Frayme Learning Institute 2021

The Learning Institute is one of Canada’s only nation-wide conferences solely dedicated to youth mental health and substance use (YMHSU) system transformation. It provides a unique opportunity to bring together different players in the sector across diverse disciplines, backgrounds and experiences to drive knowledge into action.

What’s the theme this year?

This year, we’re all about challenging the status quo or what we think of as conventional approaches to providing YMHSU services and supports. The focus will be on providing a platform for the changemakers working to bring more equitable, youth friendly, accessible and innovative services to support youth and families in communities across Canada.

How will it take place?

The 2021 Frayme Learning Institute will be delivered virtually. The program will allow participants to access workshops, sessions, exhibitors and networking events at their convenience in the comfort of their own home (really, how can you beat networking in pajamas?).

Frayme is also working on a few surprise activities that will allow participants to network with presenters and each other in real-time, through immersive, interactive venues and spaces. Learn more about accessing the event here.

What are the focus areas this year?

Frayme’s Learning Institute has multiple focus areas this year to align with the work of our network partners and Frayme’s impact areas. As a virtual event, you will have access to all the content and can pick and choose how to experience the event in a way that is customized to your preferences.

Creative approaches: This area will focus on alternative therapies and treatment that have been built by youth for youth. From film, gaming, and dance to VR, music therapy and cultural programming, this stream will bring together the latest practices, programs and supports across Canada that help youth through experiential design and implementation.
Grassroots and community supports: Sometimes having less resources, capacity and/or funding often breed grounds for creative solutions and sustainable practice. Grassroots and community supports refer to organizations and programs that are embedded within local communities and jurisdictions and have developed effective supports and practices through years of experience delivering YMHSU services. These services are exploratory and evidence generating through various evaluation methods.
Research and academia: A nod to the work happening to support practice through research this focus area is about evidence-based practice and initiatives that have been grounded in the latest research and academia. Whether it’s the latest innovations in virtual care, exploring holistic integrated youth services, or exploring how to embed equitable practices into YMHSU services, you’ll find it in this stream.
The Frayme Network: This focus area is all about showcasing the projects and work of our network partners that have been engaged with Frayme in the past year through our grant programs, projects and/or collaborations. We have some pretty darn spectacular partners in our network and we’re excited to amplify their work.

So why a Learning Institute?

Because we really, really need it. The system is fragmented and siloed and Frayme is on a mission to build bridges through collaboration and sharing. Through the Learning Institute we will:

Provide Frayme partners and stakeholders, including youth and families, an opportunity to share, learn, and collaborate in order to transform the YMSHU system;
Help build a better system that can serve all youth and families, while advancing the value of lived experience in service design and delivery;
Explore new approaches and alternative therapies for YMHSU services that might be scaled up to other jurisdictions and communities in Canada;
Promote the consistent use of data and evidence in the design of services;
Unite national and international partners across diverse YMHSU disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences and facilitate knowledge mobilization and information sharing;
Create a welcoming and safe space to discuss YMHSU from an equity, diversity and inclusivity perspective including the factors that need to be considered in designing services and systems that will be contextually, culturally and geographically relevant to Canada’s diverse youth and families.

Registration

#Frayme2021 will provide access to live sessions during the event and recordings of sessions after the event concludes. The registration price is a flat rate regardless of whether you choose to attend the full event or just parts of it. Registration is tied to a specific person and cannot be shared amongst individuals or within organizations.

Frayme is committed to ensuring that youth and family members who are interested in attending but cannot afford the registration costs are supported through sponsorship. Frayme will not only cover the costs of registration, but will offer an attendance subsidy to offset costs of having to miss work to attend #Frayme2021 (up to a certain amount, and until the sponsorship fund is depleted). Frayme will review these on a case-by-case basis. If this includes you, please reach out to us.

