6th Annual Employee Conference

Celebrating Connections: Bringing the “Family” Together

A conference for direct support professionals, human services workers, clinicians, and leaders.

Thank you for joining us at our 6th Annual Conference at The Inn at New Hyde Park.

Photo album coming soon!

Check out photos from previous years.

• 5th Annual Conference 
• 4th Annual Conference

Keynote Speaker: Stephanie Staples – Bringing Your “A” Game to Work & Life

Join master motivator Stephanie Staples for this fast-paced, interactive and idea-packed session that will have you laughing, thinking and inspired to take immediate action that will positively impact your life and livelihood. Buckle up, this author, radio host and social entrepreneur work with busy professionals from the Mayo Clinic to the Middle East to help them live their lives with full gusto and she is ready to light a fire here with us, too! She is the Women Entrepreneur of the Year winner for Contributions to Community, a wife, mother and triathlete with programs proven to increase feelings of hope, happiness & empowerment for participants.

Breakout Sessions

1. 8 Characteristics of Happy People 
Jim Ryan
This one of Jim’s signature programs. Thousands have been inspired and motivated to take charge and live happier and more joyful lives. Jim challenges his audiences to look within to recognize their true potential and to set the intention of achieving personal success. The talk discusses the characteristics of Happy People: Intention, Accountability, Know What Makes You Happy, Follow Your Bliss, Recasting, Option A, Appreciation, and Giving. Jim has the ability to turn profound concepts into easily understood solutions.

2. Are You Judging Your Coworkers by Their Cover? (An Implicit Bias Workshop)
Nyah Berg
Many of us heard the phrase, “never judge a book by its cover.” However, all of us have unconscious biases and/or implicit biases about people, places, and things that are a product of our environment. Sometimes these automatic responses can save our lives. Sometimes these implicit biases are hurtful, both in the short and long term, even when causing harm is not the intent. In this workshop, we will not only review definitions of implicit bias and how it works but supply attendees with de-biasing tips and tools for both their personal and professional lives.

3. Trauma-Informed Intentions 
George Wurzer, LCSW
Are you looking for positive ways to help someone who has survived a trauma? Deepen your awareness of trauma and its triggers in this workshop about what it means to be trauma-informed and provide trauma-informed interventions.

4. More Than Fun and Games: Team Building 101
SCO’s Center for Professional Development 
You see your team at work more than your family at times and yet we don’t always get to connect with each other. Team building increases productivity, motivation, creativity, and collaboration. This workshop is a chance to learn activities that will build better communication, excel at problem-solving, and connect in fun and meaningful ways.

5. Circle Time and Restorative Practices
Sara Hill
Circle time is a practice that comes from early childhood education, but it can be easily adapted to working with school-age and older youth as well as adults. This workshop will provide a basic overview of both approaches, and engage participants in a restorative circle to experience the process. Participants will walk away with handouts and other resources in the hopes  that they will implement this approach at their programs and sites.