Tracey Ashton is a senior project officer in service design, research, and innovation at Life Without Barriers. She works with diverse stakeholders to design, trial, and evaluate child, youth, and family services, and led the design of this new approach to family time. Tracey has over 20 years experience across government and non-government sectors, including schools, child protection, and out-of-home care services. She specialises in family inclusion, participation, and family-led decision-making.

Rachael Dean is the chairperson of the Family Inclusion Network of South Australia, a role she has held for 11 years. She is a parent mentor and owns Family Matters Consultancy, a lived experience consultancy. Rachael participated in designing and implementing Family Time Coaching and works as a lived experience peer worker in Life Without Barriers' Family Reunification Service. She also advises the Minister for Child Protection in South Australia as part of the Direct Experience Group.

Julie Wood is currently a Child Family Practitioner specialising in reunification at Life Without Barriers, a position she has held since August 2021. In this role, she works directly with families to build parental capacity and enable reunification. Her experience includes over seven years as a Child Family Practitioner supporting therapeutic foster carers and children in care. Julie's background also encompasses mental health support and employment services. Julie is certified as a facilitator for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Child Safe Environment training and is a Marte Meo Practitioner in foster care.

Barb Clark is the Director of training at Families Rising (FKA NACAC) and is a parent to five adult children. She is passionate about learning from her many mistakes, and sharing them with others so they can avoid the same mistakes. She uses humor and real-life experiences to help professionals and caregivers challenge the use of traditional strategies and push them to think outside of the box. She graduated from the University of Minnesota in Youth Development but has learned more from her kids than she ever did in college. Barb is parenting children who were prenatally exposed to alcohol, drugs and trauma. She is committed to improving the education & lives of individuals who were prenatally exposed to drugs & alcohol and has done this by training RTC’s, doctors, caregivers, therapists, social workers, law enforcement and many others.

Dr. Claude R. Shema is a Canadian clinician, and his educational background and experience include general and tropical medicine, psychiatry, psychology, public health, and neurosurgery. For over 2 decades, he has been working in in child and adolescents mental health, and provides services in private and public clinical settings. He is a consultant in various clinical interventions, and he has deep experiences in indigenous intergenerational trauma healing as well.

Leslie Wright has over 30 years of experience as a mental health professional. She currently works for the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.) as the TAC Manager and Curriculum Specialist. Leslie has been involved in curriculum development and training for over 10 years.

Dr. Atkinson, President and CEO of PolicyWorks, Ltd., an independent program evaluation and policy research firm, has extensive experience in providing program evaluation and related services highly tailored to meet client needs. Areas of expertise include child welfare, adoption and kinship care, school safety and school-law enforcement partnerships, and prevention.

Meagan Sims is a dedicated professional and administrator in the Human Services sector. Her background includes advocacy, program management, content development, training facilitation and community engagement in the areas of child welfare, youth development, workforce development, affordable housing, crisis intervention and behavioral medicine. As a veteran of the United States Army, Meagan has selflessly served her country and in her community with vigor and passion. Meagan is a proud alumnus of Englewood High School in Chicago and holds a Bachelor of Human Services from Wayland Baptist University and a Master in Non-Profit Management from Spertus College. She is a Candidate for the Doctor of Education in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Governors State University and is actively working on her capstone project, the study of burnout amongst Child Welfare Professionals.

Megan Quarmley, PhD is a postdoctoral psychology fellow at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health involved in systems-level fidelity monitoring and implementation at a child and adolescent psychiatric residential treatment facility and inpatient hospital. Additionally, Megan Quarmley serves as a consultant working with TC Consulting aimed at bridging the gap between research and practice for healthcare and pharmaceutical organizations.

Dr. Olivia West, also known as Dr. O, is an International Psychologist, Licensed Professional Counselor, Coach, Diversity Equity and Inclusion advocate and consultant, and Author of From Dyslexia to Doctorate, a guide to achieving success despite life’s obstacles. She has traveled the world immersing herself in various countries and cultures, gaining a profound expertise in identifying unresolved trauma and uncovering negative beliefs that impede personal and professional growth. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. O has dedicated her career to social justice, educating and empowering individuals, families, leaders, entrepreneurs, and professionals to unlock their full potential by addressing the deep-seated emotional barriers through mental health therapy and mindset shift coaching. Dr. O specializes in trauma resolution rooted in her belief that unresolved trauma can significantly impact one’s ability to thrive. She believes the process of transformation achieved by confronting and resolving past traumas can unlock potential and lead more fulfilling lives. However, one must trust the Power of the Process, despite what obstacles may arise. Outside of her professional pursuits, Dr. O is a foodie, and enjoys dancing, and spending quality time with her family.

Taylor is the co-founder and current lead Occupational Therapist (OTP) at Yellowstone Girls and Boys Ranch (YBGR). She has a dual bachelor’s in foreign languages and classical literature, and a clinical doctorate in occupational therapy (OT) from Rocky Mountain College, the first Montana-made occupational therapy program. She fostered a dream to open an experiential ranching program for client with physical and mental health diagnoses. Fondly known as Dr. Chip by clients and staff, she provides OT at YBGR, having found half of her dream already in practice.

Taylor Mayer is currently the Executive Director of Psychiatric Operations at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) in Billings MT. He began his career at YBGR in 1993 as a Mental Health Worker and has held positions of Clinical Program Therapist, Psychological Assistant, and Regional Area Clinical Supervisor prior to his current role. He has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and holds an active LCPC (MT # 660). He is a strong advocate of Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption.

Edward Mark Driver, LCSW possessing relevant clinical experience with program coordination and clinical oversight with teens/juveniles, as well as adults in the areas of forensic psychotherapy, victim services and mental health services with individuals, families and groups. Specializing in forensic and residential programming with a focus and passion for looking at individuals from a strengths-based perspective. Utilizes respectful communication to enhance positive work cultures and inspire collaboration.

Ana Maria, B.A., is a Research Assistant with the Research and Continuous Improvement department at Sycamores. She plays an essential role in evaluating the agency’s Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP), including developing, collecting, and analyzing data that captures youths’ voice and is used to continue to improve the program.

Andreina Cordova, MDP, is a Senior Research Analyst with the Research and Continuous Improvement Department at Sycamores. Her primary focus is program evaluation and streamlining data collection processes including management and analysis, identifying performance trends and patterns, and designing formative and summative evaluation reports. She is passionate about using data creatively to create awareness, empower change, and make informed decisions.

Avery has been with Tanager as an agency for a bit over two years and have served as both a direct floor staff and as a counselor. As an inpatient counselor, she regularly meets with all clients and their families to provide counseling services to them. she also creates an individual RISE plan for all clients upon their arrival to Tanager. She is also currently graduate level student to become a licensed mental health counselor and am a part of ACRC's programming committee.

Aaron has been with Tanager as an agency for a bit over a year now and served as a assistant supervisor and now as a cottage coordinator. As an inpatient cottage coordinator, he spends his time working with staff making sure that we are working to provide an excellent work atmosphere and being supportive to our clients. Just a little snippet of what he is working on is getting scheduling done for the months to come, making sure incident reports are completed and my most favorite part is working on Rec calendars that consume of what the clients get to do during the month.

Juletta Gilge is a licensed in the state of Montana as an LCPC. She currently works as the Director of PRTF at Yellowstone Boys and Girls ranch and has been working at the agency for over 5 years. Juletta has a passion for mental health work and is a fierce advocate for mental health services.

Tra is a lifetime learner who believes people all have the same value, only different roles. Tra’s approach is based on his education in nursing, administration, and conflict resolution. As a result, he has crossed traditional organizational boundaries and has collaborated with most of the teams in his organization at all levels. He has recruited and led multiple diverse teams to successful outcomes.

