Workshop A (Tuesday, July 19, 10:30 am – 12 pm)
A1 – Special Needs of Multiracial Families
Patricia Harrison-Monroe, PhD, AZ Counseling & Psychological Services LLC; Fred Wiggins, PhD, Peacemakers Christian Family Counseling LLC
Multiracial families, although increasingly more common, continue to face specific challenges. Unique types of discrimination and micro-aggressions, such negative societal reactions, can have a significant emotional impact on both parents and children. This presentation will review strategies to address the psychological stressors some family members may face and interventions to support them as they celebrate their unique family.
A2 – Hope and Healing in the High-Risk Family (Part 1)
Kenny E. Miller, ACSW, LCSW, Clinical Social Worker, private practice
(Please note: This is Part 1 of a two-part workshop. Participants who sign up for this workshop must also sign up for B17.)
This workshop will offer a simple model for understanding the roots of abusive and neglectful behavior in the high-risk parent and provide strategies for addressing the unmet developmental needs of these families. The latest Attachment Theory research shows that just one relationship can change the course of development for parents and children.
A3 – Collaborative Permanency
Rita Wright, LMSW, Northern Arizona University, Child Welfare Training Project; Kelly Brown, LCSW, Child and Family Support Services
Traditional roles of behavioral health and child welfare agencies have often led to battles over funding, placement, and treatment modalities. The number of children in out-of-home care in Arizona is at a record high, and the balance of ensuring child safety and treating trauma and mental health issues can create cross-system challenges. What outcomes are possible when we stop saying “no” and start asking “what would it take”? This presentation seeks to engage in collaborative problem-solving to achieve permanency and promote successful outcomes for children in care.
A4 – Strengthening Families Protective Factors 101
Jannelle Radoccia, Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest
Strong families start with strong parents. Keeping parents strong reduces the likelihood of child abuse and neglect. In this workshop, participants will learn about building strong families and keeping their own family strong through the five Strengthening Families Protective Factors. This interactive session will spark ideas, identify resources and empower professionals to help integrate these five factors into their life and work.
A5 – Structured Supervision
Francie Julien-Chinn, MSW, and Karin Kline, MSW, Arizona State University Center for Child Well-Being
This workshop introduces strategies to recognize how structured supervision supports decision-making surrounding safety, well-being and permanency outcomes for children and families involved in the child welfare system. Participants will examine critical thinking, engagement strategies and structure for clinical supervision. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to practice their clinical supervision skills through case examples.
A6 – Child Abuse & Bullying Coordinated Community Response
Commander David LeVoy, Chandler Police Department; Jessica Nicely and Katelyn Niemiec, Winged Hope Family Advocacy Foundation; Detective James Tobin, Prescott Valley Police Department
Learn about the link between child abuse and bullying, as well as practical ways for service providers, teachers, parents, law enforcement and the community at large to recognize and combat bullying. Special focus will be placed on understanding the role of law enforcement in bullying prevention and recognizing the link between child abuse/family violence and bullying. Attention will be given to the prevalence of school bullying amongst foster children. Become an expert on learning the signs and developing a coordinated approach to tackling bullying in your home and community.
A7 – Darkness to Light: Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Michelle Simmons, IMH-E (I), North Country HealthCare
Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children raises awareness of the prevalence and consequences of child sexual abuse by educating adults about the steps they can take to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to the reality of child sexual abuse. This is an evidence-based program that will help strengthen your work, community and the families you serve.
A8 – Maternal Mental Health: A Key Factor in Baby Health
Lucia Ciciolla, PhD, Carole Sheehan, RN, and DeAnn Davies, MS, CLC, C-IPMH, Postpartum Support International Arizona
Maternal mental wellness is the leading protective factor for the health, development and safety of the fetus, infant and child. While tools to identify risk factors as well as protective intervention options exist, they are underutilized. This workshop will provide education about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMADs), the impact on pregnancy and postpartum outcomes, and skills to educate families about PMADs and provide support to at-risk mothers.
