Preventing Educator Burnout

Posted by on February 17, 2014

Engaging Disconnected Youth: Tools and Strategies for Working with Youth “In the Reactor”

March 19, 2014
Philadelphia, Pa.

This workshop will discuss vicarious trauma, and cover why simply thinking of it as “burnout” is so often inadequate to the task. Learn what works and what doesn’t in making sure that, even as they face trauma and suffering in their day to day work, they protect themselves from the impact of vicarious trauma.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/working-next-to-the-reactor-preventing-educator-burnout-tickets-10186617447

This is Workshop 2 in our series about Engaging Disconnected Youth:Tools and Strategies for Working with Youth “In the Reactor”

Working day in and day out with disconnected youth facing tremendous obstacles, often in communities experiencing toxic levels of stress, can be draining not only on youth and clients, but also on staff. Vicarious trauma — the cumulative negative effects of working with individuals and communities who are suffering or in need — can be crippling to program effectiveness. Staff can become disengaged, absenteeism rises, and staff turnover can become a significant problem. Often, traditional methods of dealing with “burnout” — time off, staff incentives, and other techniques — prove to be only temporary fixes. Working in stressed communities — next to the reactor — instead requires methods to build shields against the radiation of chronic and toxic stress.

This workshop will discuss vicarious trauma, and cover why simply thinking of it as “burnout” is so often inadequate to the task. Participants will then learn what works — and what doesn’t — in making sure that, even as they face trauma and suffering in their day to day work, they protect themselves from the impact of vicarious trauma.

You are welcome to sign up for Workshop 1 and 3 in our series Engaging Disconnected Youth:Tools and Strategies for Working with Youth “In the Reactor”

Workshop 1: Changing the Question…A new way to look at youth engagement
Workshop 3: Building Community Within Four Walls: Healing communities in youth programs

Presenter Bio:
Dan Rhoton, M.Ed
Chief Impact Director at Hopeworks N Camden

Dan has been working with Philadelphia youth for the past 16 years in a variety of capacities. As a teacher and administrator at St. Gabriel’s Hall – a residential facility for adjudicated youth – for over 14 years, Dan has had the pleasure of teaching and learning from some of Philadelphia’s most promising and dynamic young men.

Over the years, Dan has been recognized numerous times for his work with Philadelphia’s young people, receiving the Meritorious Service Award from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, the Diane Watson City Community Service Award, and was recognized as the Distinguished LaSallian Educator of the Year for Eastern North America.

At Hopeworks, Dan is responsible for the overall implementation of the learning culture of Hopeworks throughout the entire Hopeworks organization, managing all program aspects of Hopeworks and corresponding staff, including Hopeworks’ training program, residence, and business internship program. Currently, Hopeworks is working to become certified in trauma-informed care and to push those practices into the community through its “Healing 10” initiative.