NEWSIES
Thu, 20 Nov at 07:00 pm NEWSIES

Dave Dunnet Community Theatre

Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking For Trouble - Victoria
Thu, 20 Nov at 08:00 pm Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking For Trouble - Victoria

Royal Theatre & McPherson Playhouse

Discover Tectoria 2025
Fri, 21 Nov at 10:00 am Discover Tectoria 2025

713 Douglas St, Victoria, BC V8W 2B4, Canada

Magic of Christmas Artisan Market
Fri, 21 Nov at 04:00 pm Magic of Christmas Artisan Market

Eagle Ridge Centre

PRO WRESTLING ISLAND RUMBLE
Fri, 21 Nov at 06:30 pm PRO WRESTLING ISLAND RUMBLE

612 David St, Victoria, BC V8T 2E1, Canada

WE3  Returns to Bandwagon night at Metchosin Golf Club
Fri, 21 Nov at 07:00 pm WE3 Returns to Bandwagon night at Metchosin Golf Club

Metchosin Golf & Country Club

Autumn Allemande
Fri, 21 Nov at 07:00 pm Autumn Allemande

108 Niagara St, Victoria, BC V8V 1E9, Canada

BRAVE  - a 5Rhythms\u00ae Dance  Immersion with Anne Marie Hogya + Bettina Rothe
Fri, 21 Nov at 07:00 pm BRAVE - a 5Rhythmsยฎ Dance Immersion with Anne Marie Hogya + Bettina Rothe

First Unitarian Church of Victoria

Victoria is Happening!

Never miss your favorite happenings again!

Explore Victoria Events