Taylor Mayer is currently the Executive Director of Psychiatric Operations at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch (YBGR) in Billings MT. He began his career at YBGR in 1993 as a Mental Health Worker and has held positions of Clinical Program Therapist, Psychological Assistant, and Regional Area Clinical Supervisor prior to his current role. He has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and holds an active LCPC (MT # 660). He is a strong advocate of Therapeutic Foster Care and Adoption.

Alison Howard has had a variety of professional experiences during her 20 years at Boys Town. She began in direct care and was promoted quickly to a Shift Manager. She attended school while working and earned her master's degree in counseling as well as her clinical license. She became a Clinical Therapist at the Residential Treatment Center (RTC) and later a Regulatory and Accreditation Specialist where she monitored and developed policy and ensured adherence to regulations and standards dictated by the Joint Commision, CMS, and other regulatory bodies. She is currently the Program Director at the RTC, an 80-bed unit for children ages 5-17 years of age.

Lori Scharff, LICSW, is the Director of Behavioral Health Access and Administration at the Boys Town Residential Treatment Center where she works to build and cultivate a culture based on proven outcomes that impact and influence residential program progress and success. She has worked in various levels of care at Boys Town including residential psychiatric for children and adolescents, treatment group home and group home. Lori also worked at Union Pacific Railroad as a Director of Safety where she had the opportunity to develop a national model for Peer Support in the transportation industry. Lori enjoys advocacy, staff development and providing life-changing care that helps youth make positive change for their future.

Michael S. Kaelin, MS has worked in the field of children’s services for 38 years. He led the learning and development function at Pressley Ridge for 8 years and has been the Director of External Training and Consultation and primary trainer for the Evidence-Based PR-TFC Pre-Service Curriculum for the last 10 years.

Mrs. Jennifer Benner, LCSW-C has worked in the field of children’s services for 24 years and has served in a training capacity for over 14 years. She has presented at a variety of national conferences on working with children and families in out-of-home care. Mrs. Benner is a lead trainer of the nationally recognized Pressley Ridge Evidence-Based PR-TFC Pre-Service Curriculum.

Cheryl A. White currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at the League School for Autism, bringing over two decades of expertise in nonprofit management and special education. She has researched teacher retention and student voice in programming. Cheryl has led several organizational improvement initiatives and consultations. Cheryl is a licensed Special Education Administrator and is a doctoral student at Bay Path University, Educational Leadership program.

Director Clinical and Behavioral Services at the League School for Autism. Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Developmental Psychology from Emmanuel College and a Masters of Social Work from Simmons College. Stephanie is a Graduate Faculty member in the School of Social Work Graduate Program at Bridgewater State University and owns a Private Practice. She has been qualified in Massachusetts District Court for testimony on more than 100 occasions as an Expert Witness regarding mental illness, dangerousness, need for hospitalization and need for strict security.

Clinton Kehr currently works as the Director of Organizational Training for Pressley Ridge responsible for the training and development of the leadership and employee of the organization. His passion for creating a equity and inclusive environment of belonging for all people led him to work and complete his PhD in Communty Engagement from Point Park University in 2024 researching, Workplace Dignity. When he is not spending his time with his wife and two boys, you will find him outdoors, kayaking, and reading up on the latest information surrounnding how people experience and find joy in their working lives. Clinton strives to generate best experiences for all people who support and provide services to communities.

Grace Albright, Ph.D., is a Research Associate at Think:Kids. She is responsible for supporting the development and execution of Think:Kids’ research initiatives. Her her research focuses primarily on social-emotional learning programming on mental health among underserved youth. She has worked on the evaluation and implementation of the evidence-based Collaborative Problem Solving method in both school and residential treatment facilities.

Elizabeth Buchholz, MNS is a Certified Trainer and Consultant at Think:Kids at Mass General Hospital. She provides training and coaching for organizations, provides implementation consultation sessions, and facilitates learning through the Certification program. Elizabeth has extensive experience working directly with youth and families in residential treatment, private day schools, and treatment foster care. Elizabeth has also led the direct care team in a large residential facility using the Collaborative Problem Solving approach as both a human resources management approach and as the guiding philosophy for interacting with and treating clients and families. Elizabeth received a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Philosophy and a master’s degree in Nonprofit Studies with a concentration in Implementation Science and Trauma Informed Care from the University of Richmond.

Hallie Carpenter, EdS (she/her) is the Manager of Implementation and a Clinical Trainer and Consultant at Think:Kids. As Manager of Implementation, Hallie works to integrate implementation science best practices into the services that Think:Kids provides for organizations. She develops and continues to refine implementation support services; and works to simplify and make actionable implementation science concepts to help organizations implement Collaborative Problem Solving sustainably and deeply, leading to positive outcomes for children and families.

In her work in child welfare in Boston, MA, Elizabeth Woodruff has poured her energy into practices that embrace transformative responses to harm, keep families together, and reduce out-of-home mental health treatment. Over the last 13 years, Elizabeth has kept Circles with youth, caregivers, employees, and her own family. Elizabeth is a tireless advocate for aligning mental health service delivery with the values of Circle practice, Power Literacy, and Restorative Justice.

Romeissa Selmane, MS, OTR/L is an occupational therapist at the Home for Little Wanderers, Boston MA. As the first group home OT, she created the foundations for the current OT department, using an evidence-based, trauma- and attachment-informed, occupation-focused, client-centered framework. Romeissa keeps peacemaking circles with youth, parents and staff, along with promoting principles of restorative practice in meetings, conflict mediations, group therapy and individual sessions.

As a former practicing criminal and civil law attorney and higher education executive, Thompson brings over 20 years of DEI experience and passion for social justice to nonprofit work. Thompson earned a BA from Colgate U and a JD from Suffolk Law School. Currently, Naomi serves as the Director of DEIB for the Home for Little Wanderers, where she incorporates Circle practices to build community and resolve conflict. Naomi is the proud mother of her son, Benjamin.

Blanca is a Latina, licensed clinician, trainer/teacher, healer, circle keeper, and coach. Blanca founded Vida Wellness and Counseling in 2022, an organization committed to the healing, wellness, and liberation of historically marginalized communities. Blanca’s work for over 25 years has been centered in social justice and anti-oppressive practices that are centered in uplifting voices, holistic healing, and in the well-being of individuals, communities, and organizations, using circle practice to engage in courageous conversations to transform conflict into healing, hope and connection.

Founding Director of Think:Kids in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Ablon has dedicated his efforts to transforming the way we comprehend and respond to concerning behavior. He is the author of four books including Changeable which was hand-picked by Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Dan Pink and Susan Cain for their Next Big Idea Club. Dr. Ablon has inspired audiences at conferences around the world such as SXSW, TedX, and NATCON. He imparts a revolutionary, yet practical, approach to better understanding and resolving challenging behavior while building the skills needed to protect mental health.

Marc Brackett, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Yale Child Study Center. His research focuses on the role of emotional intelligence in learning, decision making, creativity, relationships, health, and performance. Marc has published 175 scholarly articles, received numerous awards, and serves on board of directors of the Collaborative for Academic and Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the Mental Health Coalition’s program board, and the Rare Beauty Mental Health Council, founded by Selena Gomez. Marc is the lead developer of RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning that has been adopted by 5000 schools across the globe. With Pinterest co-founder Ben Silbermann, Marc co-created HowWeFeel, a free award-winning app designed to enhance well-being. Marc is the author of the bestselling book, Permission to Feel, now in 25 languages. In February 2024, Marc launched the YouTube webcast, Dealing With Feelings, where he interviews prominent scientists, actors, authors, musicians, sports figures, and other notable personalities to discover the strategies they use to attain goals, build healthy relationships, and have a sense of well-being. He is featured regularly in popular media outlets such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Robert E. (Bob) Lieberman has over four decades working with young people and families facing serious challenges, in a variety of capacities, including 28 years as CEO of Kairos Northwest. He has written extensively and is lead or co- author, and editor, of ACRC’s “Redefining Residential” papers, as well as co-editor of two books on transforming residential interventions. He chairs the Outcomes Workgroup of the Building Bridges Initiative, is certified by Massachusetts General Hospital as a trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving and is a certified Master Trainer in the NEAR sciences. He is currently President of Lieberman Group, Inc. and trains and consults across the country and internationally.

