National Youth-At-Risk Conference Breaks Attendance Record

March 11, 2015

SAVANNAH, Ga.- March 11, 2015- More than 1,500 professionals from across the globe travelled to Savannah, Georgia for Georgia Southern University’s 26th Annual National Youth-At-Risk (NYAR) Conference, directed by the College of Education’s NYAR Center, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel from March 1, 2015 through March 4, 2015.

The conference’s official count Wednesday reached a record-high of 1,534 in attendance, making this the largest attendance in conference history and one of the largest conferences of this kind in the United States.

“Adults who serve youth placed at risk value the training opportunity this conference provides, not only to better serve our students in school and in life, but also attendees have the ability to network and meet with colleagues to discuss new ways to reach our children in positive ways,” remarked Dr. Dan Rea, Co-Director of the NYAR Center in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University.

Participants had an opportunity to hear three internationally recognized keynote speakers as well as benefit from over 120 training sessions featuring educational experts during four days. The conference helps professionals create safe, healthy, caring and intellectually empowering educational environments for children and adolescents.

“People come to this conference year after year because every session helps teachers, counselors, principals, law enforcement officers, social workers and anyone else working with youth placed at risk to find ways to successfully bring about change in our society,” said Dr. Eric Landers, Co-Director of the NYAR Center in the College of Education at Georgia Southern University.

Organized by the College of Education’s NYAR Center in collaboration with the Division of Continuing Education at Georgia Southern University, the NYAR Conference provides annual professional training and certification for adults who serve youth. For additional information and to view the complete program, visit the NYAR Conference website at www.nationalyouthatrisk.org.

The NYAR Center also directs the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Conference in Savannah and the NYAR Conference in Las Vegas. For more information about the Center’s educational initiatives, visit http://coe.georgiasouthern.edu/nyar/.