Divorce changes the structure(s) in and around your family - and while it changes many things for your kids, it doesn't have to change everything. We invite you to join us, alongside 40 SOULs, for an insightful, even transformational weekend (so we've been told over the past 30 years.) The retreat is designed for parents, grandparents, and other adults who care and are concerned about children and youth who are going through divorce.
We are looking forward to having you join us for a potentially "web-changing" weekend with Integrative Youth Development instructors Derek Peterson and Jen O'Brien-Rojo. They've been working together for 21 years, and they have prepared a special experience for each of you, and all of you.
We know that most people learn best within a supportive environment. We do that very well.
Parts are the ROYGBIV, Full-Color Web of Support metrics and measures.
Putting it all together so you can see in Full Color too.
Forty-five years of practical, hands-on, research, evaluation, and program delivery with measured results has earned us widespread recognition that what we offer matters, and it matters a great deal. They say that it offers a coherent way to make sense of the whole world around and within the youth and their carers.
We have instruments that both expand and deepen adult and youth understanding and act upon the world within themselves, and the world that surrounds them. We have found that when the world around a child or teen "makes sense," they can act upon their worlds and make the adjustments that allow them to be resilient.
Derek Peterson and Jen O'Brien-Rojo have mastered the art and processes of adult and youth learning. Combined, they have given over 3000 trainings, around the world, in the past 45 years. They have been college faculty, taught in classrooms, and both have made large impacts with teaching outside of academia, in every type of community setting, through workshops, seminars, and retreats.
Because we have 40 years of quality, meaningful work in youth development, we feel Called to intentionally support more children and youth in the reweaving of their Full Color Web of Support in times of divorce. In working with parents and other adults through the years, a common observation was "I wish I knew about the Web of Support when I was going through divorce."
Some previously asked questions.
The retreat is designed specifically for adults. Children will not be in attendance to ensure a focused and reflective experience for participants. However, we plan for a follow-up retreat for youth and adults together.
Yes, follow-up WebUP-inars will be offered virtually so you can continue engaging with the material and community after the retreat.
Absolutely! We encourage multiple caring adults (Anchors) in a child’s life to attend together to strengthen their shared web of support. Each adult will need to register separately.
Yes, confidentiality is a key part of creating a safe space. What is shared in the retreat stays in the retreat.
The full tuition for the retreat is $500 per participant, which covers all sessions, materials, and meals during the retreat. If you can not afford the retreat at this time, we will offer "value for value" exchanges. For more information, contact us.
Bring a sleeping bag or twin bedding (and a pillow), toiletries, comfortable clothing, a journal or notebook, and any personal items you need. We’ll provide all program materials.
No, the retreat is inclusive and welcoming to individuals of all beliefs, backgrounds, and identities. We are using the property of Mt Cross Ministries but the retreat is not affiliated.
Yes. We PROMISE. The retreat is grounded in science-based, developmentally appropriate strategies that are relevant, real, and ready to apply at home
Unfortunately, childcare is not provided. The retreat is designed for adults only.
Yes! Anyone invested in the well-being of children—parents, relatives, educators, mentors—is welcome to attend.
Absolutely. The content is especially relevant for families navigating complexity, and co-parents are welcome to attend together or separately.
Refunds (minus $125 nonrefundable deposit) are available if cancellation is made within 21 days prior to the event. After that, fees may be credited toward a future retreat.
What sets Integrative Youth Development (IYD) apart from other youth development theories, frameworks, programs, and interventions is its consilient, youth-centered, and deeply ecological approach—one that has been steadily developed over 40 years of asking the same core question: What do young people need to thrive?
Unlike many models that remain confined to theory or fill 3-ring binders on shelves, IYD is living, breathing, and field-driven, designed to be directly meaningful to youth themselves. It integrates findings from complex adaptive systems, educational psychology, sociology, developmental neuroscience, and community-based practice into a coherent, practical framework.
IYD stands out because it doesn’t merely work around young people—it works with them, in the context of the ever-shifting environments they must navigate: schools, communities, families, and digital spaces. It measures love and support, translating them into visible, actionable supports—such as adult anchors and protective factors—embedded in what we call a Web of Support.
IYD doesn’t treat youth development as a linear checklist—it treats it as a living system, and guides adults in how to weave a stronger, more resilient ecology around each young person, one full of connection, affirmation, opportunity, and growth.
“I’ve been to a lot of workshops over the years, but nothing has moved me like this. It blended heart, science, and practicality in a way that changed how I live, not just how I parent. Not only did I gain insight into my child’s world, but I gained a language for my own needs. The retreat helped me name what matters most and take action in small, powerful ways. I am ready for the next one. I want more of this.
Anchoring Adult
“The Shifting Families Retreat gave me immediate tools that I began using with my kids the same day I got home — and they worked. But even more, it gave me clarity and hope that real, sustainable change is possible.”
Father
“I feel called to become a certified educator in this work because it’s simply too good to keep to myself. Every family, every youth programs, congregation needs this information. It was unlike any training I’ve attended — it touched the deepest parts of me while giving me tools I could use immediately. I left feeling renewed, focused, and connected. The retreat reminded me that the goal isn’t just to raise resilient kids — it’s to become resilient people ourselves. It reframed everything I thought I knew about youth development.”
Anchoring Adult
“The retreat was filled with emotional depth and practical wisdom that I’ve already integrated into my daily life. It lit a fire in me to keep building my web and to help others build theirs. It felt like the missing link in all the self-help and parenting books I’ve read. This wasn’t just a retreat — it was a turning point in how I understand relationships, community, and myself.”
Mother
