Strong behavior management creates safe, consistent, and positive environments for all members. In this session, we will ground staff in BGCP’s Behavior Management Plan and highlight how its key components will show up across trainings throughout the week. We will focus on introducing our core philosophies and creating space for staff to reflect on where they feel most aligned and where they may have room to grow. Participants will leave with a shared foundation and a clearer mindset to carry into deeper skill-building sessions.
Effective behavior management is rooted in maintaining momentum, preserving relationships, and keeping youth engaged in learning. Based on Doug Lemov's Teach Like a Champion framework, this session explores the practice of Least Invasive Intervention and how staff can address misbehavior quickly and effectively while minimizing disruptions. Participants will learn and practice key techniques, including Nonverbals, Positive Group Correction, Anonymous Individual Correction, Private Individual Correction, and Lightning-Quick Public Correction. The session will also examine how these strategies align with the organization's Behavior Management Plan, providing staff with practical tools to reinforce expectations, maintain a positive learning environment, and support youth success through proactive and respectful behavior management.
Children and adolescents who are neurodivergent often experience the world in ways that traditional support approaches were not designed to accommodate. This session introduces neurodiversity — what it is, how it presents, and why it matters for the work we do every day. We will address common challenges, such as not knowing how to support a neurodivergent member when they are struggling, and misreading behavior that is typical for them. With a particular focus on autistic members, we will examine what it means to work with them, not on them. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, we will explore how to move beyond a one-size-fits-all approach toward support that is more inclusive, responsive, and informed. By deepening our understanding of how they experience and process the world, we become better equipped to provide effective support with compassion and care, and we will leave with a practical framework to reference.
This session will equip staff with the skills and confidence to accurately identify, document, and report member-related incidents and accidents. Participants will learn the purpose behind BGCP’s reporting protocols, walk through the required forms, and explore real-life scenarios to practice making strong documentation decisions. By the end of the session, staff will be better prepared to protect member safety, support caregiver communication, and uphold our organization's standards for accountability.
Big feelings, heart poungding, mind racing...WHAT DO I DO? Our members exist in a system much bigger than us and are still learning how to name and navigate their feelings. Sometimes those BIG feelings show up in BIG ways. All aboard the De-escalation Station - this is your conductor speaker! As we go on this ride, we'll reflect on the systems shaping our youth, navigate the "Tunnel of No Control," and learn how to stay grounded when emotions run high. Together, we'll build the skills needed to interrupt the crisis cycle and support young people with intention and care. Along the way, we'll deepen our understanding of child development, environment, and behavior. By the end of the journey, you'll step off equipped to respond - not react - to life's BIG feelings. Finger candy included with price of admission!
