UW-Whitewater Hosting Inaugural Youth Safety Summit

Written by Kari Borne

The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater will host the first-ever Youth Safety Summit on February 20-21, 2025, at Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells.

For more than 50 years, the UW-Whitewater’s Continuing Education Services (CES) department has offered athletic, arts, academic and enrichment programs for youth. In recent years, CES has prioritized protecting and empowering youth in their camps, clinics, and events, and now leads the way in sharing expertise.

The Youth Safety Summit is offered by UW-Whitewater in partnership with Tree House Child and Family Center, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Universities of Wisconsin.  Session presenters include experts from all organizations, and those from legal, mental health, and substance abuse fields.

“Protecting young people, within in our community, and all educational and recreational settings – especially rural and under-resourced K-12 and nonprofit organizations – is of the utmost importance,” said Corey King, chancellor at UW-Whitewater. “We must continually review, assess, and adapt our practices to stay at the forefront of youth safety. Our local partnership with Tree House Child and Family Center makes important events like this summit possible.”

The Youth Safety Summit was developed to bring experts and innovative strategies to the people who work with kids in all different settings and situations. Critical topics such as mental health awareness, digital safety, and emergency preparedness are some of the topics that will be covered.  Staff at school districts and youth-serving organizations are encouraged to attend this pioneering event to strengthen our shared commitment to the well-being the youngest members of our communities.

Staff from the Badgerland Council of Girl Scouts will be attending the summit in February. 

“I know the interactive sessions and case studies at the summit will help staff build practical skills, like conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and responding to safety concerns in a proactive and culturally competent manner,” said Nick Harnish, director of education at Badgerland Council. “The team will have the opportunity to connect with other organizations and broaden our network, potentially leading to collaborations, shared resources, and innovative ideas for promoting youth safety.”

On Thursday, Feb. 20, youth leaders are invited to a pre-conference on youth mental health first aid during the morning session. The program is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, giving them a 5-step action plan for how to help youth in crisis and non-crisis situations. Participants who successfully complete the pre-work and conference session will be certified in youth mental health first aid through the National Council for Mental Wellbeing.

The main conference begins Thursday afternoon and continues through Friday, Feb. 21. The summit will feature a keynote address on peer-to-peer abuse by Glen Pounder, the Chief Safeguarding Office for Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts). Additional sessions topics include navigating legal landscapes, responding to child abuse disclosures, and signs of child maltreatment.

Registration for UW-Whitewater’s youth summer camps — where youth protection is a priority — is now open for more than 70 #WarhawkCamps. Children of all ages and abilities are welcome for summer programs ranging from game development to gymnastics, from band to basketball. For more information, visit www.uww.edu/ce/camps/.