Like a lot of parents, Nancy started her “career” learning to navigate the child serving systems for her children. Little did she realize that her personal experiences would lead her on professional quest to ensure every family, no matter the challenges they face have access to a family peer helping and supporting to teach, coach and mentor parents /caregivers as they journey towards their personal strength and empowerment.

Lisette joined ACRC in 2020 after serving on the board of directors as the Public Policy Committee Chair for several years. In addition to leading ACRC’s advocacy efforts, Lisette builds coalitions and strategic partnerships and she utilizes her experience and skills to provide expert-level guidance, policy analysis, practice support, facilitation, strategic planning, and consultation services to ACRC’s membership and non-member systems, agencies, and associations. Previously, Lisette was the Vice President of National Advocacy and Public Policy for the national nonprofit Boys Town, where she advocated for effective federal and state policies related to child welfare, juvenile justice, education, and health. Lisette’s foundational experiences are in direct care, and she joined Boys Town in 2007 as a Family Teacher caring for girls in foster care and boys committed to the juvenile justice system in a family-style, community-based, therapeutic residential program. Prior to Boys Town, Lisette worked in North Carolina as a program director at a therapeutic residential wilderness program and later as a community organizer focused on quality early childhood education and parental involvement in schools. Lisette serves on several national policy committees, coalitions, and working groups. She is a mayoral appointee to the Washington, DC Juvenile Justice Advisory Group and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Child and Adolescent Trauma. Lisette regularly facilitates conversations and shares policy and practice insight and expertise with local, state, national, and international audiences. Lisette received her B.S. in Science from the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. She earned her J.D. at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law, where she was a Leadership Scholar and Schweitzer Fellow, a pro bono law clerk representing children with special needs, a student attorney at the National Association of the Deaf, and a legislative intern with the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.

Dr. Bethany Lee, PhD MSW, is the Richard P. Barth Professor of Children’s Services at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. As a former residential care staff member, she continues to pursue research that improves the quality and outcomes of services provided to youth and families. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of ACRC's peer-reviewed journal, Residential Treatment for Children & Youth.

Jennie Null serves as Vice President of Development and as a therapist at Tanager. Jennie is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Registered Play Therapy Supervisor. Throughout Jennie's career she has specialized in Family Therapy, Play Therapy, impact and treatment of trauma, compassion resilience, Clinical Supervision, and Leadership.

Emma Harding is a licensed Marriage and serves as Director of the Meraki Institute of Learning. Her background includes providing therapeutic services in school-based settings ranging from early education through college. Emma is trained in advanced play therapy techniques and EMDR. She has experience and is passionate about working with families and children with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, in addition to years of experience in providing and working with various after-school and summer programming for youth. Emma is passionate about spreading awareness and education regarding trauma-informed care and resiliency-based models.

George is the President and CEO of a Child and Family Serving Agency in New York State. George has over 30 years of experience in program design program implementation, and community engagement. His life's work has been creating strength based solutions for children and families with complex needs.

Matthew Madaus has over 35 years of experience in behavioral health, holding multiple C-level roles in non-profit agencies. He has led residential treatment and community-based services, founded a clinical software company, and provided consultation throughout the US and internationally. Mr. Madaus is an expert witness on the behavioral health standard of care in the US and Canada. A licensed clinical social worker, he holds an MSW from San Diego State University and a post-graduate certificate in family systems therapy.

Bill has forty years of experience in residential treatment centers as a live-in house parent, recreation supervisor, director of residential services, executive director, and finally as a CEO. He has always practiced servant leadership and has had very positive outcomes with this approach.

Courtney E. Rovere, PhD, MSW, LCSW(NY), LICSW(MA) is a practicing social worker with over a decade of experience in the field. She currently works as the Assistant Executive Director for Clinical Program Development at Children’s Home of Poughkeepsie and as Part-Time Faculty at Marist College, both in Poughkeepsie, NY. Along with her expertise in child welfare and children’s behavioral health, Courtney has worked in community mental health, mobile crisis and in diverse medical and mental healthcare settings. Courtney has experience teaching at the bachelor and master levels where she has taught courses in child and adolescent assessment and diagnosis, social policy and social work with communities and organizations, social work research, and introduction to sociology. Courtney’s scholarly research focuses on workforce stress and well-being, specifically secondary traumatic stress, vicarious trauma, and burnout. Within this area, her interests look closely at the lived experiences of women. Her aim is to better understand the experiences of the workforce related to turnover and retention. This includes elevating the voices of women at the organizational level to reduce burnout and turnover in child welfare and similar professional groups.

Jenisette Perez, Master in Social Science from Binghamton University. Currently the Director of Youth Services at the Children’s Village. Overseeing the FaST Program since 2014 and working with Teens at risk since over 23 year.

Rose McCray, Licensed Masters in Social Work from Hunter College. Currently Sociotherapist Supervisor at The Children’s Village. Working directly with youth in Child Welfare since 2016.

Dr John Digney has been working with children and families for over 30 years. He has professional qualifications in Psychology, Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis, Management, Coaching and Adult Educations and a PhD in the therapeutic and purposeful uses of humour in child and youth care. John has written, edited and contributed to several books, dozens of articles and online columns. He is currently the National Coordinator of Learning & Development with Tusla, Ireland Children and Family Agency.

Emily Gray is the National Director for Migrant Services Training and Compliance. Emily joined Endeavors in March 2021 after serving as Senior Vice President at World Relief, one of nine refugee resettlement organizations with 50 locations across the United States serving refugees and immigrants. Emily is a missionary by vocation and a social worker by profession. In 1982, she moved to Central America and has since worked continually in various social and ministry efforts in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Venezuela, Panama, and Honduras. She is a founding board member of Mission Lazarus, where she has served for 20 years in Honduras and Haiti. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 40 years of experience across a broad range of human services, including mental health, medical care, hospice services, and immigrant and refugee services.

Alejandro Martinez is the National Director for Migrant Children’s Services, which covers all projects and programs directly related to serving migrant children. Prior to joining Endeavors in May of 2021, Alejandro was the Division Director for ORR Programs at Morrison Child & Family Services, a non-profit mental health organization serving vulnerable children and families in Oregon. In his 13 years at Morrison, Alejandro primarily worked with the Office of Refugee Settlement (ORR) and Unaccompanied Children (UC) programs. His focus with the UC programs included managing relationships with federal stakeholders, federal and state monitoring, assisting in agency accreditation with The Joint Commission, and directly supporting program leadership and staff. Prior to Morrison, Alejandro worked as a school social worker for seven years at Prince William County School District in Virginia, completing psycho-social assessments for special education evaluations. Alejandro is an Adelphi University (NY) alumni with a Master’s degree in Social Work.

Ms. Rodriguez has dedicated the past seven years to collaborating with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) and working closely with unaccompanied migrant children. During this time, she partnered with professionals at Pecos Children's Center, presenting on crucial topics such as behavioral health skills, mental health services, and clinical counseling. Her presentations focused on providing practical strategies to enhance the capabilities of Pecos Children's Center employees and mental health staff, addressing the unique challenges faced by unaccompanied migrant children. Ms. Rodriguez is committed to sharing her knowledge and collaborating with professionals dedicated to the welfare of unaccompanied migrant children, contributing to a comprehensive approach to support their well-being.

Melissa Orazio is the Program Director at the Brookside Intensive Treatment Unit of Hillcrest Educational Centers. Melissa obtained her BA in Psychology from Western New England College, her MSEd in Counseling from the College of Saint Rose, and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Massachusetts. Melissa has 20 years of experience in the field of Mental Health Counseling, including public school, college, and community mental health settings. In 2007, Melissa joined Hillcrest as a clinician and has since held positions as a clinical supervisor, campus administrator, and senior manager within the organization. Since 2010, Melissa has focused on the development and implementation of clinical and program interventions for adolescent girls at Hillcrest.

