Here’s a sneak preview at some of the cool events and resources Key Ministry has in store for church staff, volunteers and parents during September, October and November…

The focus of our Fall blog series will be on helping churches safely and effectively welcome, serve and include families of kids at risk of aggressive behavior. In the series Beyond Zero Tolerance, we’ll examine

• Why kids may manifest maladaptive aggression
• Conditions frequently associated with aggressive behavior
• Times and environments at church when kids most likely to experience difficulty controlling aggressive behavior
• Strategies for managing the risk for aggressive behavior in kids with autism and other developmental disabilities, mood disorders, ADHD and anxiety 
• Strategies for effective collaboration between church staff, volunteers and parents of kids at risk for aggressive behavior
• Tips for church staff and volunteers to help reduce risk of aggressive behavior  
• Interventions when kids behave aggressively at church
• Processing critical incidents with staff, volunteers and parents
• What to do when the risk of aggressive behavior precludes kids from attending church

We’ll be kicking off the new teaching series on Sunday, September 11. Expect some guest bloggers, along with links to great resources.

We’re looking forward to meeting lots of old and new friends on September 15-17 at Cedarville University when several team members speak at the 2011 Bioethics Conference and Through The Roof Summit, co-sponsored by Joni and Friends. Our good friends Joe and Cindi Ferrini will be speaking, along with Nella Uitvlugt from Friendship Ministries. Joni Earickson Tada is the featured speaker. Click here for info on registration.

We’re hoping to announce dates in the next week or two for the next JAM (Jumpstart All-Inclusive Ministry) Leadership Training Session, which will be held in Cleveland later this fall. We’ll also be announcing dates and locations for JAM Sessions in the first quarter of 2012 in the near future.

Finally, we’re looking forward to having you and your friends join us from November 3-5 for Inclusion Fusion, our first Annual Special Needs Ministry Web Summit, hosted in Partnership with the folks from Pajama Conference. We’re extremely pleased with the lineup of leaders and teachers who have committed to Inclusion Fusion, many of whom you’ll meet here as guest bloggers in September and October. We’re also very pleased that the conference is being made available (like all Key Ministry services) free of charge. Click here to register.

We’re looking forward to a fruitful and rewarding Fall! OH-IO!