The YAR conference offers engaging workshops and the opportunity to obtain continuing education units (CEUs). Exhibitors across the region are present, and sponsors can partner with this uplifting event.
Mission Statement: The Youth at Risk (YAR) Conference strengthens and supports those dedicated to youth and families through accessible, high-quality, continuing education and robust collaborative networking.
Located at Endicott College in Beverly, MA, the all-day conference is geared toward those working with and caring for youth in various settings—family, community, school, religious, healthcare, human service, and legal. Attendees include social workers, psychologists, youth counselors, family therapists, educators, school adjustment counselors, guidance counselors, community and public health workers, program managers, agency and organization CEOs, police officers, juvenile court personnel, lawyers, and volunteers. YAR presenters come from across the state and from a variety of sectors.
For updates and information on future conferences, join our email list by emailing yar@pw4c.org with your preferred address, phone and email.
If you are interested in presenting and ready to share your expertise, innovative practices, and insights, we invite you to submit a workshop proposal that sparks dialogue and inspires fresh thinking.
We are seeking workshops of all levels. While many will be geared toward introductory audiences, we would like to strengthen the advanced-level options offered to better serve those with 10+ years in the field, based on feedback from our 2026 survey.
Responses are due Friday, October 23, 2026.
We have outlined a few suggested topic areas below. This list is not exhaustive, but it does highlight themes we hope to see woven throughout the conference:
Youth Safety & Risk Prevention
(e.g. violence, suicide prevention, substance use, crisis intervention, housing, social media/internet safety)Systems Collaboration & Advocacy
(e.g. juvenile justice, multidisciplinary work, resource utilization, collaboration)Education & Youth Development
(e.g. early childhood, transition-aged youth, educational support, counseling in schools, foster care, arts, communication)Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
(e.g. immigration, cultural competency, LGTBQ+, special education, disabilities)Behavioral & Mental Health Support
(e.g. trauma-informed care, mental health and disabilities, self-care for providers, family engagement)
The YAR 2027 Conference
Request for Proposals (RFP) is now open!
We aim to strengthen advanced-level offerings to better serve participants with 10+ years of experience. If you are considering an advanced workshop but are unsure about your proposal, complete the RFP form and contact the YAR TEAM to schedule a time to discuss.
The Diruhi Mattian Memorial Award honors the memory of an extraordinary social worker who was tragically killed in 2008 while doing the work that meant so much to her. Diruhi was deeply committed to her mission of helping at-risk youth and their families. She was known to many as a dedicated advocate for self-care and a source of support and encouragement for her colleagues. This award was created in her name to recognize those who, like Diruhi, make an outstanding impact on the community and the lives of our youth.
Diruhi Award Nominations
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
+ When is the next conference?
Our next conference date is June 2, 2027 from 7:30 am - 4:00 pm at Endicott College in Beverly, MA.
+ I am an expert in my field and am interested in presenting. Who do I contact?
Requests for Proposals (RFP) for the 2027 YAR Conferene are DUE BY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2026 - If you have any questions, please reach out to yar@pw4c.org. Thank you!
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We seek professionals who will share their knowledge, expertise and experience to address the multitude of issues faced by the youth we work with, their families as well as ourselves as providers.
Some examples of past presentation topics include: Access to Family Planning, Child Welfare, DEI, Domestic Violence, Education; such as school avoidance / school anxiety, Gender based violence, Grief, Homeless Youth, Immigration, Interventions MH, Juvenile Justice, Law Enforcement, LGBTQ+, Mental Health, Parent Partners, Racial Equity/ DEI, Racial Trauma, Self-Care, Substance Use Disorders & Management, Trauma, etc.
+ Which CEUs are offered through the YAR conference?
The following continuing education courses were available at last year's conference. The 2027 listing of CEUs offereed will be available in spring of 2027.(5 credits)
- Social Workers (NASW)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors (MaMHCA)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (NEAFAST)
- Attorney CLEs for Youth Advocacy Division (YAD)
- Attorney CLEs for Children and Family Law (CAFL)
+ What is the Diruhi Mattian Memorial Award?
Each year, the Youth at Risk (YAR) conference honors a special person who lives or works in Merrimack Valley or Essex County and has made an outstanding contribution in supporting youth at risk.
The Diruhi Mattian Memorial Award honors the memory of an extraordinary social worker who was tragically killed in 2008. Diruhi was dedicated to her profession and always wanted to make a difference in the lives of young people over and over again. The award was created in her name to recognize those who, like Diruhi, do outstanding work in the community for our youth.