Valerie Williams, LICSW, is the Clinical Director for Hillcrest Educational Centers, a residential facility located in Berkshire County in Massachusetts. She earned her MS in Social Work from Westfield State University and her BA in Psychology from Southern New Hampshire University. She has worked in several mental health settings including group home, crisis, outpatient, and residential. Valerie has previously presented at the Through Her Eyes conference through CHD and the New England Psychology Association conference; having worked with Dr. Robert Frost on a false memory study during her undergraduate studies.

April Wall-Parker, M.S., is a Research Coordinator in the Organizational Performance Department at Pressley Ridge. As a Research Coordinator with Pressley Ridge, she supports the research, program evaluation, and quality improvement efforts within the organization which includes analyzing data, creating annual outcomes reports, selecting evidence-based models, presenting at conferences, and publishing research articles. She has over 15 years of social science research experience and earned her Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Fairmont State University. Her current research interests are rooted in developing equitable research practices and ensuring that the voices of vulnerable populations are heard and prioritized.

Michael W. Valenti has a doctorate in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. He is currently employed as the Director of the Organizational Performance Department at Pressley Ridge. His tasks include program evaluation, monitoring quality improvement activities and metrics, and coordinating research activities. His recent research activities include exploring relational health and exploring social networks in community-based behavioral health organizations.

Tiffany Lindsey is an assistant professor at the Center for Innovation in Population Health at the University of Kentucky. Her work focuses on quality improvement and system reform efforts in public and private helping agencies. Lindsey has specific expertise in applying safety science to improve the safety, reliability, and effectiveness of organizations. Lindsey is co-author of two tools within the Transformational Collaborative Outcomes Management (TCOM) framework — the Safe Systems Improvement Tool (SSIT) and TeamFirst: A Field Guide for Safe, Reliable, and Effective Child Welfare Teams. Lindsey supports to the National Partnership for Child Safety — a member-led, member-owned quality improvement collaborative of 38 public child welfare agencies. She was also the lead designer and curator for a recently launched website of safety culture resources, the WisconsinWell.

Dr. Fairhurst has presented at numerous conferences on topics including creating a safety culture, using the SSIT in behavioral health settings, and promoting data-driven decision making. Prior to his current administrative role, Scott - for 20 years - directed a clinic that worked with children and teenagers at risk for hospitalization or residential care and he was the agency’s primary in-service provider for de-escalation. His direct client-care experience in a residential setting was for only 5 years, in the 1990s.

Isheanotida Makosa is registered social worker currently pursuing his Masters in Clinical Social Work with Midlands State University (MSU), Zimbabwe. He holds a Bachelor’s in Social Work Honours Degree from MSU (2022), where he was awarded the MSU Book Prize, graduating as the top student in his class. His undergraduate dissertation on juvenile justice earned him the Doctor Madembo Inspire Award for a first-class project.

Doctor Muridzo is a social worker with over 20 years of practicing experience. His illustrious presence in research boasts over 30 publications that speak on different social justice phenomena including rights of persons with disabilities and child rights. Doctor Muridzo is the current Director of the Midlands State University School of Social Work, Zimbabwe. He previously served as the IFSW Global Vice President (2016-2020).

Frank Delano, LMSW is the President of Professional Package Consulting. He previously worked at a large New York Residential Center for 25 years beginning as a Child Care Worker He taught for 25 years in the Fordham University Graduate Social Work program and teaches Child Welfare for the University of Oklahoma for the last 18 years. He is on the Board of ACYCP and was on the Committee that revised the last CWLA Standards of Excellence for Children’s Residential Care.

Jack C. Holden, Ph.D., has been an instructor and project consultant with Cornell University’s RCCP for over 40 years. Dr. Holden earned a Ph.D. in Education, specializing in Adult Learning and has presented workshops and research nationally and internationally and has authored, Developing Competent Crisis Intervention Training, and co-authored a chapter, Preventive Responses to Disruptive and High-Risk Behaviors, in the book International Perspectives on Inclusive Education. Dr. Holden has co-authored several training manuals including Therapeutic Crisis Intervention for Schools, (TCIS), TCIS Post Crisis Response, CARE Supervisor Workshops, and published in the Journal of Child and Youth Care Work, and Journal of National Staff Development and Training Association. Dr. Holden has worked as a children’s residential direct child and youth care professional, supervisor, and program coordinator during his career.

Okpara Rice joined Tanager Place of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as executive director in July 2013, and assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer July 2015. Okpara is the first African American to hold executive office at Tanager Place in its more than 140 year history. He brings leadership experience to Tanager from his work at the Jewish Child Care Association in Pleasantville, New York, the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls in Chicago, the Youth Campus in Park Ridge, Ill and Starr Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. Okpara is active in the field and his community and currently serves on a wide number of boards and advisory committees locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. The issues that fuel his passion and involvement include juvenile justice, access to services, health equity, education and leadership development. Most recently he served on Governor Kim Reynolds’ Children’s System State Board, formed to innovatively create solutions for youth in Iowa. Okpara also led the more than 60-year old Association of Children’s Residential Centers as its first African American Board President. Okpara was named a 2020 History Maker by the African American Museum of Iowa. He serves as a Board of Directors member for Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust, as well as a Trustee of Coe College. Okpara has presented internationally in Europe and Canada on issues that affect children. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, and a Master of Social Work from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, where he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of the Brown School in 2018. He also holds an Executive Management certification from Georgetown University, Washington DC, and an Executive Scholar Certificate from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois. Okpara lives in Marion, Iowa with his wife Julie and sons Malcolm and Dylan.

Erin Flood began working for LaSalle in June 2020, learning to navigate a new position during the depths of the pandemic. Prior to joining LaSalle she held positions as a direct care staff; case manager; and therapist in both residential treatment and outpatient care. She has a passion for residential care and the change it can make with children and their families. At LaSalle she is a member of our Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training team and has developed other trainings for staff on best practices with youth and families and most recently presented at ACRC about youth running from out of home placements.

I began working for LaSalle in April 2024. In the past I’ve held positions as a direct care worker and a supervisor with Developmentally Disabled Individuals. I have taught and worked with children and families as a performer and teaching artist for over 30 years. As a former foster and now adoptive parent of 3 children with severe mental health issues, I am thrilled to have an opportunity to support other parents to become the driving force in their child’s treatment.

Paulette Mader, MSN is a parent with lived experience who also happens to be a Senior Training and Consultation Specialist with Rutgers Behavioral Health Care, Behavioral Research and Training Institute (BRTI) for the New Jersey Children’s System of Care (CSOC). She received her Master’s Degree in Advanced Psychiatric Nursing from Rutgers University and has held a variety of a nursing positions including acute care, psychiatric rehabilitation, administration and staff development. Paulette was the Executive Director for Mercer County Family Support Organization. Paulette’s expertise includes Children’s System of Care, neurobiology of trauma, Wraparound and family and youth engagement. She holds a Certificate in Traumatic Stress Studies through The Trauma Center and Trauma Research Foundation. Paulette has years of experience as a national and state conference presenter.

Sandy Heine is a parent of a young adult who was in a residential program following a serious mental health episode. She was the first peer delivered services staff of Kairos NW, having been hired as a Family Support Specialist in 2009 and becoming the Peer Delivered Services Manager of 22 Family and Youth Peer Support staff until 2019. Sandy is currently a consultant for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), working with residential programs on organizational transformation with a focus on strengthening family engagement and is a Traditional Health Worker (THW) Advisor for Southwestern Oregon Workforce Investment Board. Sandy served on the Children’s System Advisory Committee for the Oregon Health Authority, and served as a committee member, bringing family voice, for the System of Care in several rural counties in Southern Oregon and the Rogue Valley Wraparound Initiative. Ms. Heine has presented locally and nationally on incorporating Family Voice and Peer Delivered Services into residential and community-based services.

