Safe Sport Leadership Conference 2021

SAVE THE DATE

APRIL 20, 2021

USA Swimming is committed to providing a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all its members. Leaders paving the trail in the Safe Sport area will not want to miss out on this year's conference.

This year’s USA Swimming Safe Sport Leadership Conference will highlight the topics of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Why Trauma Informed Sport is Vital, Cultivating Resiliency, and Suicide Awareness & Prevention. The conference will be held virtually and is free to any and all attendees. This conference is appropriate for any LSC or team leadership position, coaches, officials, NGB counterparts, other youth serving organizations, or any adult working with youth. All presentations will be recorded and posted here for future viewing.

Conference Schedule

Tuesday, April 20, 2021 (8:15-4:00pm MDT/10:15-6:00pm EDT):

8:15am MDT - Welcome!
8:30am MDT - Adverse Childhood Experiences - What it is & Why you need to know about it. - Dr. Perry
10:00am MDT - BREAK
10:15am MDT - WeCoach - Why Trauma Informed Sport is Vital. - Megan Bartlett
11:45am MDT - Check in
12:00pm MDT - LUNCH BREAK
12:30pm MDT - Cultivating Resiliency and Overcoming Adversity. - Dr. Renjilian
2:00pm MDT - BREAK
2:15pm MDT - Suicide Awareness & Prevention. - Cassandra Walton
3:45pm MDT - Conclusion

Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Perry is the Principal of the Neurosequential Network, Senior Fellow of The ChildTrauma Adademy and a Professor (Adjunct) in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago and the School of Allied Health, College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria Australia.

Over the last thirty years, Dr. Perry has been an active teacher, clinician and researcher in children’s mental health and the neurosciences holding a variety of academic positions. His work on the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma on the developing brain has impacted clinical practice, programs and policy across the world. Dr. Perry is the author, with Maia Szalavitz, of The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog, a bestselling book based on his work with maltreated children and Born For Love: Why Empathy is Essential and Endangered. Dr. Perry's most recent book, What Happened to You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey, was released in 2021.

Dr. Perry has conducted both basic neuroscience and clinical research. His neuroscience research has examined the effects of prenatal drug exposure on brain development, the neurobiology of human neuropsychiatric disorders, the neurophysiology of traumatic life events and basic mechanisms related to the development of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain. His clinical research and practice has focused on high-risk children. This work has examined the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, social, and physiological effects of neglect and trauma in children, adolescents and adults. This work has been instrumental in describing how childhood experiences, including neglect and traumatic stress, change the biology of the brain – and, thereby, the health of the child.

Click here for full bio.

Megan Bartlett, MA

Megan Bartlett has spent most of her career working in, designing, and advocating for programs that use sports to promote youth development and positively impact communities. She speaks regularly on the power of sport to create social change and help kids heal and is co-author of the book Re-Designing Youth Sports: Change the Game. Megan serves on Nike's Global Training Advisory Group and is working with the ChildTrauma Academy to create the Neurosequential Model in Sport-—a fully trauma informed sport intervention model.

Megan’s passion for using sport as a tool to help young people cope with overwhelming stress started when she moved from working at a community mental health clinic to her first job in the sport for good field, at America SCORES New England (now America SCORES Boston). Working in this setting, she quickly realized how essential it is for coaches to understand the impact of trauma in order for them to effectively develop the social, emotional and cognitive skills of the young people they serve. This discovery was reaffirmed during the years that she served as the National Program Director for America SCORES and became the core focus of her work when she helped start Up2Us Sports. As Chief Program Officer, she created Up2Us’ innovative, nationally recognized coach training program, the first national program to fully integrate trauma-informed practices into a sport context.

Megan attended Wesleyan University, where she earned a BA in Psychology and Sociology and was the captain of the women’s soccer team. At Tufts University, Megan coached soccer while earning her MA in Urban Policy and Planning.

Chris Renjilian, M.D.

Dr. Renjilian is a pediatrician who specializes in adolescent medicine and sports medicine. He practices medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Renjilian’s particular area of interest is in the integration of adolescent health, sports and recreation, and the pursuit of health equity.

Dr. Renjilian’s research, education and advocacy efforts are dedicated to advancing the academic field that examines how sports and recreation can help youth to navigate adversity and thrive, as well as building the capacity of families and communities to incorporate resilience-based strategies and active play in everyday practices that bring out the best in young people.

His work has led to a series of continuing medical education workshops, public and press communications, and academic publications. He co-authored “Finding Resilience in Sports and Physically Active Recreation,” which appears in the American Academy of Pediatrics’ landmark publication on communication with adolescents Reaching Teens (Ginsburg K, McClain Z, 2020), and served as an assistant editor for the publication’s online portal tailored specifically for professionals serving in sports and physically active recreation settings.

Dr. Renjilian believes that all youth, regardless of experience and ability, are athletes at heart. He believes it is our collective duty to help youth discover the types of movement and the fields of play where their imaginations can take flight, where they can discover their strengths, and where they can learn habits and skills required for lifelong growth.

Click here for full bio.

Cassandra Walton

Cassandra Walton serves as the Executive Director for Pikes Peak Suicide Prevention Partnership (PPSPP). Having worked in human services for over twenty years, Cassandra has observed the impact of suicide in a number of different settings and communities. She is a Colorado native, a wife, and a mother of 4.

Over the years she has served as a Therapeutic Living Director for a Residential Treatment Facility, a Program Director for an organization providing athletic opportunities to individuals with Autism and has facilitated trainings in Crisis Intervention, Developmental Assets of our Youth and Parent/Family Workshops that support the family system.

Currently, Cassandra is the Vice Chair for The Suicide Prevention Collaborative of El Paso County. Due to the high impact of suicide in El Paso County, it is one of six Colorado Counties, that have been chosen by the CDC to address suicide as a public health issue; with the goal of reducing suicide by 20% by 2024. If successful, this public health approach will become the template for suicide prevention efforts across our country.

In alignment with the mission of PPSPP, Cassandra dedicates much of her time to providing awareness and education around suicide prevention with the understanding that one of our most effective arms of prevention is the informed public.

Margaret Hoelzer

Margaret Hoelzer is a Double Olympian and three-time Olympic Medalist in Swimming, as well as a former World Record holder. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she was awarded Silver medals in the 200m Backstroke and the 400m Medley Relay. She also holds a Bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke. Originally from Huntsville Alabama, Margaret attended Auburn University where she was a 22-time All- American and a 6-time National Champion.

Since retiring in 2010, Margaret has been happily residing in the Pacific Northwest. She teaches private swim lessons and travels frequently for swim clinics and motivational speaking. Margaret is an accomplished public speaker and vocal advocate for victims of sexual abuse, having given speeches on Tedx and at various conferences and fundraisers around the country. In her speeches, Margaret shares her personal experience as a survivor of sexual abuse and focuses on lighting the path toward healing for other victims, their families and friends.

Margaret is currently the National Spokesperson for the National Children’s Advocacy Center as well as being a featured survivor in the training video ‘Stewards of Children’ by Darkness to Light. She has also been involved with USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program since its inception in 2010. She has also worked with the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee in forming their Safe Sport Program. To connect with Margaret, contact mjhoelzer@hotmail.com.