Reflecting back on the 2014 National RHY Grantees Conference

Often times we have a moment that we find ourselves reflecting upon the furthest and most recent moments of our lives.  These moments can make us smile, laugh, cry… but most of all, they can remind us of our gratitude towards someone. Each year, we (the NSPN/RHYTTAC staff) have such a blast planning and hosting the National RHY Grantees conference for you.  As the time grows closer, we become very eager to see the hard work come to fruition.  The thing we are most excited for however, is seeing and connecting with each of you.  We see you arrive to the conference, excited to be in a new place, excited to see old friends and meet new colleagues, and exited to learn!  During the first day we see it… the SPARK. It’s a contagious spark that spreads like wildfire through each and every one of you. This SPARK is INSPIRATION.  During the end of the conference, yes, you are tired from all the great activities and intriguing training workshops, but during the end of the conference you can’t help but to see, hear, and FEEL the inspiration that flows through you.  What you take back to your fellow staff, organization, and community is something that can change lives. Yes, our friends – what we look forward to the most is you and your inspiration to make a difference in the RHY world!  Thank you for allowing us to be a part of the difference you make in so many lives.  

If you missed the conference or would like a reminder of how much fun we had… here are a few videos created during the conference, including our Video Blog from the night of the RHYA Anniversary Celebration! 

Opening Session:
Native American Welcome Ceremony – Phoenix Oyate Singers http://youtu.be/1t6LIrywMRg  
Native American Welcome Ceremony – Dance:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShH8cLcnX1g 

40th RHYA Anniversary Celebration:
Video Blog:  http://youtu.be/P2UdILm2Ncs
Thank You Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPwuhT-gYU4

Want to see more from the conference?  Check out our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rhyttac where we posted live!  Posts include photos, videos, and quotes from the keynote sessions.  In the mean time, we’re getting preparing for the 2015 National RHY Grantees Conference where we hope to see you inspired even more!

NSPNsights: Getting Started – Again

How do you launch a new organization? Wow…a question requiring a long answer and it is a very good thing that I don’t have to provide it! How do you bring together 2 long term partners to form one entity – united – toward a common mission?  Well, now, I can write about that.

It is no secret that National Safe Place and the Youth and Family Services Network (YFSN) are now one. I think we were always of a shared mind – we just operated with different EIN numbers.  There was so much agreement in terms of our commitment to youth; our dedication to partnering with youth and family service organizations; our belief that collaboration has longer term benefits that competition; and, well – the list goes on. There were also differences. National Safe Place had more than 30 years of experience in partnering with communities to expand and strengthen a safety net for youth. A national effort built on the concept of a simple sign with a critical message. Today, there are hundreds of communities, thousands of Safe Place sites and a shared belief that any youth in crisis must be able to seek out and receive immediate assistance or in other words – “Someplace to Go. Someone to Help”. YFSN had more than 30 years of experience creating a network of support, capacity building and benefits for organizations. As an association consisting of agencies working daily to provide critical needs and services to youth and families, YFSN developed an extensive history of capacity building, training, technical assistance, consultation and funding initiatives. YFSN also established a culture that lived the “Together We Can” motto of learning from each other and understanding that each and every organization within the membership has something valuable to share and in doing so, everyone wins.

Now a single entity, operating as National Safe Place Network (NSPN) – we believe we have found a way to bring the best of our efforts together and to benefit all of you who currently believe in us as well as all of you who we are inviting to join us in our journey.

We encourage you to review the new website (www.nspnetwork.org) and contact us with ideas, questions and other feedback that will continue to strengthen our network and make it a place you consider as home and that feels like a place you want to visit often. Welcome!