Shannon Crossbear is a senior consultant/trainer/facilitator with experience in the provision of technical assistance within communities, and at State, Tribal and Federal levels. She has twenty-five plus years’ experience in systems change efforts with a history of contributing to the building and strengthening of national organizations serving children and families across multiple systems. Her expertise includes assisting systems in addressing inclusion of individuals, families, and youth, addressing health disparities, integration of behavioral health into physical health care settings, cultural and linguistic competence, trauma-informed care, parent professional partnerships.

Zach McElgunn has spent the past 9 years working with associations and community organizations in the healthcare and behavioral health spaces to more precisely define “quality,” and understand the mechanisms that bring quality improvement goals to fruition. This includes work to achieve both individual and organizational accreditations and certifications; the development of continuing education programming; the implementation of well-defined models of care (i.e. EBPs); and the reduction of variability in service delivery. Currently, his work sits at the intersection of implementation science, organizational culture, and third-party evaluation of systems of practice.

Lindsay Wagner, MOT, OTR/L is an occupational therapist who has been practicing in the field of autism for 19 years. She's currently the Director of Neurodiversity and Community Inclusion at the League School for Autism. Since joining the League School in 2007, Lindsay has led the program’s implementation of the SCERTS® Model, an educational framework that engages the involvement of the multidisciplinary team to coordinate programming targeting social, emotional and educational needs of each individual student. Lindsay holds a Master’s of Occupational Therapy degree from the University of Pittsburgh, is a doctoral candidate in the Health Sciences Department at Bay Path University, and is certified as an Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist.

Michael Starr is a practicing social work manager from the UK. Michael started his PhD in 2021 and is due to submit his thesis in March 2025. Michael’s PhD is focussed on how young people leaving and having left out-of-home care develop and acquire independent living skills to help them in adulthood. As care-experienced researcher, Michael brings this positionality to his work. Michael is a PGR co-rep for the UK and Ireland chapter of INTRAC (the peak body of researchers exploring transitions from care).

Patricia D. Wilcox, LCSW, Vice President of Strategic Development, Klingberg Family Centers, New Britain, Connecticut specializes in treatment of traumatized children and their families. She created the Restorative Approach™ , a trauma- and relationship-based treatment method. She is a Faculty Trainer for Risking Connection® and an Adjunct Faculty at the University of CT School of Social Work. She has presented at many national conferences including NASW; the American Association of Children’s Residential Centers; the Alliance for Children and Families; CWLA; the Black Administrators of Child Welfare, ATTACh, She is the author of Trauma Informed Care: The Restorative Approach published by Levellers Press.

Peggy Kelly has worked in the field of Mental Health and Substance Abuse since 1990 and has practiced in Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Arkansas. Providing employee health services and developing policies in the workplace regarding substance abuse, violence and other behavioral health topics had been her passion. In her role of Cheif Clinical Officer she oversees all clinical services for the residential, QRTP, outpatient and school based programs. She has diversified the payer mix, developed new programming and initiated a culture change by implementing the Risking Connections Trauma Informed Care model. Peggy is currently serving as Chief Executive Officer in addition to her clinical position and is striving to help the agency plan to set a path for the future.

Marcy Mistrett has nearly three decades of experience working in child and adolescent development in the youth justice and education fields in a broad capacity in both subject matter and service. Her experience spans policy, direct service and training/technical assistance provision. She is committed to upholding an equity lens and to ensuring that children are treated as children is the US criminal legal system.

Tekoah's an experienced nonprofit executive and consultant with a knack for stabilizing organizations and growing program capacity and adapting to what clients need. A Southern girl with northern roots, she's all about turning ideas into real-world business strategies. Specializing in human services, she loves solving complex problems of the human variety, blending policy smarts with people skills. Outside work, Tekoah's all about human rights and connecting with folks to have engaging conversations. Living in Louisiana, she's a traveler at heart and always looking for a new adventure.

Rachel Y Marsh holds a law degree and master of social work from Washington University in St. Louis. Rachel has served as a child welfare adoption case manager; a family law attorney, and a child in need of care and adoption attorney. Rachel transitioned in 2016 to state legislative advocacy for improved child welfare systems, and was the Chief Executive Officer at the Children's Alliance of Kansas for four years. Today, Rachel serves as Associate Director, Child Welfare Division, at Sellers Dorsey, where she works to improve health care access for youth with complex needs involved in the child and family wellbeing system.

Domina began her career working for the Community Health Center Association of Connecticut in 2015, where she spent 4 years serving in a variety of roles, including Operations Manager and Emergency Preparedness Program Manager. Domina then began her transition into social work, completed her Master’s in Social Work at Quinnipiac University in 2020, and is now a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Domina spent over 4 years working at Love146, growing from a social work intern to a clinical supervisor during her time with the organization. As a social worker, Domina is experienced in working with youth at risk for sex trafficking, struggling with substance use, and working through histories of complex trauma. She also has experience helping youth and families to navigate juvenile justice, law enforcement, educational and child welfare systems.

Dr. Boel-Studt has 20 years of combined experience in practice, training and technical assistance, research, and evaluation spanning the child welfare, children’s mental health, and juvenile justice systems. Her research focuses on the quality and effectiveness of services for children and youth served in out-of-home care settings. Dr. Boel-Studt has extensive experience collaborating with public and private agencies to promote quality services across child service systems

Robynn Baker, ADN, is the Parent Advisor and Researcher at the Institute for Quality Children's Services at the Florida State University. Her professional experiences include working as part of an inter-disciplinary treatment in adult corrections. She also have lived experience as a parent of a high-needs children in residential care.

Darejan (Daji) Dvalishvili is a postdoctoral fellow in the College of Social Work at Florida State University with a Ph.D. in Social Work and 10+ years of experience in research, monitoring, and evaluation services in systems-level initiatives in community, school, and child welfare settings. She is interested in both basic and applied research perspectives and is skilled in various research methods to produce actionable evidence.

Ashley Guevara, LICSW (she/her) is the Assistant Clinical Director at My Life My Choice, where she provides program coordination and clinical supervision to Survivor Mentors and therapy to several young mentees. She is also a member of the My Life My Choice training, providing both virtual and in-person trainings across multiple settings as well as clinical consultation. She has more than 18 years of experience working with trauma-impacted youth.

Christina (Tina) Valila, LICSW is the Senior Clinical Director for My Life My Choice, A Program of the Justice Resource Institute, based in Massachusetts. Joining My Life My Choice in 2014 as the organization’s first Assessment Coordinator, Ms. Valila has since helped lead the program to grow to serve more than 275 young people in Massachusetts each year. In her current role as Senior Clinical Director, Ms. Valila oversees My Life My Choice's Survivor Empowerment Program, which consists of a team of 20 Survivor Leaders and allies who provide a unique continuum of survivor-led services, including survivor-led mentoring, intensive case management, job readiness and leadership development, mental health services, prevention education, and consultation. Prior to joining My Life My Choice, Ms. Valila worked as a Clinical Social Worker in various settings, including working with male-identified people in the prison system, returning citizens, individuals in substance use treatment programs, people living with HIV/AIDS, and other populations pushed to the margins. Ms. Valila is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with a master’s degree from Boston University. She is currently in the process of earning a Doctorate Degree in Social Work from Simmons University.

Mary Jo McVeigh is the founder and CEO of Cara Consultancy. She is a proud Belfast Irish woman, radical social worker and activist, dedicated family member, and friend. She is acknowledged as a committed supporter of young citizens who have faced traumatic experiences through advocacy and rights-informed intervention. She has written many training packages and is widely published within the profession.