Not sure if you’re part of the Frayme Network? Check this page to see if your organization is listed (psst, it’s easy to join if you aren’t - learn more about joining Frayme)

Frayme partner (early bird: January 18th-31st):

$100

Non-partner (early bird: January 18th-31st):

$150

Frayme partner (regular: February 1st-24th):

$120

Non-Frayme partner (regular: February 1st-24th):

$170

Speaker/Facilitator discounted rate:

$60

Youth Advocate:

$20

Family Advocate:

$20

Exhibitors

Are you looking to mix and mingle with the changemakers of the Canadian YMHSU space? If so, we invite you to apply to be an exhibitor for #Frayme2021!

This year, the #Frayme2021 Learning Institute will be hosted on the immersive VFairs platform. Exhibitors will have all the functionality of an in-person exhibition booth minus the handshake. Exhibitor booths will include:

Bookable 1:1 sessions with attendees and presenters (youth and family advocates, service providers, system change-makers, operational leaders and clinicians)
Super cool advertising spaces
A customizable and visually appealing booth that will allow you to upload resources, documents, videos and more
Visibility on the live online floor plan with links to your website, social media channels, contact information, and logo
Full access to the conference and bragging rights. To ensure that booths have an increase of “click traffic” (see what we did there?), we have scheduled plenty of networking time to allow attendees to visit booths and learn more about exhibitor organizations.

Rates

Non-profit:

$200 + HST

For profit:

$300 + HST

Frayme Network Partner:

$150 + HST

Schedule

Start planning your #Frayme2021 experience now by taking a look at the schedule below and picking which sessions you want to attend! See two presentation you want to attend at the same time? Don't fret - all sessions will be recorded so that participants can watch them at their own convenience. Please note that this schedule is subject to change.

Feb 24 February 24
Feb 25 February 25
Feb 26 February 26

February 24

10:00 - 10:30am (EST): Opening Remarks and Welcome

Opening Remarks from our youth and family co-hosts alongside Frayme’s Executive Director

10:30 - 11:30am (EST): Opening Plenary

Nothing for youth, without youth. It’s likely you’ve heard this many times, but what does it look like in practice? Lived experience is paramount in creating effective and meaningful effective systems, services, programs in the youth mental health and substance use sector. The opening plenary session will feature young trailblazers that are shaking up the system through advocacy, work and expertise guided by their diverse lived experience in order to address gaps, meet system needs and improve outcomes for young people and their families.

11:30am - 12:30pm (EST)

12:30 - 1:00pm (EST): Break

Optional activity: Expressive Arts Therapy

Session description:
Give your body and mind a break from sitting in front of your screen with an expressive arts movement and sound exploration. Participants will be encouraged to check in with their bodies, connect with their breath and move around their space, while maintaining their personal comfort. We acknowledge that everyone has different experiences of mobility and connection to their body. As such we do our best to facilitate in a way that is open for all levels of mobility. No supplies or prior experience required! We hope to see you there.

Facilitators:
Norah Mooney - My name is Norah Mooney (she/her); I am an artist, and expressive arts therapist. For the last ten years I have been living in a remote town commonly known today as Sioux Lookout.In my work as an EXAT I help people who have experienced trauma and for whatever reason have been unable to process it in a way that allows them to move forward with their life. Art making allows space for the individual to express what is happening for them internally, without being limited or intimidated by language. As an expressive arts therapist I am here to nurture and guide the creative process.

Carla Vinczeffy-Rose, RP, EXAT - Carla is an Expressive Arts Psychotherapist who has been working with Indigenous children and youth and their families for the past nine years. Her gentle, client-centered approach involves sensitivity and attunement to each client’s unique needs. Carla was born and raised in northwestern Ontario. After leaving the area for more than a decade, she returned in 2011 to raise her three children, who consistently inspire and influence her work in the expressive arts.

1:00pm - 2:00pm (EST)

2pm - 3pm (EST)

3 - 3:30pm (EST): Break

Free time - use this time to check out our Exhibitor Hall, the Networking Lounge, the Hackathon Discord or just have a yummy snack!

