March 24 - 27, 2025

Boston, MA

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Agenda

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Agenda

time iconMarch 24, 2025 09:00 am to
09:00 am

Families Will Do Well if They Can; If They Can’t We Need to Figure Out Why, so We Can Help: Strengthening Family Relationships by Redesigning Family Time When Children Are in Out-Of-Home Care

Quality family time, commonly called family contact or visitation, is highly valued by children and families separated by the out-of-home care system. Research shows that families and children want and need to spend fun, relaxed, and natural time together to maintain and strengthen their relationships and that they find conventional supervision difficult. Family and child participation in child protection processes, including family time, is also linked to better outcomes in the research literature. Frequent and high-quality family time is linked to reunification. However, day-to-day practice often delivers surveillance-oriented family time processes lacking in participation opportunities, which may not feel safe, may be infrequent and rigid, and may not aid reunification.

speaker headshot Tracey Ashton
Life Without Barriers
speaker headshot Rachael Dean
Life Without Barriers
speaker headshot Julie Wood
Life Without Barriers
time iconMarch 24, 2025 09:00 am to
09:00 am

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Adolescence

We are seeing high rates of children who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol, drugs and high levels of in-utero stress which can have a significant impact on the individual’s brain development. Although Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) are twice as common as autism, this disorder often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Children, adolescents and adults with an FASD have invisible brain injuries and typical parenting, teaching and therapeutic strategies are often ineffective. Current research shows that one out of twenty children in the United States have a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder but the majority of children living with FASD are misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. Missing this diagnosis can be very serious as many interventions will not work with this individuals with this brain injury. Many children with an undiagnosed and/or unsupported FASD diagnosis, are the ones sleeping in offices, being bounced around from placement to placement, and experiencing further trauma. It is vital that our systems of care start to recognize, diagnosis and properly treat and support these young people so they are able to find permanency and stability.

speaker headshot Barb Clark
Families Rising
time iconMarch 24, 2025 09:00 am to
09:00 am

Child and youth in Care New Holistic Outcome Measure Evaluation Tool

Grounded in 5 theories and models of holistic interventions such as (1) Biopsychosocial model, (2) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, (3) Circle of Courage, (4) Trauma informed Care practice and CARE model, and (5) Indigenous Medicine Wheel,and much more, the Shema’s Outcome Measure & Evaluation (SOME-CY®) [‘some-see-why’] biopsychosocial metric was created in order to help professionals and caregivers involved with children and youth in residential care or alike, to holistically respond to young people’s needs.

speaker headshot Claude Shema
Psych Clinics
time iconMarch 24, 2025 09:00 am to
09:00 am

Adoption Competency: An Essential Element in Meeting Mental Health Needs

Adopted children and youth have consistently been found to be overrepresented in residential treatment populations. The most recent study found they represented about 30 percent of the population and, although similar to their non-adopted peers in a range of clinical symptoms (e.g., anxiety, depression, mood swings), they are more likely to exhibit attention problems, impulsivity, and oppositional behaviors. They are also more likely to manifest trauma symptoms, emotional insecurity, identity issues, fear of rejection, and problems with empathy. The elevated and complex needs of this population are not surprising given the fact that most adoptions in the U.S. are currently from foster care.

As residential treatment programs have shifted focus to concern with longer-term support for parent-child attachment and strengthening the development of personality and identity, there is some evidence that clinical staff are receiving training in adoption-related topics and are becoming more likely to ask about adoptive history and to focus more on trauma and attachment. The establishment of a residential treatment program in Utah exclusively for adopted teens is noteworthy. While these are all trends in the right direction, meeting the needs requires program staff to have a more comprehensive foundational understanding of a broad range of issues associated with adoption – to become adoption competent.

speaker headshot Leslie Wright, LCSW
CASE
speaker headshot Anne Johnson Atkinson
Policy Works, Ltd.
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In-Person poster presentations will be Monday, March 24 from 5-7pm. Posters can also be viewed virtually in the poster hall.

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00:00:00

Fostering Wellness: Improving the quality of life for Child Welfare Professionals by addressing the causation, effects and impact of workplace burnout

speaker headshot Meagan Washington-Sims, EdD
Governors State University
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00:00:00

A Community-Based Research Approach to Develop Interventions for Direct Service Provider Burn Out

speaker headshot Megan Quarmley, PhD
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
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00:00:00

From Trauma to Triumph: Dissolving Trauma Blocker Preventing Growth

speaker headshot Olivia West Al-Mahdi, PhD, LPC
Out of Box Counseling, Coaching and Consulting
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00:00:00

Got OT?

speaker headshot Taylor Clark
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
speaker headshot Taylor Mayer, PhD, LCPC
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
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00:00:00

Integrating Trauma-Informed Care into Residential Programs: Lessons Learned from Using TIOA and ARTIC Assessments to Better Support High-Risk Youth

speaker headshot Ana Maria Ortiz
Sycamores
speaker headshot Andreina Cordova, MDP
Sycamores
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00:00:00

A Journey Driven by Youth for Individualized Treatment in Care

speaker headshot Avery Schweitzer
Tanager
speaker headshot Aaron Woodwick
Tanager
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00:00:00

Mission Driven Data: Looking at Data to Evaluate Efficacy and Quality

speaker headshot Juletta Gilge, LCPC
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
speaker headshot Tra Williams, M.Ed., MSN, RN
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
speaker headshot Taylor Mayer, PhD, LCPC
Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch
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00:00:00

Utilizing a Treatment Progress Checklist to Improve Youth Treatment Outcomes in Residential Care

speaker headshot Alison Howard, LIMHP
Boys Town
speaker headshot Lori Scharff, LICSW
Boys Town
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00:00:00

Model Implementation and Sustainability: Merging Innovative Practice into Established Culture

speaker headshot Mike Kaelin, MS
Pressley Ridge
speaker headshot Jennifer Benner, LCSW-C
Pressley Ridge
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00:00:00

