Youth from all over Iowa will be in Ames this Monday to learn how to deal with issues affecting youth today.

“Risky Business: Being a Kid Today” is the name of the 12th annual conference being sponsored by the Ames Youth and Shelter Services. Touted by its sponsors as “one of the most successful annual conferences on youth and family issues in Iowa,” the all-day event, held at the Iowa State Center, is expected to attract nearly 350 youth from grades 9-12, along with 650 parents, teachers, counselors and others who deal with youth.

Ray Benter, public information officer for YSS, said, “awareness is a key” to the conference’s purposes. The goals of the conference, he said, include increasing awareness of major problems facing America’s families and youth, reinventing ways of problem solving, and helping families and children who need to discover how they can become more self-sufficient.

Throughout the day, conference participants will hear several nationally-known speakers as well as have the opportunity to attend several small group sessions later in the day.

The adult participants will begin their day in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium with a presentation by the Marshalltown Sociodrama Group about helping youth make informed decisions about sexual behavior.

Keynote speaker George McGovern, a former U.S. Senator and author of “Terry: My Daughter’s Life-and-Death Struggle with Alcoholism,” will speak about his daughter’s bout with alcoholism, a struggle that eventually claimed her life.

The adult group will also hear from Alvin Poussaint, director of the Media Center for Children at the Judge Baker Children’s Center in Boston and author of several books on diversity and racism.

Poussaint, whom Benter described as “the pinnacle of human services,” and “a top-notch presenter,” will discuss racial and diversity issues in schools and communities.

Following Poussaint’s speech, Della Hughes, executive director of the National Network on Youth, will speak about nationwide issues in the juvenile justice system.

The annual Leadership In Family Empowerment (LIFE) award will be presented by the Conference Planning Committee. The award will be given to an individual who has consistently provided outstanding service, advocacy, compassion and leadership to Iowa families and donated volunteer time and money to improve services to children and families.

The keynote speaker for the youth participants will be Lynnette Rasmussen, an expert in heath promotion, training and performance management, who will present a session called “I-Sight for Youth.” The I-Sight program is a behavioral assessment tool that builds self-esteem, reduces conflict and increases relationship skills among young people.

Following Rasmussen’s presentation, the Marshalltown Sociodrama group will again perform, this time for the younger participants.

Then, Isabel Burk, a nationally-recognized expert in gender communications issues, will discuss those issues with the youth.

The conference is being funded by Mary Greeley Medical Center, the YSS Foundation, the Story County Board of Supervisors and the Criminal and Juvenile Justice Council.