3:30pm - 4:30pm (EST)

4:30 - 6pm (EST): Unstructured Networking/Hackathon

Optional Activity: Hackathon

The Hackathon will allow participants who are interested an opportunity to work alongside each other in order to come up with innovate solutions to real world issues and challenges within the youth mental health and substance use sector.

February 25

10:30 - 11:30am (EST): Unstructured Networking/Hackathon

Optional Activity: Hackathon

Optional activity: Spoken Word Poetry

Session Description:
In this workshop you will be discovering self-expression through poetry of words and performance. Words are art and art is what we create. You will be guided through a poetry-writing exercises to get in touch with your creative side. It will allow you to search for life through the art of words. This workshop advocates for the inner writer in everyone, helping each person express their thoughts on paper. There are no barriers, no rules, no standards to define poetry, poetry is what you make it.

Facilitator:
Sumaira - My name is Sumaira and I am a youth facilitator and speaker at YouthSpeak. Poetry has been a passion of mine ever since I learnt how to read. In my free time, I perform as a spoken word poet which has not only been a form of creative expression, but also helped me overcome my personal mental health challenges and speak up on important social justice issues. I believe that everyone has the ability to be a poet and express themselves with their words. Through this workshop I hope to leave everyone feeling empowered by their words and motivated to continue writing!

11:30am - 12:30pm (EST)

12:30 - 1pm (EST): Break

Optional activity: Yoga

During this 30 minute practice we will work on restoring and balancing both the physical and emotional body. This yoga practice will focus on stress reduction, helping improve concentration, breathing techniques as well as getting your body moving and energized. Yoga is often seen as purely physical exercise; however the biggest benefits of practicing yoga are the ability to reduce stress, relieve anxiety, reduce chronic pain, promote sleep quality and improve flexibility and balance. Yoga can be done anywhere and with little or no equipment, by adding yoga to your daily routine you will not only feel and look great but your mental health will benefit considerably. It’s very important to take at a few minutes during your day to reconnect with your body and do something for yourself; therefore I invite you to join my class to have fun and learn some techniques that you can use with your patients/clients or loved ones. Please note, that no previous experience is required and I will be providing modifications for beginners or more advance students.

Facilitator:
Lina Montano - I was introduced to yoga 10 years ago and since then I made it part of my lifestyle. I fell in love with yoga because for me is not just a physical activity but it teaches essential life lessons like passion, love, care and respect. Three years ago I decide to move forward with my practice and become a yoga instructor; during my course I learned from unique teachers who gave me the knowledge to be able to teach different yoga styles specializing in Hatha and vinyasa flow. My classes vary from day to day so they will always keep you on your toes!

1pm - 2pm (EST)

2pm - 3pm (EST)

3 - 3:30pm (EST): Break

Free time - use this time to check out our Exhibitor Hall, the Networking Lounge, the Hackathon Discord or just have a yummy snack!

3:30pm - 4:30pm (EST)

4:30 - 6pm (EST): Unstructured Networking/Hackathon

Optional activity: Hackathon

February 26

10:30 - 11:30am (EST): Unstructured Networking/Hackathon

Optional activity: Hackathon

Optional activity: Self Care Workshop

In this self care workshop participants will learn tools for keeping balance and coping with everyday stress, tips to increase personal well-being and how to fast-track to mental clarity and inner peace during challenging times

Facilitator:
Una Wright - Una Wright, Founder, YouthSpeak Charity shares her personal story with challenges related to mental health within her family and the research-backed coping tools she uses which have enabled her to maintain a strong spirit, positive mental health and overall well-being through very difficult life circumstances.

11:30am - 12:30pm (EST)

12:30 - 1pm (EST): Break

Optional activity: Meditation

In this meditation classes you can expect a little movement to allow the body to sit comfortably for the length of time, a guided meditation and then a short breathing exercise at the end to close the practice. Meditation allows us to connect to ourselves in the deepest of levels to heal and to raise our vibration. Anyone can meditate, we simply have to tune into the breath and be present.