Mitigating Burnout and Building Resilience Among Staff in High Needs Educational Settings

speaker headshot Cheryl White, MSM, EdS
The League School for Austism
speaker headshot Stephanie Steen, LICSW
The League School for Autism
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00:00:00

Optimizing the Implementation and Sustainability of Evidence-Based Practices in Residential and Community-Based Settings: Enhancing Training and Evaluation Mechanisms

speaker headshot Melanie Grace Albright, PhD
Think:Kids - MA General Hospital
speaker headshot Elizabeth Buchholz, MSN
Think:Kids - MA General Hospital
speaker headshot Hallie Carpenter, EdS
Think:Kids - MA General Hospital
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Pre-Conference

time iconMarch 24, 2025 10:00 am to
06:00 pm

The Transformative Power of Restorative Circles

In-Person ONLY Session

Dive into Restorative Circle practice, which has existed in Indigenous communities around the globe for centuries. Circle practice has grown in popularity within school settings, the criminal legal system, and human services to empower youth voice and find healing responses to harm.  The Home for Little Wanderers has incorporated Circle practice within staffing teams, with youth in out-home-home placement, and with families at all levels of community-based care.  Circle practice can help youth who have experienced powerlessness in the context of trauma to find their voice, to support staff in developing deeper connections, and to review critical incidents that occur within the community. It allows us to see each other’s full humanity, as complex human beings, not just as co-workers or client/staff.  Circle practice can be a key component in supporting trauma informed care.

This training will take place in Circle.  Through storytelling, participants will experience the transformative power of being deeply listened to, and co-creating spaces for learning across difference, healing past harm and preventing future harm.  Participants will leave with greater familiarity with Circle practice and with tools to incorporate Circle practice within their own organizations.

speaker headshot Elizabeth Woodruff, LICSW
The Home
speaker headshot Romeissa Selmane, MS, OTR/L
The Home
speaker headshot Naomi Thompson, JD
The Home
speaker headshot Blanca Valentin, LMHC
The Home
time iconMarch 24, 2025 01:00 pm to
05:00 pm

The Role of Thinking and Feeling in Solving Social Problems

In-Person ONLY Session

Helping youth solve problems with each other provides the perfect opportunity to practice and build critical social emotional skills. Interpersonal problem solving requires both thinking and feeling to be successful. Emotion skills help us recognize and understand our own and others’ emotions and to strategize accordingly. Our thinking skills help us to plan and solve difficult problems. Unfortunately, thinking and feeling are often seen as being in opposition to each other. But in reality, they work hand-in-hand. In this workshop, Dr. Marc Brackett (Founder and Director of the Yale Center Emotional Intelligence and Professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University) and Dr. J. Stuart Ablon (Founder and Director of Think:Kids in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Thomas G. Stemberg Endowed Chair in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School) will show how their combined approaches to thinking and feeling work together to enhance problem solving and decision making

speaker headshot Stuart Ablon, PhD
Think:Kids
speaker headshot Marc Brackett, PhD
Think:Kids
time iconMarch 24, 2025 01:00 pm to
05:00 pm

Working as a Family Peer Support Specialist; the Voice of Lived Experience

In-Person ONLY Session

Increasing numbers of residential programs are hiring family peer support specialists, known by various titles (Family Peer Advocate, Family Partner, etc.).  For the past two years ACRC has hosted a preconference workshop on hiring family members with the lived experience of having been a parent or caregiver of a youth who was in a residential program.  Over the same period, the Building Bridges Initiative has delivered a Family Partner Project through which eight residential programs have been supported in taking the transformational step of hiring a family partner, with another project planned for this year having attracted eight agency applicants in the first few days after its announcement.  Research into family engagement highly prioritizes parent peer support to bridge the gap between families and the program. The practice, while still definitively innovative in implementation, is taking hold.

This preconference four hour workshop will go deeper than those of the previous two years.  

speaker headshot Bob Lieberman, MA, LPC
Lieberman Group Inc.
speaker headshot Nancy Pierce-Craig
ACRC Consultant
time iconMarch 24, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Public Policy Town Hall

In-Person ONLY Session

ACRC’s Chief Policy & Practice Advisor and ACRC’s Public Policy Committee Chairs will guide us through the current, yet ever changing, public policy landscape and how it intersects and affects the work you do. This will be an interactive event where we will share critical information, learn from each other, answer questions, and discuss opportunities for policy solutions to support access to the right care at the right time for children, youth, and families. Enter with curiosity and leave inspired to take action.

speaker headshot Lisette Burton, JD
ACRC
time iconMarch 24, 2025 05:00 pm to
07:00 pm

Poster Session

For details, please click on the Posters tab at the top of the agenda.

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Keynote

time iconMarch 25, 2025 09:00 am to
11:30 am

Shared Family Care: A Wholistic Approach to Keeping Families Together

Shared Family Care places whole families together in supportive out-of-home settings, including foster families and residential cottages or campuses. By keeping the family together, the trauma of separation is avoided, and the family unit can benefit from building on their strengths. This session will introduce you to programs around the world that are using this innovative model to support children and families. We will describe the who, what, when, and how, as well as some preliminary outcomes that suggest this approach has promise in effectively working with children and families.

speaker headshot Rick Barth, PhD, MSW
University of Maryland Balitmore
speaker headshot Bethany Lee, PhD, MSW
University of Maryland Baltimore
speaker headshot Annemiek Harder
Erasmus University Rotterdam
speaker headshot Laura Palareti, PhD
University of Bologna
time iconMarch 25, 2025 09:00 am to
11:30 am

Walking Together

Brenda's journey from being part of the stolen generation to becoming an Author, Speaker, Film Director and Indigenous Director of Learning Circle Australia is an inspiring testament to the power of healing and reconciliation.

From the moment Brenda was reunited with her birth family, she embarked on a mission to bridge the gap between her two families and her Aboriginal heritage. Her remarkable story, as eloquently portrayed in her debut book and Netflix documentary feature film, "The Last Daughter," encapsulates heartbreak, love, forgiveness, hope and bringing the Country together.