A9 – Child Abuse Advocacy in an Election Year
Bahney Dedolph, MA, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers
You might have heard there’s an election coming up. Do you know what you can and cannot do as someone working in a nonprofit or governmental agency? Come learn how to get involved as a private citizen to advocate for vulnerable families, build lasting relationships with candidates, and ensure your voice is heard!
A10 – Fostering Sustainable Connections
Kerri Rittschof, PhD, and Victoria Stevens, MEd, Department of Child Safety
Arizona is joining a national movement with other states that are working to ensure improved outcomes for children. Fostering Sustainable Connections (FSC) was developed by DCS because positive outcomes are more likely to occur when children in out-of-home care are placed in safe family environments. Participants will learn how FSC will improve family/kinship placements and enhance the availability of in-home reunification, placement stabilization and other needed services.
A11 – Preventing Generation Next
Jon H. McCaine, PhD, The Lighthouse High-Risk Youth Program, Bayless Health Care
This workshop will address the link between the abuse of children in early-stage development with subsequent risks for dating violence and adulthood relationship violence. This intervention strategy for high-risk adolescents addresses entitlement beliefs and relationship insecurities while promoting emotional responsibility as an alternative to anger management approaches that may be ineffective for emotionally explosive and reactive individuals.
A12 – Is it Possible to Generate New Funding Through Analysis of Existing Work?
Andrea Hightower, MFHD, Arizona State University Center for Child Well-Being
ASU, in collaboration with DCS and the Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, has conducted a statewide scan of training being delivered by over 100 human service organizations. This study begins to answer the question, “Is Arizona self-funding training activities that may be eligible for federal funding?” Come hear the possibilities that exist for Arizona to spend less of its own funding on current programs and initiatives if we work together to maximize federal Title IV-E funding allowances. Learn about the model of partnership currently in place between ASU and DCS which has decreased overall program costs by tapping in to Title IV-E. Let’s brainstorm as to how the broader community might also benefit.
A13 – Adverse Childhood Experiences in Arizona: State of the State
Marcia Stanton, MSW, Phoenix Children’s Hospital
In our state and across the U.S., communities are working to understand the incidence and reduce the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). This session will share data on ACEs in Arizona children and adults, as well as information on new local initiatives and opportunities to get involved. Participants will be invited to share what’s happening in their local communities, and new and noteworthy trends and resources around the nation will be highlighted.
A14 – Intimate Partner Violence
Laura Karnitschnig, DNP, RN, CPNP, Northern Arizona University School of Nursing
In the United States, intimate partner violence (IPV) affects approximately one in three women and one in four men during their lifetimes. It is estimated that 15.5 million children in the U.S. are exposed to violence in the home annually. Exposure to IPV has been linked to negative physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health effects. This workshop discusses the impacts of intimate partner violence on individuals and children. Participants will learn the importance of screening for family violence, how to screen, what makes a screen positive, and what to do when a positive screen is obtained.
A15 – Substance-Exposed Newborns and the Risk of Child Abuse
Sara Rumann, MA, Arizona Department of Health Services; Tracy Sloat, RN, MN, Maricopa County Department of Public Health
Substance-abusing mothers often continue to use substances during their pregnancies, resulting in possible substance-exposed newborns (SENs) and children. Infants and children that have been exposed are at higher risk for child abuse. The impact on children’s health, behavioral health and development is life-altering for the child and family and may result in learning disabilities and birth defects.
A16 – Making it Happen Together: Improving Child Welfare Outcomes through the Maricopa County Safe Reduction Initiative
Nicole Roskens, MC, LPC, Cradle to Crayons; Susan Hallett, Maricopa County Juvenile Court; Hon. Colleen McNally, Maricopa County Juvenile Court; Lela Wendell, Department of Child Safety
Participants will learn about the Safe Reduction Initiative, a collaborative between the Maricopa County Juvenile Court and DCS to bring together multi-system leaders to safely reduce the number of children in care. The initiative is founded on the belief that children’s interests are best served when they remain safely in the care of their parents; foster care and court oversight are responses to imminent danger and NOT long-term solutions; expedient permanency is key to ensuring successful outcomes for children; and children and families are safer and healthier when the community around them is strengthened.