Lisa joined the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex in January 2022 as Professor of Applied Social Science. Prior to this she was an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of Research in the Department of Education, University of Oxford. Lisa started her academic career in 2000, as a research assistant, based in the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University. Between 2013 and 2017 she was the Director of the research centre and led a large portfolio of research and evaluation projects focused on children’s social care. Over the past twenty years Lisa has carried out a range of research and evaluation projects, with a particular focus on the relationship between needs, costs and outcomes of services and support provided to children and families. This has included the development of the Cost Calculator for Children’s Services. Lisa has also carried out responsive studies for various government departments, including the Department for Education and Ministry of Justice. These responsive studies were carried out to address specific policy issues. In 2005 Lisa was seconded into the English Government Department for Children, Schools and Families to disseminate research findings and produce a practice guide and resource pack to assist children’s services department with the strategic development and planning of services to best meet the needs of vulnerable children. Lisa has published a range of books, journal articles and project evaluation reports. Along with her colleagues, Professor James Whittaker and Professor Jorge F del Valle, Lisa is co-chair of the International Work Group for Therapeutic Residential Care and is a board member of the European Scientific Association on Residential And Family Care For Children And Adolescents. In late 2017, along with colleagues at UCL and the University of Oxford, Lisa established the Children’s Social Care Data User Group (https://cscdug.co.uk/). The group provides a forum to share expertise and learning between all users and potential users (academic, practice and policy) of children’s social care data. Lisa first started her career in children’s social care as an outreach worker in the early 1990s, followed by three years working as a residential social worker in a local authority children’s home in England.

Sycamores Chief Program Officer Joe Ford is an award-winning youth advocate with 34 years of experience working with young people. At Sycamores, he oversees the Residential, Community Mental Health, and Transitional Independent Living programs. Beginning his career as a crisis management and recreation specialist at Pacific Clinics, he concurrently worked at Five Acres in Altadena, where he served for 17 years as a residential treatment child caregiver, crisis intervention specialist, and director of multiple programs. Later, he worked at the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena for over 16 years and served on its Board of Directors for over 10 years. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the Association of Children’s Residential & Community Centers where he served as Board President, and currently sits on the City of Pasadena’s Human Services Commission. Mr. Ford has been recognized for his outstanding work with the 2010 Professional of the Year award from Los Angeles County for dedication and advocacy for children and families, and the 2014 NAACP-Pasadena Branch President’s Award.

After being diagnosed with Autism at 13, and spending his adolescent years transitioning through various residential placements, Kyle Reece got involved with various youth-serving mental health organizations in his hometown of Durham, North Carolina. After serving as president of multiple youth advocacy organizations, including Youth M.O.V.E North Carolina, Kyle transitioned into his role as Youth Training Coordinator at a UNCG. With his position, Kyle utilizes his lived experience expertise, as well as his passion to affect change for youth in his community and across the state, by providing technical assistance and training to, youth-serving organizations, community collaboratives, and residential placements across the state.

Celeste Walley is currently the Permanency and Youth Engagement Specialist at CA Alliance’s Catalyst Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California Merced while simultaneously serving youth in wraparound programs in the Bay Area. Her lived experience is the foundation of her passion. That experience led her to be a co-founder of Seneca Family of Agency’s Youth Advisory Board and has landed her seats on several national and local youth advisory/advocacy boards. Her passion for youth voice has had a tremendous impact and she hopes to continuously grow her impact and drive positive change in the foster, mental, and medical health systems.

Dr. Nonnemacher received her Ph.D. from Lehigh University and most recently served as the Clinical Director for Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Supports for Autism and Special Populations in the Department of Human Services’ Office of Developmental Programs. In this role, Stacy influenced and informed policy and programmatic decisions related to state Medicaid programs focusing on clinical practices and behavioral science to affect change and create best practices in supporting people, their families, and other supporters. With over twenty-five years of experience in the field supporting children, adolescents, and adults in home, community, and school settings, Dr. Nonnemacher also conducted applied research and capacity building efforts embracing the application and replication of positive approaches. Stacy was Editor in Chief of the Positive Approaches Journal for the past five years.

Tekoah's an experienced nonprofit executive and consultant with a knack for stabilizing organizations and growing program capacity and adapting to what clients need. A Southern girl with northern roots, she's all about turning ideas into real-world business strategies. Specializing in human services, she loves solving complex problems of the human variety, blending policy smarts with people skills. Outside work, Tekoah's all about human rights and connecting with folks to have engaging conversations. Living in Louisiana, she's a traveler at heart and always looking for a new adventure.

Ruth White is one of the nation’s leading experts on the nexus between housing policy and child welfare. She is co-founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare and former director of Housing and Homelessness for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). At the Child Welfare League, she co-edited the landmark issue of the League’s journal, Child Welfare, documenting the extent to which children are needlessly held in foster care because their parents lack decent housing. Through Ruth’s advocacy, over $100 million in new funding for the Family Unification Program has been made available for families and youth in child welfare since 2009. Ruth worked directly with current and former foster youth to design the concept of "on demand" vouchers for youth for HUD's new Foster Youth to Independence Initiative. Having achieved the milestone of getting FUP vouchers codified into law, Ruth has now taken her expertise to serve as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington. Ruth has a degree in social work from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in social administration from Case Western Reserve University and is a doctoral candidate, National School of Social Service at Catholic University of America.

Noor Almaoui, LCSW is a Clinical Supervisor at Sycamores in Los Angeles. She is a tri-lingual professional who has also worked providing a variety of services to adolescents at Casa Pacifica, Homeless Heath Care, and as owner of Universal Ethos, Inc. Noor has presented at a variety of agencies in California, New York and Dublin as well as presenting at Child and Youth Care Conferences in the USA Canada and Ireland, including the 2024 ACRC Conference.

Frank Delano, LMSW is the President of Professional Package Consulting. He previously worked at a large New York Residential Center for 25 years beginning as a Child Care Worker He taught for 25 years in the Fordham University Graduate Social Work program and teaches Child Welfare for the University of Oklahoma for the last 18 years. He is on the Board of ACYCP and was on the Committee that revised the last CWLA Standards of Excellence for Children’s Residential Care.

Dr. Bethany Lee, PhD MSW, is the Richard P. Barth Professor of Children’s Services at the University of Maryland School of Social Work. As a former residential care staff member, she continues to pursue research that improves the quality and outcomes of services provided to youth and families. She currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of ACRC's peer-reviewed journal, Residential Treatment for Children & Youth.

Zachary Barry, MSW, is an Extension Associate for the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research (BCTR) at Cornell University. Zac facilitates courses for the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and CARE models across the United States, Canada and Australia. He also provides technical assistance and coaching to assist organizations using the TCI model sustain best practice principles and achieve positive outcomes. In addition, Zac assists in curriculum development for TCI and coordinates the TCI professional certified trainer program.

Andrea Turnbull is an Extension Associate with the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research and Co-Director of the Residential Child Care Project at Cornell University where she provides day-to-day project leadership, program direction and co-ordination to a team of faculty and staff in developing state-of-the-art program and training curricula on a variety of topics along with technical assistance and training evaluation worldwide.

Danny Pectol started his child welfare career as a childcare staff at the Emergency Shelter/Assessment Center of the Children’s Home of Lubbock in May of 1996. Over the next 11 years he honed his on the floor skills working with high acuity clients through various roles at the Children’s Home of Lubbock and Texas Boys Ranch. Danny developed a reputation for effectively working with the highest acuity clients by building high performing teams with innovative programming. In 2007 after completing his Masters in Social Work at the University of Texas in Arlington Danny moved through various Director and Administrator roles in therapeutic programs in West Texas until 2016. Danny relocated to Fort Worth to work at ACH Child and Family Services and currently serves as the director for their Wedgwood Campus Wedgewood Campus.