Brenda believes that healing is hidden in the past. She unlocks these secrets and brings Indigenous wisdom to today's modern world.

Brenda's path is not just Australian—it resonates internationally. Her empathetic and genuine voice unites people across colour, race, and origin, embodying her belief that healed individuals foster healing in others. Brenda's journey stands as a testament that the teacher comes when the pupil is ready—and this is the inspiring story the world has been waiting for.

speaker headshot Aunty Brenda Matthews

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Issues Lunch

To view all Issues Lunches, go to the Issues Lunches tab at the top of the agenda.

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Workshop Session A

time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Creating a Workforce with Compassion Resilience and Well-being

An estimated 50% of workers experience burnout or warning signs of future burnout and compassion fatigue. often falling victim to the myth that it’s simply part of the job. All leaders need a working knowledge of burnout and secondary trauma, and a framework of well-being and resilience to guide organizational practices during onboarding, supervision, team management, and even crisis.

speaker headshot Jennie Null, LMFT
Tanager
speaker headshot Emma Harding, LMFT
Tanager
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Vision to Practice: Transformative Leadership

Three experienced leaders share strategies to build vibrant organizations through innovation, creativity, and quality outcomes. This workshop focuses on fostering cultures and practices that prioritize the well-being of children, families, and staff for lasting impact.

speaker headshot George Dermody
Children's Home of Wyoming Conference
speaker headshot Matthew Madaus, LCSW
Behavioral Health Collaborative of Almeda County
speaker headshot Bill Powers
Retired CEO
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

“We Cried Together”: Exploring Turnover Decisions, Retention Decisions, and Other Lived Experiences of the Majority-Female Child Welfare Workforce

We’ll critically examine the challenges confronting the predominantly female child welfare workforce. Participants will engage with qualitative research on burnout and vicarious trauma in this professional group, emphasizing the role of camaraderie amongst women in influencing turnover and retention. Let’s further explore strategies for enhancing well-being and calling for systemic change for improved outcomes.

speaker headshot Courtney Rovere, PhD, LCSW, LICSW
Children's Home of Poughkeepsie
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Families Supporting Teens (FaST): Keeping Teens in Homes Longer!

Why do many teens bounce from placement to placement at exactly the time when they are most in need of stability and support?  FaST is an intervention helping to improve the well-being of foster youth by creating a stable home environment.

speaker headshot Jenisette Perez
Children's Village
speaker headshot Rose McCray, MSW
Children's Village
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Aligning Innovation and Expertise - Innovation and Consilience: Rethinking What We Have Always Known

If we interpret 'behaviour' as a 'signal' instead of a 'symptom' where does it lead us in terms of underlying the holistic needs of children. This interactive workshop will provid e us with a space to explore the question, 'what are the universal truths that emerge when we consider our contemporary thinking and the knowledge and wisdom that has prevailed through the ages'?

speaker headshot John M Digney, PhD
TUSLA Child and Family Agency
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

A Multidisciplinary Approach to Meeting the Distinct Needs and Challenges of Special Populations in Our Communities: Migrant Children

The U.S. is home to 3.3 million child migrants, including nearly 130,000 unaccompanied children arrived in 2022 alone. In this session, ACRC members will hear from Endeavors’ leadership about improving outcomes for the care of migrant children and strategies to enhance cultural competence and family-focused treatment through practical insights and partnerships for migrant children.

speaker headshot Emily Gray, LCSW
Endeavors
speaker headshot Alejandro Martinez, LMSW
Endeavors
speaker headshot Ileana Rodriguez
Endeavors
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

From Treating the “Too Acute” to Supporting Independence: Using an internal continuum of care with Adolescent Girls in Residential Care

This workshop will follow one agency’s experience creating an internal continuum of care to address the varying levels of acuity student’s experience during treatment. The role of suicide/self harm risk assessment and safety planning, use of gender-responsive and trauma-informed practices, and individualized community readiness skill development will be discussed.

speaker headshot Melissa Orazio, LMHC
Hillcrest Educational Centers
speaker headshot Valerie Williams, LICSW
Hillcrest Educational Centers
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Translating Youth and Family Values into Meaningful Outcome Measures

Pressley Ridge is in the midst of re-designing what are communicated as core organizational outcomes to more closely reflect the core values of the youth and families that we serve.  We share how data was collected and synthesized across multiple service-types to ultimately arrive at youth and family-led outcome measures.

speaker headshot April Wall-Parker
Pressley Ridge
speaker headshot Michael Valenti, PhD
Pressley Ridge
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Improving Safety and Quality by Supportively Learning from Serious Incidents with the Safe Systems Improvement Tool

Residential settings are high-risk, high-consequence, interdependent, complex care settings. A Safety Culture is a team-based workplace culture orienting professionals toward psychologically safe practices focused on learning and systems improvement, fostering a robust system that adopts practices consistent with safety science and implementation science to achieve its goals and help systems to better contain risk and maximize client safety.

speaker headshot Tiffany Lindsey, EdD, LPC/MHSP
University of Kentucky
speaker headshot Scott Fairhurst, PhD
Pacific Clinics
speaker headshot Margaret McGladrey, PhD
University of Kentucky
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Caregivers’ Voices on Juvenile Justice in Zimbabwe

The presentation exposes participants to experiences of children in conflict with the law in Zimbabwe, as depicted by their caregivers’ voices. To do so, the presenters will discuss study findings from their research titled, ‘An exploration of the phenomenon of children in conflict with the law in Highfield, Harare, Zimbabwe.’

speaker headshot Isheanotida Makosa
Midlands State University
speaker headshot Noel Garikai Muridzo
Midlands State University
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

A Fireside Chat with the Elders: Lessons Learned in Caring for Vulnerable Children and Families

Seasoned child care professionals with extensive experience in therapeutic residential care will discuss significant changes during their careers that have impacted the field. With participants we will collectively explore key success factors for the future of this critical work. We extend a special invitation to other ‘Elders’ to join us.

