by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, Independent Educational Consultants Association

(Part 1 of 2)

Last month we invited special needs consultants, as well as representatives of wilderness and emotional growth schools (more than 1,000 professionals), to provide us with feedback on a number of ideas about ways to make the IECA conferences more meaningful and valuable to those working with troubled teens. Hundreds responded and we are grateful for the honest feedback. We promised to reply, and here are the survey results along with an explanation of what we will do, might do in the future, and won’t do!

Tomorrow we will post the 11 most common questions or suggestions that we received in the open feedback section of the questionnaire.

[1] One suggestion was to extend the Traditional Boarding School and College Fair by an hour on Thursday morning, and allow special needs program representatives to join consultants for the final hour to allow for school-to-program networking. Of those expressing an opinion on this issue, 85% of respondents were in favor.

Our Response: We have extended the Fair by 45 minutes (the most we could find) in Ohio this fall, and all special needs program representatives will be invited in for the final hour.

[2] The next proposal was to change to an expo format: programs would each get a 10×10 booth to staff for three full days with consultants choosing when they wish to go to the expo hall instead of educational programming. Of those responding, 28% were in favor.

Our Response: We have tabled this proposal and will not move toward a large exposition hall.

[3] We asked you to consider a change that would ensure a period of overlap when all conference attendees—schools, colleges, special needs programs, and consultants—would all be in attendance at the same time. Of those giving us an opinion on this topic 93% were in favor.

Our Response: Much of the Ohio program was already created, but we were able to rework it. After the final hour of Thursday morning’s School & College Fair there will be breakouts and a lunch with a wonderful speaker, for all attendees. There will also be opportunities while everyone is in attendance for networking in Conference Central.

[4] We asked how you felt about the desire of IECA members to have some educational sessions just for consultants, allowing them opportunities for free discussion on topics of particular interest to them. Of those responding 86% (and more than 95% of IECA members) were in favor.

Our Response: We will implement this change. This will mean more breakout times for special needs representatives, but that one or two at each time period will be designated for educational consultants only.

[5] We asked about bringing back the Saturday morning “Program Showcases” (short presentations by programs) from time to time. Of those with an opinion, 72% were in favor.

Our Response: We will hold two showcases on Saturday morning in Ohio, allowing up to 30 programs to offer brief presentations. There will be no cost to programs to be included, although there will be limited number of spots available.

[6] We asked about the proposal we’ve heard from some to eliminate the Information Swap completely and let networking occur more naturally. Just 23% were in favor of this option.

Our response: We won’t go there!

[7] We asked about the Master Class that has been featured with a nationally known expert offering an intense three-hour session. The responses:

24% wanted to keep them as they are
21% wanted to keep them, but shorten them a bit
23% wanted to eliminate them
12% wanted us to switch to something more interactive
20% wanted to eliminate all Saturday programming

Our Response: Clearly opinion is all over the place, although most IECA members wanted to keep the Master Class concept either in its present form or shorter. In Ohio we have arranged for one of the nation’s top experts on bipolar disorders. The session will be two hours (rather than three), in part to ensure time for the Program Showcases.

[8] We asked about shifting to one conference a year rather than two. Of those with an opinion, 56% were in favor.

Our Response: This question impacts more than just the therapeutic community, and so we need the opinion not just of the Special Needs schools and consultants but the college, traditional boarding schools, vendors, gap year, consultants, etc. All results will go to the Board, as this represents a policy decision. The Board will see your opinion.

Bottom line, we are working actively to incorporate as many ideas as we can, within the structure of existing contracts. We appreciate all those who responded and offered their opinion. Tomorrow we’ll respond to the questions that came up most: frequency, location, daily schedule of conferences, and much more.

by Mark Sklarow, Executive Director, IECA

We are excited to announce that many of the innovations that IECA introduced as experiments at the 2009 Fall Conference were so enthusiastically received that we are bringing them back, with a few changes to make them even more valuable.

When IECA gathers in Toronto this May, the Speed Meetings will return at a new point in the schedule, and the popular Master Class and Point/Counterpoint sessions will be held with new topics and presenters.

The Saturday morning Master Class will feature Dr. Efrain Bleiberg, one of the nation’s leading authorities on adolescent personality disorders. Bleiberg is a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine where he serves as chair in psychiatry and developmental psychopathology, as medical director of Professionals in Crisis Program, and vice chair of the Menninger Clinic.

The previous afternoon, a general session will feature an examination of the question, “Are 12-Step Models the Right Approach for Treating Adolescents?” A number of panelists will explore the use of 12-step models and also the view of some that “being an addict” and “never using again” are not appropriate for 16-year olds. As was done in last year’s discussion, the session will allow for participation by programs and consultants in offering opinions and raising questions. There remain openings for panelists. Those interested should contact IECA conference manager Rachel Diamond King at Rachel@IECAonline.com.

The Speed Meetings return, and will be held as a pre-conference event on Wednesday morning, May 12. The schedule change ensures that the Speed Meetings will not compete with other parts of the program and should make for a more successful session, similar to the great success of the traditional boarding school meetings in November. Applications to participate in the Speed Meetings will be sent to programs and schools after they have registered for the conference itself. Based on feedback, therapeutic schools and programs may bring two representatives to the Speed Meetings, with a strong preference for one being a therapeutic, rather than a recruitment, professional.

The Information Swap, Conference Central, networking reception, Foundation Gala, and so much more are scheduled. Make plans now to join us in May. Conference registration will open February 1. A reminder that travel to Canada is simple, but attendees will need a valid passport to return to the States.