YAR 2026 Request for Proposals

Request for Proposals – 2026 Youth at Risk (YAR) Conference

The 26th Annual Youth at Risk (YAR) Conference is scheduled for May 20, 2026. Hosted by the YAR committee in collaboration with fiscal sponsor Pathways for Children, this annual event brings together professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting youth facing adversity. The conference provides a platform for exploring strategies that foster resilience, growth, and positive outcomes for young people.

We invite proposals for interactive workshops and panel discussions that will enhance the professional development of attendees in fields such as education, mental health, social work, juvenile justice, and community outreach. Submissions should align with the conference’s mission to empower service providers, offer skill-building opportunities, and highlight innovative approaches to the challenges youth face.

We appreciate your interest in contributing to the 26th Annual Youth at Risk Conference. Your expertise and diverse perspectives are essential to making this event impactful. We look forward to receiving your proposal.
Key Information

Submission Deadline: 5pm Thursday October 23rd, 2025

Conference Date: May 20, 2026

Location: Endicott College, Beverly, Ma

Review Process: All workshop proposals will be reviewed by our selection committee.

Compensation: As the YAR Conference is organized by a non-profit, we are unable to offer monetary compensation to workshop presenters. However, approved presenters will receive complimentary tickets for themselves and one co-presenter.

Proposals reflecting diverse perspectives, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and lived experiences of youth are encouraged.

Submission & Selection Criteria

Priority Consideration: Proposals from professionals based in Massachusetts will be given priority consideration.

Proposals should be relevant to the conference's mission of supporting youth.

Presenters should focus on skill-building and solution-oriented approaches that attendees can implement within their own practices.

Self-promotion and content primarily advertising your organization will not be accepted. We aim to provide material that can benefit a broad audience and foster implementation across different settings.

Presenters are encouraged to provide resources (e.g., handouts, websites) that attendees can use for real-world applications.

Workshops are encouraged to integrate interactive elements that promote audience participation and can be immediately applied in their work.

2026 workshop times and length are as follows: 10:15 AM (90 minutes), 1:15 PM (90 minutes), 3:00 PM (60 minutes).

Technology provided: Laptop, Projector/Screen, Internet Access.

Applicants will receive an update approximately 45 business days after the submission deadline, which is 5pm on Thursday October 23rd, 2025

For any questions regarding the proposal form, please reach out to us at yar@pw4c.org.

To submit your session proposal, please complete the form below.
Presenter Information
Name*

First NameLast Name
Current title
Email*
example@example.com
Phone Number*
Please enter a valid phone number.
Organization
Organization's website
Address*

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState

Zip Code
Your experience
Your bio *

Please enter a brief, 4-5 sentence biography highlighting relevant experience, areas of responsibility and/or areas of interest in regards to your workshop (150 words maximum). Please do not send resume. We reserve the right to make any necessary edits.0/150
License/certification
Highest Degree*
Presentation Experience*

If you have previous presentation experience please fill out the below:

	Title of Presentation	Date Presented	Presented in Person or Virtually	Name of Conference or Event
Most Recent Presentation
Additional Presentation (Optional)
Additional Presentation (Optional)

If available, please provide links to any of the following materials or platforms relevant to your organization or proposal:

	Link	Notes
Facebook
Website
YouTube
Other
Other

Do you plan on having a co-presenter or anyone in addition to yourself attend with you as part of your presentation? (Please note that we can only accommodate two presenters this year. If an additional presenter is needed, they can register as an attendee for the conference)*

No, I will be presenting alone. (No charge)Yes, I will have one (1) additional person presenting and/or assisting. (No charge)
Co-presenter's information
Name

First NameLast Name
Current title
Organization
Email
example@example.com
Phone Number
Please enter a valid phone number.
Your co-presenter's experience
Co-presenter's bio

Please enter a brief, 4-5 sentence biography highlighting relevant experience, areas of responsibility and/or areas of interest in regards to your workshop (125 words maximum). Please do not send resume. We reserve the right to make any necessary edits.0/125
Presentation Experience of Co-presenter
License/certification of Co-Presenter
Highest Degree of Co-Presenter
Presentation information
Presentation Type*

Interactive WorkshopKeynote PresentationLecturePanel DiscussionPersonal StoryOther
Target Audience (select all that apply)*

AdministratorsEducatorsDirect Support StaffLegal ProfessionalsMental Health ProfessionalsParents / CaregiversSocial Workers / Mentors / Guidance CounselorsOther
Presentation Focus Area (Check all that apply):*

Behavioral & Mental HealthSupport (e.g., behavior management, mental health and wellbeing,trauma-informed care, self-care for providers)Data-Informed Practices (e.g.,data-driven decision-making, evidence-based strategies)Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (e.g.,DEI, cultural competence, ethical considerations, working with vulnerableyouth)Education & Youth Development (e.g.,educational supports, resilience, communication, at-risk students)Systems Collaboration & Advocacy(e.g., juvenile justice, multidisciplinary work, resource utilization,collaboration)Youth Safety & Risk Prevention (e.g.,assault, suicide prevention, substance use, sexuality, crisis intervention)Other
Presentation title as you would like it listed on the website (100 characters max)*
Presentation description (in 200 words or less)*

Please enter 3-5 sentences (200 words max), as you would like it to appear in the online brochure; aligning with your objectives and content. We reserve the right to make any necessary edits.0/200
Level of presentation*

Foundational (For audiences new to the field or topic)Advanced (For audiences with 5+ years in the field seeking a deeper understanding)
Please list three learning objectives for this workshop, keeping in mind the following (required for CEU applications):
• Stated learning objectives should reflect what participants will take away from the session.
• Participants will use these learning objectives to provide feedback on the session.
• This information will also be used to apply for CEUs, please be as specific as possible.
Objective 1*

0/30
Objective 2*

0/30
Objective 3*

0/30
Workshop needs & preferences
Would you be interested in presenting two (2) workshops at the 2026 YAR Conference?*

YesNo
I understand that I need to submit a separate form for each presentation I would like to be considered for*
You selected yes, please tell us in what capacity. Please note, that someone will reach out to discuss this in more detail.*

Present the same workshop twice should there be a high demand for this topicPresent two (2) separate workshops that are not scaffoldedPresent a 2-part series (Part A 90 minutes and Part B 60 minutes)Other
What is your preferred time for presenting this workshop? (You may select up to two options)*

10:15am 90-minute presentation1:15pm 90-minute presentation3pm 60-minute presentationPart A 10:15am / Part B 3pmPart A 1:15p / Part B 3pmNo preferenceOther
Do you have a preference on workshop size for this presentation? (Majority of classrooms have a capacity of 30)*

up to 30up to 150Over 150+No preference
Resources

Please list three resources for this workshop, keeping in mind the following:
• Websites are acceptable, but you must provide the date last accessed.
• This information will also be used to apply for CEUs, please be as specific as possible.
Resource 1*
If Resource 1 is a website, please provide the last date accessed.

MonthDayYear
Date
Ressource 2*
If Resource 2 is a website, please provide the last date accessed.

MonthDayYear
Date
Resource 3*
If Resource 3 is a website, please provide the last date accessed.

MonthDayYear
Date
Would your organization be interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities for the 26th YAR annual conference?
If you selected yes, someone will reach out to you within a few weeks.
We’re excited to review your proposal and greatly appreciate your interest in contributing to the 2026 Youth at Risk Conference. Together, we aim to equip attendees with actionable tools and insights that foster resilience and support for at-risk youth in Massachusetts and beyond.
For any questions or further information, please reach out to us at yar@pw4c.org.
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