speaker headshot Martha J Holden
Cornell University
speaker headshot Floyd Alwon, EdD
Retired
speaker headshot Frank Delano, LMSW
Professional Package Consulting
speaker headshot Jack C Holden, PhD
Cornell University
speaker headshot Okpara Rice
Tanager
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Building and Sustaining a Family Peer Support Specialist Program on Your Campus: Induction through Sustainable Supervision

LaSalle School and Building Bridges FPSS’s will come together, discussing how to begin, establish and sustain a Family Peer Support Program on campus.  Our focus will be on building blocks to create the program as well as the necessary steps and supervision to sustain the program on your campuses.

speaker headshot Erin Flood, LCSW
LaSalle School
speaker headshot Michelle Smith-Carrigan, FPA
LaSalle School
speaker headshot Paulette Mader, MSN
Rutgers University
speaker headshot Sandy Heine
Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board
speaker headshot Shannon Crossbear
Strongheart Resource Development
time iconMarch 25, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

A Solution in Every Story: Proactive Change through Adaptive Challenges

Using prepared vignettes and incorporating participant contributions, this workshop will begin by conducting an abridged root cause analysis to explore several complex issues organizations commonly experience (e.g. funding shortages, staffing challenges, complex service coordination, etc.). We will brainstorm potential sources of data, as well as data collection methods, and a list of individuals whose expertise and experience would be beneficial to our efforts addressing the complex issue in question.

speaker headshot Zachary McElgunn
Proven Quality Practices
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Workshop Session B

time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Neurodiversity: The Value of Leadership and Organizational Culture

Consistent with conventional views of disability as an impairment, leadership discussions tend to approach neurodiverse clients and employees as special cases rather than as a population that supports organizational growth. Join us for practical evidence and strategies surrounding the value of creating a neuroinclusive organizational culture.

speaker headshot Lindsay Wanger, MOT, OTR
League School for Autism
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Learning from the Lived-Experience of Care-Experienced Social Workers

The development of Independent Living Skills (ILS) during the transition from Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) is of great importance to support post-OOHC outcomes. This session explores learning from care-experienced social workers, providing unique insights about the care system and its priorities, particularly in relation to the concepts of independence and interdependence.

speaker headshot Michael Starr
Northumbria University
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

New Perspectives on Sustaining Helping Professionals

No doubt vicarious trauma can influence the treater’s world view, sense of safety and hope, and energy and enthusiasm for our work. Discussing myths of VT, skills to enhance and bring joy into our work, and developing radical compassion, we’ll also explore the assumption that trauma encounters are inherently fatiguing, rather the cure for exhaustion may not be rest, but wholeheartedness.

speaker headshot Patricia Wilcox, MSW, LCSW
Klingberg Family Centers
speaker headshot Peggy Kelly, MS, LPC
Youth Home Inc.
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Opportunities for Supporting Justice Involved Youth in Community

OJJDP, through a Continuum of Care in Community, is supporting communities in identifying strengths and gaps in their continuum to help ensure comprehensive supports for vulnerable and high-risk children. This presentation will focus primarily on the opportunities to support young people returning from an out of home placement back home, and the strategies for wholistic support of children.

speaker headshot Marcy Mistrett
Office of Juvenile & Delinquency Prevention
speaker headshot Naomi Smoot, JD
Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
speaker headshot Julie Herr
Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Building Resilient Communities: Addressing the Social Determinants of Youth Well-Being

Addressing social determinants of health such as economic stability, education, and healthcare access can improve the well-being of young people, especially in vulnerable communities. This session will focus on community-driven, cross-sector strategies that involve youth voices and promote equity to build resilient environments that support the development of all young people.

speaker headshot Tekoah Boatner, HS-BCP, CNP
Youth Oasis
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Adoption after 16?: Collaborative Approaches to Permanency for Transitional Aged Youth and Young Adults (TAYA)

Young people who age out of the foster care system without a safe and secure parenting relationship face an array of challenges that significantly affect all areas of their lives as they emerge into young adulthood. This session will highlight how agencies from Kansas and Massachusetts have identified creative solutions to common permanency barriers for TAYA.

speaker headshot Rachel Marsh, JD, MSW
Sellers Dorsey
speaker headshot Domina DiBiase, LICSW
Plummer Youth Promise
speaker headshot Deborah Noah, LICSW
Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

What Are Young People Telling Us About Their Experience of Therapeutic Residential Care? Practices and Conditions That Enable the Strengthening of Relationships and Connections

Our Australian study, Strengthening Connections and Relationships in Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC), asked young people living in TRC about the best practices to support them to develop meaningful relationships and social connections. This workshop will consider the relational needs of young people who have experienced trauma and take a deep dive into our findings, exploring implications for transformational residential care practice.

speaker headshot Jenise Mitchell
Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care / Australian Childhood Foundation
speaker headshot Lynne McPherson
Centre for Excellence in Therapeutic Care, Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University
speaker headshot Antonia Canosa, PhD
Centre for Children and Young People, Faculty of Health, Southern Cross University
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Mapping the Caregiver Journey: Experiences of Caregivers with Accessing and Receiving Residential Care for their Children with High-Level Needs

Findings are presented from a study of 30 caregivers who share their experiences with accessing therapeutic residential care (TRC) for their children. Specifically, caregivers describe precursors to seeking out TRC and their experiences with navigating the system, their child’s transition into TRC, and their preparation for their children’s discharge.

speaker headshot Shamra Boel-Studt, PhD, MSW
Florida State University
speaker headshot Robynn Baker, AND
Florida State University
speaker headshot Daji Dvalishvili, PhD, MD, MSW
Florida State University
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Unlearning What We've Learned: Making CSEC Services More Accessible and Responsive

CSEC/CSEY need authentic engagement stemming from a nuanced understanding of this form of trauma. Hear lessons learned from seasoned providers, grounded in input from young survivors. With a lens of power and positionality, examine best practices around professional boundaries, authentic use of self, structuring service delivery, and how we talk to and about the young people we serve.