**Previous Award Winners include: **
- 2010 - Mike Duda, YAR Founder and Pastor, First Church of Wenham
- 2011 - Kelly O'Conner, Afterschool Program Director, Gregg Neighborhood House
- 2012 - H. Bud Kelly, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
- 2013 - Mark Libon, Vice President of Community-based Services, Lahey Health Systems
- 2014 - Donna Coe, Nurse Practitioner, Lynn Community Health Center
- 2015 - Patrick Foley, Adolescent Program Director, STARR Commonwealth
- 2015 - Fred Mathieu, Kids Club Program Director, Washington Street Baptist Church
- 2016 - Carol Ireland, VIP Team Advisor, Haverhill High School
- 2017 - Deb A. Morrison, MSW, LICSW, Kevin O'Grady School at North Shore Consortium in Beverly
- 2018 - Nancy Edman Earls, Director of the Newburyport Learning Enrichment Center (NLEC)
- 2019 - Eric Cousineau, Social Worker at the Greater Lowell Department of Children and Families
- 2021 - Michelle Lipinski, Northshore Recovery High School Principal
- 2022 - Carlos Mercado, Lowell Police Department
- 2023 - Anya McDavitt, Director of Youth Services at North Shore Community Mediation Center
- 2024 - Roberto Rios, Family Engagement Case Manager/Attendance Officer for the Lawrence School District
- 2025 - Sylvia Pastrana, Retired Student Support Coordinator at Haverhill Public Schools’ Gateway Academy
- 2026 - Brian J. Anderson, Juvenile Defense Attorney at Law
YAR 2026 Committee Members
Amy Ackroyd - Chair of YAR Committee
Stacie Bloxham - Essex County Sheriff’s Department
Nicholas Bound - Department of Youth Services
Windi Bowditch - Northshore Education Consortium
Linnea Burrill - Department of Children & Families
AJ Cullen - Department of Developmental Disabilities
Kerry Fitzgerald - Pathways for Children
Stephanie Gargiulo- Clinical Social Worker, Co-chair of YAR Committee
Brian Gawlak - East Baptist Church
Staci Gergely - Essex County Juvenile Court Probation
Kimberly Hutchins - Private Practice Psychotherapist
Heyda Javier - Justice Resource Institute
Frantzie Kebreau - Gregg House
Tony Leone - NAGLY
Hailey MacDonald - Pathways for Children
Jennifer Mack - Youth Villages
Jennifer McMurray - Department of Mental Health
Lisa Morrow - Health Law Advocates
Lauri Rawls - Endicott College
Linda Richards - Department of Mental Health (Retired)
Lynn Rosenbaum - Pathways for Children
YAR 2026 EXHIBITORS
Advocates, Inc.
Aspire Developmental Services
Beth Israel Lahey Health Behavioral Services
Camp Fire Northshore
Centerboard / We Rise
Children's Law Center of MA
Comm.Ink
DaDurday Legacy Inc.
Department of Developmental Services
Department of Children and Families
Department of Transitional Assistance
Department of Mental Health
Embrace Pathways
Endicott College
Federation for Children with Special Needs
Foster MA, Cape Ann DCF
Foundation for Alcohol Education
Greater Commonwealth Virtual School
HAWC
Health Law Advocates Mental Health Advocacy Program for Kids
HealthQ
Heathmere Center for Cultural Engagement
Institute for Health and Recovery
Jeanne Geiger Crisis Center
Justice Resource Institute
Link House Outpatient Services
Look. Foundation
Lynn Family Resource Center
Massachusetts Network of Foster Care Alumni
MassHire North Shore Workforce Board
Mental Makeover
Mount Prospect Academy
My Moody Monster
NAGLY
New England Academy
NFI Massachusetts
Northern Essex WIC
Office of the Child Advocate
Pathways for Children
Plummer Youth Promise
Power of Hope
PUSH for Dreams
Radiate Career Consulting
Regulate Yours, Mental Health Services
Rise Above Foundation
Salem State University
Silver Lining Mentoring
The Artful Life Counseling Center and Studio
Wayside Youth & Family Network
Youth Villages
2026 Youth at Risk
Conference Sponsors
PRESENTING SPONSORS
TRAILBLAZER
2025 Marked 25 Years of Youth at Risk
Please click on the 25 Years of YAR image below for a wonderful and comprehensive history of the Conference!
YAR Statement on Risk
Every generation of youth has faced and endured an ever-changing
landscape of physical, medical, social, emotional, economic, political
and environmental stresses, resulting in a wide range of risks to
their wellness and ability to achieve their full life potential.
As a community, the helping professions are at the front line of
identifying, mitigating, and minimizing the impact of these stresses on
our youth, their families, and communities. Risk, and its management
is a daily reality and responsibility for all our disciplines.
The Youth at Risk Committee does not use the term "risk" lightly or as
a pejorative. Rather, we endeavor to emphasize the importance of
being vigilant to the management of risk wherever it presents
itself in our communities and remain focused on empowering youth,
families and communities to actualize their innate hope and resiliency
to meet and manage the challenges presented.
Wherever our front lines take us, we need to be creative,
enthusiastic, and mutually supportive as we navigate a rapidly
changing world. Thank you for joining us in raising up our colleagues
and expanding our collective knowledge and expertise.
This is what the YAR Conference is all about. We look forward to
celebrating YAR together with you!
HAVE QUESTIONS? CHECK US OUT AT www.pw4c.org/youth-at-risk-conference OR
EMAIL US AT YAR@PW4C.ORG
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!