As Vice President of Nebraska, Angie has vast program experience and model knowledge in Family Home, Intervention and Assessment, Care Coordination, On the Way Home, Aftercare, and Education programs. Angie began work at Boys Town in 1996 as an Assistant Family Teacher before becoming a Family-Teacher with her husband for six years. She has held various management positions across multiple programs as well as national leadership positions including Director of Pastoral Affairs and Senior Director of Administrative Services. In these roles, she supported the Executive Vice President of Youth Care, managed data services, and implemented special projects nationally throughout the Youth Care Programs. In July of 2019, she took on her current role as Executive Director of Home Campus. This has given her the opportunity to run large programs in an efficient and successful manner. Angie is a passionate advocate for children and families. She is active in building relationships with local and national agencies aiding in this effort. She is a representative for Boys Town providing training, collaboration, and networking with groups such as Association of Children’s Residential Centers (ACRC), Alliance for Children and Families, and the Teaching Family Association (TFA). Angie actively volunteers in her church, school district, and local athletic groups. In her free time, Angie enjoys spending time with her husband, four daughters, and grandson. She also enjoys sports, being outdoors, and traveling with friends and family.

Kim Scorza, LMSW, Kim Scorza, President/CEO for Crittenton Center, has been working in the human services field in Iowa for the past 35 years. Her leadership experience includes overseeing operating budgets of over $10 million dollars and leading a staff of nearly 200 employees. Ms. Scorza has developed and promoted working relationships with key stakeholders and partners representing county, regional, and state agencies, and was directly responsible for re-opening and re-envisioning emergency shelter services for youth following the COVID-19 pandemic. Crittenton Center is now the largest emergency shelter for youth in the state of Iowa.

Casey Meinster has devoted her professional journey to infusing hope and promise into the lives of those in need of intensive behavioral healthcare and support. Driven by personal experiences with the profound impact of suicide, Casey channels her passion into her role as the Division Chief of Campus-Based Services. In this capacity, she nurtures and oversees the Hillsides Residential Program, HillsidesCares, providing essential support to at-risk youth aged 6 to 17.

Andrew Hernandez serves as the Director of Campus Based Services at Hillsides’ Residential Programs. In this role, Andrew provides oversight to the direct care teams that support Hillsides Residential Programs. Andrew has over 12 years of experience providing direct care services and leadership in programs in South Dakota and in California.

Lucy Garcia joined Hillsides in 2021 as a Business Development Manager, leading innovation initiatives and supporting new business opportunities for the organization. She oversees health plan contracting and relationship management for multiple service lines, including residential and intensive outpatient behavioral treatment programs.

Nila has built a 40-year career impacting the world of early childhood education. Her decades of Head Start management experience at all levels of responsibility include work at the national, state, and local levels. Nila’s most recent experience includes management and oversight of the RPFI Task under the National Interim Management contract (NIM). In this capacity she led the expansion of this initiative in partnership with the University of Massachusetts – Donahue Institute. Her primary work experience has centered on contract management, program management, governance, program design, and fiscal operations – including oversight of a substantial real estate portfolio. Her experience also includes managing migrant and seasonal, and American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) programs. She has been a director of a nationally recognized AI/AN Head Start program for 10 years. In 2007, at the request of OHS, Nila provided management support to the American Indian/Alaska Native Regional Office. Promoting indigenous cultures and languages is a passion for Nila, and she knows firsthand how to work with deficient programs and improve their practices. Nila joined CDI in 2003 and successfully assisted in developing projects in place today.

Kathi brings over 30 years of experience in program development and design as an administrator for early childhood projects. Early on, Kathi gained valuable hands-on experience, directing various pieces of Head Start administration of a large, urban, non-profit agency. She grew that experience into her own small business, where she crafted customized improvement plans for Head Start grantees who had recently undergone federal reviews revealing areas of non-compliance. This shoulder-to-shoulder approach in T/TA lent itself to Kathi’s managerial style in working as a CDI Lead Site Manager for interim programs, many of whom experienced similar deficiency findings under their previous grantee. Kathi’s influence extends beyond direct services and reaches the program’s childcare, family childcare, and delegate partners to ensure compliance program-wide. Kathi has also contributed to the success of program transitions between incumbents and awardees as part of the Transition Works team, where her skills in planning and implementation have flourished. In her current role as Senior Project Manager, Kathi has worked internally and externally to build a network of child welfare providers focused on best practices in shelter care environments.

Vida Khavar, LMFT has 25+ years’ experience in child welfare. She has assisted many organizations in developing programs that serve children and families, and her expertise lies in permanency and out-of-home care. Vida was a consultant for the federal project: RISE, which aimed at improving the lives of LGBTQ+ youth in foster care in Los Angeles County. She is currently the Clinical Director at Family Builders. As such, she collaborates with the California Department of Social Services in developing and implementing affirming policies and practices for LGBTQ+ children in foster care. Vida also leads the Youth Acceptance Project and provides her clinical expertise to several jurisdictions throughout the country.

Leah Harrigan (she/her) is the Assistant Director of Education and Training at Silver Lining Mentoring, where she supports educational opportunities for child welfare practitioners and mentors matched with youth impacted by foster care. With a background in classroom teaching, clinical social work, and social service leadership, Leah focuses her work on expanding trauma-informed mentorship practices for young people in care. Leah holds an M.A. in Child Study and Human Development from Tufts University and a certificate in Social Impact Management and Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

Jackie Surdan (she/her) is a clinician at Waltham House, a 1:4 specialty group home placement for LGBTQ+ adolescents. She specializes in trauma therapy and providing holistic, gender-affirming care for trans, nonbinary, and queer youth. Jackie also provides training and support to the Waltham House multidisciplinary team, drawing on her background in congregate care to apply principles of trauma-informed treatment to milieu work. Jackie has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from William James College.

Dr. Monica McCall is the Founder and Former Chief Executive Officer of Creative Options, a Maryland’s premier community -based provider organization supporting adults, youth and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities with co-ocurring mental illness. For over 32 years Dr. McCall has been able to combine her non- profit leadership talents with her executive and leadership coaching. She is now the managing partner of Coach Approach Partners.

Lloyd Bullard has over 40 years of experience working in the human services field. Lloyd is the Association of Children's Residential &Community Services (ACRC)/Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) Administrator of Equity, Diversity, Belonging, and Inclusion, as well as a Senior Consultant. He is responsible for staffing and leading the Leaders of Color Project.

Dr. Camela Hughes is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University at Albany. Her research interests include evidence-based practice, trauma informed care, and the linkages between client characteristics, treatment interventions, and outcomes for youth. Dr. Hughes was the Co-Principal Investigator of Service Outcomes Action Research (SOAR), a University/agency partnership designed to aid LaSalle School in the development and testing of a theory of change to help determine what methods work best with which clients. She is also a member of the Association of Children’s Residential Centers Research Committee.

Jessica Linick, Ph.D., SEP, (Columbia University) is the Director of Youth Services for the Lionheart Foundation. Prior to joining Lionheart, she was the Senior Psychologist with the Bellevue/NYU Juvenile Justice Mental Health Service and a Clinical Assistant Professor with NYU School of Medicine, working to expand trauma-informed care within the NYC secure and non-secure juvenile detention sites. Prior to that, she was a Clinical Supervisor at Rikers Island, New York City’s largest jail complex, serving adults with severe mental illness. She is an author, consultant, trainer, speaker, and teacher, presenting nationally and internationally on topics related to attachment, Trauma Informed Care, criminal justice reform, and the use of mindfulness as an intervention within residential and forensic settings. Jess is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP); SE is a resiliency based, body-oriented approach to the healing of trauma and other stress disorders.

Carly L. Baetz is an Associate Professor at Purdue University Northwest. Her current work focuses on treating justice-involved youth with histories of trauma exposure, conducting research on the implementation of trauma-informed practices in the juvenile justice system, and providing trauma-informed training and consultation to juvenile justice professionals.

Holly Jones has worked as an independently licensed clinical counselor and supervisor in multiple clinical settings. She has served youth and families Buckeye Ranch for the last 17 years and manages 2 community-based programs that provide intensive mental health services to children and families. She provides training to clinical employees across multiple programs as well as managing the administrative side. Holly is passionate about providing high quality evidence-based services to children and their families in their own communities, while making sure clinical staff have the skills and support to accomplish these goals.