speaker headshot Ashley Guevara, LICSW
My Life My Choice, JRI
speaker headshot Tina Valila, LICSW
My Life My Choice, JRI
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

That Trust Thing: Exploring Intervention Responses with Young Survivors of Violence, Exploitation, Abuse, and Neglect

Residential staff caring for children and young people are on the frontline when referring them to therapeutic services. This workshop summarises research conducted with young survivors in Australia about their experiences of professional intervention. It will invite participants to critically reflect on how they position young survivors when referring them to them, as this often determines the form of intervention.

speaker headshot Mary Jo McVeigh
Cara House
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Delivering Best Practice and Achieving Cost Neutrality

In this workshop we draw on learning from the US (Sycamores) and the UK about how we can deliver best practice to youth and their families while achieving good value for money. We will examine different data that can be used to build value for money discussions and will also explore differences and similarities between the US and the UK.

speaker headshot Lisa Holmes, PhD, BSc
University of Sussex
speaker headshot Joe Ford
Sycamores
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

From Farm To (Board) Table: Young Adult Change Agent’s Journeys From Residential Placements To Decision-Making Tables Begins With Youth-Driven Care

All youth can be change agents through partnership at the decision-making table. Hear from youth with lived experience who found their voices through advocacy and system reform. This roadmap will demonstrate how services should be youth and family driven, highlighting how youth-driven services foster self-advocacy and leadership skills, and how systems can and should promote youth voice.

speaker headshot Kyle Reece
University of North Carolina Greensboro
speaker headshot Celeste Walley
The Catalyst Center - CA Alliance
time iconMarch 25, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Cross-System Solutions: Strategies to Address the Unmet Complex Needs of Youth and Families

The National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services (NASDDS) is urgently working to support states in the development of positive support models for individuals with dual diagnosis, medical complexity, multi-system involvement (including juvenile justice and child welfare), and other populations with complex support needs. Learn about themes, resources, and emerging promising approaches revealed through a NASDDDS’ specialized subgroup focused on children and youth and about The Link Center, a national repository of trainings, resources, and information to improve supports available to children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), brain injuries, and other cognitive disabilities with co-occurring mental health conditions.

speaker headshot Stacy Nonnemacher, PhD
National Association of State Directors of Developmental Disabilities Services
time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

In-Person ONLY Session

What smart strategies and screening tools can help determine if candidates see this work as a career? How can we elevate their WHY?

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Framing an Equitable Future

In-Person ONLY Session

What smart strategies and screening tools can help determine if candidates see this work as a career? How can we elevate their WHY?

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence

In-Person ONLY Session

AI has infiltrated all aspects of our lives, with our field being no exception. Can we embrace it in a meaningful, proactive way?

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Retaining the Workforce We Need

In-Person ONLY Session

Explore employee-led retention strategies, including cultivating positive workforce culture and workplace well-being. Let’s ensure everyone knows how much they matter at work and beyond!

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Addressing Unmet Complex Needs

In-Person ONLY Session

Leadership of NASDDDS and ACRC will share problem-solving strategies and resources to address cross-sector challenges. Discuss what's working to ensure young people with unique complexities don’t fall through the cracks.

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Mergers, Acquisitions and Partnerships, Oh My!

In-Person ONLY Session

How can we think differently about collaborative approaches to meet the changing needs in our field? Let’s explore creative, unexpected partnerships that enhance community impact.

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Connecting Residential Directors

In-Person ONLY Session

The nuanced role of residential director has few peers with the same level of responsibility. Access the collective expertise of skilled residential directors as we elevate this pivotal position.

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

New and Expanded Use of PRTFs

In-Person ONLY Session

As jurisdictions invest in Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities, what are the challenges, successes, and lessons learned?

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Building Restraint-Free Cultures of Care

In-Person ONLY Session

Walk together on the journey to replace coercive strategies with trauma responsive interventions.

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Recognizing Dangers Online

In-Person ONLY Session

The U.S. Kids Online Safety Act is just one example of global efforts to address the impact of screens and social media on youth mental health. How are we balancing inherent risk, known brain science, and children’s rights?

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Investing in Co-Design

In-Person ONLY Session

True youth and family engagement is advanced when we design systems, programs, and research in lock step with those who have lived experience. Share examples and learn from peers.

time iconMarch 25, 2025 12:00 pm to
01:00 pm

Stabilizing the Crisis

In-Person ONLY Session

As the number of youth experiencing mental health crises continues to rise, what works in crisis prevention? What does best practice look like in safe, child-friendly, short-term stabilizing environments that keep young people out of offices, hotels, and emergency rooms?

time icon

Ted Talk-Style Plenary

time iconMarch 26, 2025 09:00 am to
11:00 am

From Crisis to Community: Practical Solutions for Holistic Child and Family Care

Children and families need more than empathy—they need tangible support systems to survive and thrive in today’s world. Drawing from years of experience in human services and youth programming, I’ll explore how human-centered, community-based interventions can break cycles of poverty, trauma, and instability. This talk illuminates the interconnected experiences of trauma in supervised care settings for youth experiencing crisis and dives into practical solutions we can create to build a future where every child has the resources to flourish, and every family feels empowered and supported.

speaker headshot Tekoah Boatner, HS-BCP, CNP
Youth Oasis
time iconMarch 26, 2025 09:00 am to
11:00 am

Health is not the Absence of Symptoms

While common strategies to manage the emotional and behavioral challenges of youth focus on reducing & eliminating symptoms, this discussion will highlight the need to cultivate strengths and resiliency to create long-term, durable change.

speaker headshot Bob Foltz, PsyD
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
time iconMarch 26, 2025 09:00 am to
11:00 am

Bridging Connections: Addressing the Needs of Children and Families

This dynamic presentation aims to inspire and challenge attendees to rethink their approaches to serving children and families. Themes will include: Connections to Communities, Authentic Relationships, and using the metaphor of a puzzle to illustrate how various supports come together to create a complete picture of wellbeing.