Facilitator:
Linda Marie - Linda began her yoga journey 15 years ago, and has been a yoga teacher since 2009. She has travelled and studied with teachers on yoga and meditation, and although she has been teaching yoga for over a decade, she is still very much a student first, and devotes time everyday to her practices in order to be a better teacher and to gain more knowledge in order to share the gift that is yoga and meditation with those who are open to receiving it.

1pm - 2pm (EST)

2pm - 3pm (EST)

3 - 3:30pm (EST): Break

Free time - use this time to check out our Exhibitor Hall, the Networking Lounge, the Hackathon Discord or just have a yummy snack!

3:30pm - 4:30pm (EST)

4:30 - 6pm (EST): Closing Plenary

The components that fall under the mental health and substance use service umbrella are different for everyone. It can depend on context, culture, socioeconomic status and more. Important factors, contexts, and illnesses are often left out of service provision catchment creating a wide gap for youth with complex mental illness and/or substance use issues. This plenary will feature youth change makers who are working to shed light on topics that are often left out of the conversation, so that we can collectively broaden our understanding of true system service and help youth and their families find the right help at the right time in the right place. It’s time to fill the gap, not just avoid it.

Download Schedule

Who’s this event for?

We’re always looking to make more friends at Frayme so anyone is welcome, however, the event will be most relevant to organizations/individuals that play a role in the delivery of YMHSU systems and services including:

Youth and family advocates

Service providers

System change-makers

Clinicians

Operational leaders

Researchers and academics

Policy-makers

Funders

Call for Abstracts

Types of submissions

Three types of programming will be offered at the 2021 Learning Institute - virtual symposiums, virtual workshops and virtual poster presentations.

Virtual symposiums (approximately 20 minutes in length per presentation + 10 minutes for questions): Symposiums will feature presentations by one or more speakers that are didactic in nature, focusing on sharing lessons learned, key takeaways or specific learnings from a project, collaboration or initiative in the youth mental health and substance use space. Space will be reserved after each presentation for questions and comments from participants.

Virtual workshops (approximately 25-30 minutes in length per workshop): Virtual workshops will facilitate an interactive space for conversations, questions, and dialogue through audience involvement. If you're looking for feedback on your project, and seek to engage participants as co-presenters, or are hoping to stir up bold new ideas, then this option is for you.

Virtual poster presentations: Virtual poster presentations will showcase your project through a digital poster format with mechanisms that will allow participants to interact with authors and ask questions.

Eligibility criteria for submissions

All submissions to the 2021 Learning Institute will be delivered virtually. Please check the list below to ensure your submission fits the all required criteria:

Each workshop and symposium submission must be no longer than 30 minutes in length and (for symposiums) include time for questions and comments from the audience.
Submissions must relate to youth mental health and/or substance use and addictions services, supports and/or programs operating in Canada. Content around international youth mental health and/or substance use and addictions services, supports and/or programs will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Workshop and symposium submissions must include the input and expertise of either youth and/or family members either in the delivery of the workshop/symposia itself or in the work of the project being highlighted within the workshop/symposia.
Selections will be based on the following criteria:
- relevance to the event objectives, content streams and Frayme's mandate;
- clarity and coherence of the submission;
- utility to potential participants;
- consideration to meaningful youth and family engagement;
- (for workshops) presence of interactive components;
- consideration to equity, accessibility, inclusivity and diversity of the project/work.
Submissions are due via the submission form by 11:59 PM Eastern Time on December 18, 2020. Applicants will be notified within a month whether their submission has been accepted.

Support for submissions

Need help drafting your submission? Frayme is committed to ensuring equity and accessibility within all of our work. As such, we will be offering a workshop to develop capacity and provide helpful tips and tricks on submitting a project or drafting an abstract for conferences to ensure that all of our stakeholders have the support they need in this process. Please subscribe to our mailing to stay up-to-date on when this workshop will take place.

Frayme has also developed a F.A.Q document to specifically support youth and family who want to submit an abstract to #Frayme2021.

View Youth & Family F.A.Q

The call for abstracts is now closed. If you have any questions, please contact us at Frayme.info@theroyal.ca

Frayme Learning Institute 2021