2024 YETI Conference

YETI | Youth Effectively Transitioning to Independence. YETI promotes confidence and supports teens with bleeding disorders aged 14-20, as they transition into independence. YETI, one of the strongest programs in the world of bleeding disorders across the US, is an experiential train-the-trainer weekend conference created by PNWBD. Teen programs that effectively address topics around successful transitions into young adulthood can be a wonderful way to build community, increase parent, teen and young adult engagement with your chapter, and get medically essential information to “stick.” But how do we build more than just an event here and there? How do we get teens to come? How do we keep them coming back and eventually transition them into giving back?

The YETI conference was dreamt up and designed by people who believe in the positive impact of quality youth programming, and this immersive weekend workshop will put you directly into the types of experiences that we know result in high impact teen events. Beyond that, bleeding disorder organizations will learn to build a map of how events become a program, and how a program can become a powerful driver of chapter and hemophilia treatment center (HTC) engagement. YETI encourages teens to become leaders at their local organization and to be willing to contribute to both the design and creation of future teen programs!

YETI also provides for the beginnings of a national network of teens, aged 14 – 20. Not only is YETI about building lifetime connections and friendships, but it also provides the chance for teens to build relationships across state borders. Currently, there is no real opportunity for teens to gather and develop relationships across state borders. Organizations throughout the US are doing some teen programming but very little is done outside of their HTC or chapter boundaries. The young participants will experience an Oregon teen weekend as a part of the Oregon Teen PEAK (Providing Education, Advocacy and Kinship) program.

As always, we encourage each location to have 3 participants:

• An organization representative (volunteer, organization staff, etc.)
• An HTC representative
• A teen from the community

In order to fully participate in the trainings and activities, we strongly encourage that an individual from each category (organization staff, HTC staff, teen) attend YETI. We are working hard to maintain the close knit and highly engaging feel we have built over the past few years. If your location would like to have more than 3 individuals participate, please contact us at [email protected]. There may be space after all registrations are complete.

YETI promotes confidence and supports teens with bleeding disorders aged 14-20, as they transition into independence.

One teen member, age (14-20, not yet 21) is welcome to attend from each organization. The incoming teens will join the teens of Oregon for a fun-filled weekend! It is preferred that the participating teen be a prominent leader in the local organization and be willing to contribute to the design and creation of teen programs in the future.

Are we required to have three people from our area attend YETI or can we attend with fewer?

The YETI sponsors would like to have at least a volunteer from the bleeding disorder organization and a member of the HTC staff attend together. The teen is an optional attendee but is very useful to have when planning events locally.

What if we can’t get someone from the HTC to attend with us, does that keep us from participating?

Contact PNWBD to discuss the options available. The short answer is that PNWBD has worked with many locations in the past who did not have a member of their HTC on the team. You can email PNWBD at [email protected] to discuss the options.

Is every area required to have a teen attend?

No, the teen is the bonus attendee. It is strongly encouraged but not required. The local organization is responsible for the cost of the teen flights to and from Portland, OR for the YETI Conference.

What is the cost to attend YETI?

Attending YETI is FREE! With one exception – PNWBD asks that the locations bringing a teen pay for the airfare for the teen to attend. PNWBD asks that the local organizations purchase the airfare for those attending and then be reimbursed after the attendees arrive to YETI. PNWBD will not reimburse any airfare for people who cancel or do not attend YETI, no matter the reason for not attending. Receipts for all expenses are required for reimbursement.

What are the covered costs for YETI?

PNWBD will reimburse airfare or mileage, if within driving distance, baggage costs to and from Portland, and flight insurance, if purchased. Receipts are required for all reimbursements.

What ages are accepted as teen attendees?

PNWBD encourages the teen attendees to be between 16 and not yet 21, however, 18 – 21 years old is much better for independent travel. If teens are younger than 18 we ask that one of the attendees accompany the teen during travel.

Does it have to be an employee of the local bleeding disorder organization or can it be a volunteer?

It is the choice of the local organization as to who participates in YETI. PNWBD suggests that it be someone who is interested in teen programming, plans to remain connected with the organization for many years and will represent the organization well at YETI.

Have more questions? Contact Madonna at, [email protected].