speaker headshot Justin Black
Redefining Normal
time iconMarch 26, 2025 09:00 am to
11:00 am

Examining Systemic Barriers in the Educational System

Children’s educational experiences are not equal and often systems can exacerbate the barriers producing lopsided outcomes. This talk highlights systemic barriers such as anti-Black racism from the early years through to secondary school while underscoring the resistance strategies of Black families and community members.

speaker headshot Janelle Brady
School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University
time iconMarch 26, 2025 09:00 am to
11:00 am

More Than A Home: The Implications of Safe, Stable, Affordable Housing for Youth and Families

Undoubtedly, housing instability can lead to negative short- and long-term affects for children and families. The unpredictable nature of this hardship can cause disruption in school performance, relationship building, and overall well-being. How can we address, avoid, and eliminate this stress-inducing situation in our communities?

speaker headshot Ruth Anne White
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington
time icon

Workshop Session C

time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Fostering a Positive Program Culture to Attract and Retain High Quality Staff

Retaining quality staff is one of the most crucial issues for agencies across the country. This highly interactive workshop will create a forum to discuss creative strategies to develop a positive program culture that will set a tone for high quality employees to want to work for, and stay, in an agency.

speaker headshot Noor Almaoui, LCSW
Sycamores
speaker headshot Frank Delano, LMSW
Professional Package Consulting
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

A Closer Look at Shared Family Care

Take a closer look at SFC, exploring the structure and design of each program, including referral pathways, staffing, and other considerations for administering these programs. We’ll discuss outcomes, challenges, and areas for future improvement, highlighting how these models are impacting families in different cultural and social settings. Hear practical considerations for implementing SFC in the US context.

speaker headshot Christopher Bellonci, MD
Harvard Medical School
speaker headshot Lysbert Zeinstra
Erasmus University Rotterdam
speaker headshot Giorgia Olezzi
University of Bologna
speaker headshot Chiara Monti
University of Bologna
speaker headshot Bethany Lee, PhD, MSW
University of Maryland Baltimore
speaker headshot Laura Palareti, PhD
University of Bologna
speaker headshot Rick Barth, PhD, MSW
University of Maryland Balitmore
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Turbocharging Supervision to Support Staff and Children in High-Stress Environments: A Framework For Trauma-Informed Coaching

This 2-part workshop explores the principles of how supervisors, and leaders can utilize trauma-informed coaching strategies and principles that can help empower staff to develop the competencies needed to support the whole child and transform agency culture. Through real-world insights from multiple perspectives and roles, participants will gain practical tools to help turbocharge and transform their supervision strategies and organizational culture.

speaker headshot Zachary Barry, MSW
Cornell University
speaker headshot Andrea Turnbull, LMHC
Cornell University
speaker headshot Daniel Pectol, MSW
ACH Child and Family Services
speaker headshot Kaitlyn Smith
ACH Child and Family Services
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Linking Services to Provide Flexible and Effective Support for Children and Families

Panelists will discuss effective ways to empower children and families so that they develop the skills to become advocates for their wellbeing and success. Expertise will be shared on how different services can be flexibly linked to meet the individualized needs of children and families based on common theoretical principles.

speaker headshot Patrick Tyler, PhD, LIMHP, LPC
Boys Town
speaker headshot Rashain Carriere, MSW, MHP
Boys Town
speaker headshot John Etzell, BA
Boys Town
speaker headshot Angie Powers, MS, LIMHP
Boys Town
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Re-envisioning Shelter Services: A Comprehensive Approach

Discover how one youth emergency shelter has re-envisioned how to care for homeless youth with complex trauma, mental health, and substance use concerns. Attendees will leave with concrete tools and innovative strategies to engage youth, families, partners, and funders in providing more comprehensive care that improves outcomes for youth.

speaker headshot Kim Scorza, LMSW, MSW
Crittenton Center
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

HillsidesCares: Service Expansion to Reach New Populations

Meet the team at HillsidesCares who transformed a long-standing STRTP program into an effective behavioral health program for families with commercial insurance, providing three levels of trauma-informed care. You will learn about how the program was launched, clinical approaches, and client outcomes.

speaker headshot Casey Meinster, LMFT
Hillsides
speaker headshot Andrew Hernandez, MPA
Hillsides
speaker headshot Lucia Garcia, MPH
Hillsides
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Family and Community Engagement: Crosswalking Promising Practices From Head Start to Residential Care

Cross walking promising practices from ACF Head Start family and community engagement principles– which are founded to improve child outcomes, we actively seek out and respond to community voices, strengths, and needs. Collaborating with families, community members, and other local agencies we identify common goals, align resources, and share data for continuous improvement and effective partnerships.

speaker headshot Nila Rinehart
Community Development Institute
speaker headshot Kathi Boyer-Edwards
Community Development Institute
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Hope and The Winds of Grief: Supporting clients and ourselves after loss

Grief and Loss can shatter all of us. Especially in our field, we may encounter grief and loss vicariously, so let’s explore experiences and resources, with special care taken to discuss suicide loss. Using both practical application and case study, discover how bibliotherapy, creative activities, and play can support the youth we serve and our precious workforce.

speaker headshot Dana Wyss, PhD, LMFT, ATR-BC, RPT
Stars Behavioral Health Group
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

The Transformative Power of Partnership with and for LGBTQ+ Youth in Foster Care

This presentation invites participants to enhance their services for LGBTQ+ youth in out-of-home care settings. Leveraging perspectives from three organizations dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth in care, it highlights the importance of partnering with youth, family focused trauma-informed services, and identity-affirming mentorship practices that support positive outcomes for our LGBTQ+ young people.

speaker headshot Vida Khavar, LMFT
Family Builders
speaker headshot Leah Harrigan
Silver Lining Mentoring
speaker headshot Jackie Surdan, LMHC
Waltham House - The Home
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Examining Systemic Barriers in the Educational System: From pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12

Building off the morning Ted Talk, in this interactive workshop we will expand the conversation to explore prevalent systemic issues impacting children in schools and early learning settings, understand their unique role in addressing such systemic factors, and collaborate on ways to create and sustain systemic change while sharing promising practices.

speaker headshot Janelle Brady
School of Early Childhood Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

Bridging Connections: Addressing the Needs of Children and Families

This interactive workshop will focus on the impact of generational trauma on children and families. By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with actionable strategies to support healing and resilience in the children and families they serve.

speaker headshot Justin Black
Redefining Normal
time iconMarch 26, 2025 11:30 am to
01:00 pm

No Method to the Madness: Making Sense of the Psychiatric Treatment of our Youth.

We are seeing some of the highest rates of youth presenting at ERs for depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. A primary treatment is antidepressant medication, but do our youth deserve better? Explore No Method to the Madness: Making Sense of the Psychiatric Treatment of our Youth, and the science behind depressive conditions in and primary treatments for adolescents.

speaker headshot Bob Foltz, PsyD
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
time iconMarch 26, 2025 01:30 pm to
03:00 pm

Awards Luncheon

time icon

Workshop Session D

time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

The Coach Approach: Changing the Culture for Engaging Conversations Supporting families, provider organizations, children, youth and young adults

Join us as we take you through a slice of an uplifting journey through The Coach Approach. An approach using coaching practices for better engagements- consisting of mindsets and skill-based coaching practices that strengthen and develop positive engagements, enhance leadership performance, and support families, youth and children to “show up” as their best selves.

speaker headshot Monica McCall, PhD
Coach Approach Partners
speaker headshot Lloyd Bullard, M. ED
ACRC Consultant
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Staff ACEs and Professional Quality of Life- Does our history make the work harder or more fulfilling?

Assessing an expanded version of the ACEs study and the relationship between childhood trauma and worker professional quality of life and burnout, we will look at the prevalence of ACEs amongst staff, paying special attention to gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, and years of services. We'll discuss best practices for supporting staff given the results of the study.

speaker headshot Camela Hughes, PhD
University of Albany | LaSalle School
speaker headshot Jess Linick, PhD, SEP
The Lionheart Foundation
speaker headshot Carly Baetz, JD, PhD
Purdue University Northwest
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Learned Lessons in Multi-System Collaboration in an Integrated Continuum of Care World

A child welfare goal is to identify the best treatment options for youth engaged in multi-system services during their continuum of care. Stressors that trigger the need for mental health services vary. To address these stressors, different placement options and services may be needed to ensure positive outcomes for children and families. Data from a national survey confirms youth removed from the home have fewer changes in placement when the child welfare and mental health providers are part of the same agency. (Does Formal Integration Between Child Welfare and Behavioral Health Agencies Result in Improved Placement Stability For Adolescents Engaged With Both Systems? Wells, Chuang, PhD, 2012).

speaker headshot Holly Jones, MA, LPCC-S
The Buckeye Ranch
speaker headshot Josh Stewart, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC
The Buckeye Ranch
speaker headshot Jessica Thomspon, MSW, LISW-S
The Buckeye Ranch
speaker headshot Anton Smith
Oak Hill Ranch
speaker headshot Emily Wang
Oak Hill Ranch
speaker headshot Michelle Basarab
Oak Hill Ranch
speaker headshot Shawn O'Grady
Oak Hill Ranch
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

From Hopelessness to Hope: The Powerful Impact of the Science of Hope

Hope can be taught, lent, and nurtured! In this session, we will learn simple strategies that increase hopeful thinking among youth in care and improve essential outcomes. We will look at practical, realistic ways to begin to build a hope-centered culture in your agency. 

speaker headshot Mindy Kiser
Omni Family Institute
speaker headshot Michelle Wingate, MS
Omni Family Institute
speaker headshot Amy Savage, MS
Omni Family Institute
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

The Impact of Creative Partnerships on Youth Health and Wellness

Two ACRC member programs are collaborating on this presentation to highlight work with and around culinary and farm projects with the overall goal of holistic health and wellness. Hear about the RI Harvest Kitchen Project, s a 20-week culinary job skills training program serving youth involved with DCYF and the Genessee Lake School’s operational Homegrown Farms, a vital addition to the school for education, vocation, and therapeutic services.

speaker headshot Erika Boettcher
Genesee Lake School
speaker headshot Anna Balmer
Genesee Lake School
speaker headshot Larome Myrick, PhD
Dept. of Children, Youth and Families: Division of Youth Development
speaker headshot John Scott
Dept. of Children, Youth and Families: Division of Youth Development
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

The Lessons we are Learning from Youth who go Missing from Care

Hear the journeys of a lived experience expert, a national child-serving agency, a state child welfare agency, a local provider, and a residential community who have aligned to meet the holistic needs of kids who go missing from care. We’ll delve into individual agency transformations needed to prevent youth from going missing and cross-system alignment needed to successfully serve youth.

speaker headshot Sheelah Gobar, MSCJ
Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, SEEN Program
speaker headshot Sophie Jordan
Children's Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, SEEN Program
speaker headshot Kim Parks-Bourn, LCSW-C
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
speaker headshot Hannah Taverna, LCSW
MA Dept. of Child and Family Services
speaker headshot Erin Flood, LCSW
LaSalle School
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Using the BBI Theory of Change for Quality Improvement; Aligning Innovation and Measurement

The BBI Theory of Change for Residential Interventions is a quality improvement that is being tested in a five- program public private demonstration project. This presentation will review project development and design, summarize the improvement initiatives occurring at the program level, and present data and learnings thus far.

speaker headshot Nancy Pierce-Craig
ACRC Consultant
speaker headshot Paula Minske
Nexus
speaker headshot Charley Downing
Northwest Outward Bound School
speaker headshot Margaret McGladrey, PhD
University of Kentucky
speaker headshot Bob Lieberman, MA, LPC
Lieberman Group Inc.
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Revolutionizing Youth Care: 10 Innovative AI Solutions in Residential Treatment

This presentation highlights quick and easy ways to integrate AI into residential treatment settings. It covers practical applications like automating emails, improving policy development, streamlining compliance, and enhancing treatment planning. Demonstrations using ChatGPT show how these tools save time and boost efficiency.

speaker headshot Christian Whooley, MA, LPC
Bonnie Brae
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Strengthening Residential Care Through Parent Peer Support (PPS): A Collaborative Approach

This workshop explores a collaborative approach between family-run organizations (FROs) and residential programs in providing PPS for families involved in residential care, improving family engagement and outcomes for youth. The cross-organizational effort highlights strategies for partnering with FROs to implement PPS, overcome common barriers and access technical assistance and training.

speaker headshot Millie Sweeney, MS
FREDLA
speaker headshot Kayla Herbell, PhD, RN
The Ohio State University School of Nursing
speaker headshot Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Expanding and Maximizing Transitional Housing Program Options for Former Foster Youth

With limited resources, creative solutions are needed to ensure foster youth have the housing and services they need to thrive into adulthood. Our panel of TAY will share how our collaborative win-win-win process with providers and community stakeholders resulted in our 6 recommendations and signing of AB 2802 in California.

speaker headshot Selena Liu Raphael
California Alliance
speaker headshot Purva Bhattacharjee
California Alliance
speaker headshot Celeste Walley
The Catalyst Center - CA Alliance
speaker headshot Jacqueline Robles
The Catalyst Center - CA Alliance
speaker headshot Levi Nunez
Penny Lane Centers
time iconMarch 26, 2025 03:30 pm to
05:00 pm

Youth Housing Initiatives – From Policy to Practice

With the establishment in federal law of on-demand housing vouchers, no young person aging out of care in the United States should become homeless, but the practice has not yet caught up across jurisdictions. Hear the history of housing in relation to child welfare and how current programs and innovations can help solve urgent housing challenges.

speaker headshot Ruth Anne White
Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington
time icon

Keynote

time iconMarch 27, 2025 09:00 am to
12:00 pm

Career or Transition Job? - An International look at the residential care workforce

A career in residential care? Such a notion would seem to be an oxymoron in the US residential care context, and yet data from a cross-national comparison of 16 countries shows that in some countries, staff in residential care encompass a professionalized workforce with lengthy training in social work, social education, or social pedagogy. What remains unknown is how variation in qualifications affects the (self)perception, motivation, or working longevity of residential care staff, and whether, ultimately, such factors are related to outcomes of children and youth in residential care. Building on the cross-national comparison data, this workshop aims to summarize what insights can be derived from available research. It will further consider how assumptions about qualifications and degree of professionalization in residential care in relation to outcome could be addressed in research projects and inform practice.

speaker headshot Sigrid James, PhD, MSW
University of Kassel
speaker headshot Lisa Holmes, PhD, BSc
University of Sussex
time iconMarch 27, 2025 09:00 am to
12:00 pm

The Disenfranchisement of Dads

This presentation explores the critical issue of paternal disenfranchisement within the child welfare, juvenile justice, and education systems, focusing on its profound implications for youth development and outcomes. Historically, fathers, particularly those from marginalized communities, have been systematically marginalized by these systems, resulting in a range of adverse effects on children’s lives. We will aim to illuminate the systemic barriers that contribute to the deprivation of paternal rights and involvement, and to provide actionable strategies for overcoming these challenges. Learn about innovative approaches and successful models for increasing paternal involvement, including outreach programs, supportive services, and collaborative community efforts, as we advocate for and implement effective practices that promote paternal engagement and enhance youth support systems. The response panel, made up of dads who’s children have experienced our various systems, making this our opportunity to move the field forward through true family engagement.

speaker headshot Kevin King, MA, Ed
Seneca
time iconMarch 27, 2025 09:00 am to
12:00 pm

Start With WHY

Some organizations can explain how they are different from the rest. Very few can clearly articulate why. The WHY is not about money or profit — those are results. The WHY is what inspires us and those around us. When Simon Sinek discovered the WHY, it changed his life. His bestselling book, Start with WHY, and viral TED Talk, How Great Leaders Inspire Action, have inspired millions of people and organizations around the world to think, act, and operate from the inside out. As an author, speaker, and leader on Simon’s team of Optimist Instructors, Shed will share Simon’s inspiring message. Explore why WHAT we do becomes more powerful when we know WHY we do it. Learn how the WHY can give us an alternative perspective on our organizations, careers, and even our lives. Discover how human connectivity, built on trust and authenticity, is vital to an organization’s success. Walk through Simon’s Golden Circle framework and understand how organizations can be built, movements can be led, and people can be inspired. And it all starts with WHY.

speaker headshot Stephen Shedletzky

Frequently Asked Questions


Our live event is being held in Boston, MA from March 24-27, 2025 with keynotes, plenaries and key workshops being livestreamed during that time (see our agenda for live sessions). Most main conference sessions can be viewed here for 30 days. Our preconference sessions are in-person only on March 24.

While we encourage a wide range of participants, each registration helps to support ACRC’s mission, and we have kept registration fees low so that everyone has an opportunity to register and participate independently. If multiple people from your organization would like to attend, we do offer an ‘all in’ organization rate of $1,100 for member organizations and $1,500 for non-member organizations. This allows for any staff, board members, volunteers, or foster parents from your organization to register.

If you need to cancel your in-person registration for ANY REASON before February 7th, we will offer a full refund minus a $50 processing fee. If you need to cancel your in-person registration February 7th or later, we will offer you 2 virtual registrations or the option to send a colleague in your place.

If you need to cancel your virtual registration you can have a colleague take your place or enjoy the recordings for 30 days after the conference.

Social Event tickets are non-refundable.

CEUs are non-refundable.

Please email aprange@togetherthevoice.org for any changes/refunds.