Joshua Stewart has been working as a clinical practitioner for over 20 years and has served within a director role for the past 11 years within a Residential program. Joshua employs a strength based and relational care approach within an individual/family/systems centered viewpoint as well as within a collaborative supervisory approach. He has encompassed NMT, Collaborative Problem Solving and EQ2 within the practices. His special focus has been working within complex problems including acute trauma, crisis management, and conceptualizing problems from a strategic, solution focused, strength based, developmental and cultural perspective.

With 17 years of experience in the foster care system, Jessica Thompson brings a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience to her training sessions. Jessica is committed to improving the lives of children and families through her commitment to advocacy, education, and collaboration between systems of care. Jessica was recently developed one of the training courses that is utilized to train adoption assessors across the state of Ohio.

Anton is currently the Executive Director for Oak Hill Ranch, located near Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. He has worked at Oak Hill for twenty (20) years, and in the area Child and Youth Care for over 35 years in variety children’s services domains. In addition, he is a Children And Residential Care (CARE) Consultant and an Instructor for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) with the Residential Child Care Project (RCCP) at Cornell University. Anton has completed a Masters in Social Work (2005) through Dalhousie University in Child and Family Practice and a Bachelor of Social Work from the University of Victoria. Anton has presented at international, national and regional conferences on topics related to Child and Youth Care.

Dr. Wang is a Senior Director of Clinical Advancement at Hull Services. She has 30+ years of experience in clinical practice and 25 years in organizational leadership. She was instrumental in bringing the Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics into Hull in 2010, and in developing Hull Services as Alberta’s first Touchpoints Training Site. She is the 202 recipient of the UCDavis CPE PICI “Bruce D. Perry Spirit of the Child Award” and the 2023 recipient of the Psychologist of the Year award from Psychologist’s Association of Alberta.

Beginning her career in campus-based care in 1990, Michelle held a variety of roles with Children and Family Services before accepting her current role as Executive Director for Child Intervention in 2004. Michelle has had the privilege of leading the development of a dedicated provincial campus-based care branch over the past year, bringing her career full circle in an area she is most passionate about.

Shawn O’Grady, MSW RSW Shawn brings a great deal of expertise in designing and overseeing treatment programs for children and families, as he draws from his experience in child and family treatment programs within the mental health field over the past 25 years. Shawn is currently working as an individual and family therapist, trainer and instructor in Calgary, Alberta and surrounding area. He has trained extensively with Dr. Bruce Perry and the Child Trauma Academy in the Neurosequential Model (NM) in the area of early childhood trauma and the ways that can impact children and even adults later in life. Shawn has also been an instructor for Therapeutic Crisis Intervention with Cornell University since 2001. Shawn has a specialty in parental capacity and family systems, with a particular focus with families struggling as a result of domestic violence, parent/child conflict, high-risk child behaviour, and complex needs children. He has considerable skill and expertise in the area of crisis intervention and in family counseling, and he draws heavily on his understanding of other treatment and assistance programs to create plans that will help families. Shawn received both his Bachelors and Masters of Social Work with a Clinical Specialization from the University of Calgary and is a registered social worker with the Alberta College of Social Workers.

Mindy Kiser serves as the Omni Family Institute President/Executive Director. Mindy comes to OFI with more than twenty years of experience working with the child welfare sector. Mindy has been a Together Facing the Challenge trainer and consultant and a TBRI practitioner for the past 6 years and worked as the national director of quality assurance with The Bair Foundation, previously. Mindy has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Slippery Rock University in PA.

Michelle Wingate serves as the Omni Family Institute Learning Ambassador. She comes from Together Facing the Challenge, where she spent more than five years as a certified trainer and consultant. Michelle is a mom of six. Four of her children came to her family through foster care and adoption. Michelle and her husband, Chase, have been foster parents for over six years, serving over twenty children in multiple capacities. Michelle studied Human Development at Azusa Pacific University and completed her Masters in Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University.

Amy Savage serves as Omni Family Institute’s Hope Ambassador. She brings twenty-plus years of experience in child welfare, including four years of prevention and over seven years as a foster care team leader. Most recently, Amy served as the Program Director over continuous quality improvement at the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Amy holds a Master of Science in Counseling and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services/Educational Interpreting for the deaf, both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

I am your quintessential Midwestern, farm girl. I was raised on a small dairy farm in Ixonia, WI. My parents were two of the hardest working, most dedicated humans I’ve ever met, role modeling for me a true commitment to the things you are passionate about. I accidently stumbled into human services working with people with developmental and other disabilities, but I knew immediately this would be my life’s work. I’ve worked with both adults and children with a variety of disabilities, neuro-developmental disorders, mental health diagnosis, and a variety of other barriers ranging in intensity. The work ethic role-modeled for me from childhood has been the foundation to my successful career in advocating for a population that often cannot advocate for themselves. I absolutely love my job and wake up every day looking forward to going to work.

Anna Blamer is the Nutrition Services Coordinator at Genesee Lake School (GLS). She is a Registered Dietitian with a background in program development, sustainable food systems, and foodservice management. During her time at GLS, she has morphed the dining program into a farm-to-cafeteria model. She is currently in the process of developing clinical nutrition policies to address behavioral feeding concerns of adolescents.

Dr. Larome Myrick is a highly accomplished professional in the field of criminal justice, who served as the Executive Director of Juvenile Justice for the State of Rhode Island from May 2018 to present. With an extensive educational background and a wealth of experience, Dr. Myrick has made significant contributions to the field throughout his career. Dr. Myrick obtained his undergraduate degree in Healthcare Administration from the esteemed University of Toledo in 2003. Recognizing the importance of continued education, he pursued a master's degree in Organizational Leadership from Lourdes University in 2009. Driven by a thirst for knowledge and a desire to make a lasting impact, he went on to complete his PhD in Criminal Justice.

John R. Scott, Senior Community Development Training Specialist at the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), brings over three decades of experience to his role. He oversees trainings and policy implementations at the Rhode Island Training School, ensuring staff's professional growth. John collaborates with management and frontline teams to identify improvement areas and spearhead training initiatives. Additionally, he fosters partnerships with local institutions to recruit talent and provides career enrichment opportunities like certified instructor trainings. Notable achievements include expanding recruitment efforts and advocating for staff advancement. John holds a Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, and a Master's in Criminal Justice Administration, reflecting his dedication to youth development and juvenile justice. He was honored with the John R. Manson/Carl Robinson Award for Significant Contributions to the Field of Criminal Justice by the New England Council on Crime and Delinquency in 2008. Key accomplishments include co-creating and managing the Urban Garden Project and the Harvest Kitchen Project, both providing therapeutic and vocational opportunities for youth under DCYF's care.

As the Support to End Exploitation Now (SEEN) Program Manager at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County, Sheelah Gobar coordinates multidisciplinary interventions for commercially sexually exploited and high-risk youth (CSEC). Sheelah provides guidance and leadership to the SEEN team to ensure prompt communication among multidisciplinary team members, and victim-centered responses for youth and families. She provides training and consultation locally, nationally, and internationally on CSEC identification and response. Sheelah came to the CAC after completing her MS in Crime and Justice Studies at Suffolk University with a concentration in Victim Advocacy. Sheelah previously served as a rape crisis counselor where she provided medical advocacy to sexual assault survivors. Prior, Sheelah received her BS in Political Science at Northeastern University with a concentration in International and Comparative Politics and worked in international urban development supporting research and capacity-building.

Sophie is the CSEC Prevention and Intervention Specialist at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. In this role, Sophie works with CAC partners to coordinate and facilitate person-centered, trauma-informed, and comprehensive services for youth survivors, as well as provide tailored training and outreach to community partners on CSEC prevention and response. Prior to joining the CAC, Sophie worked as a Montessori Educator at Children’s House Montessori School in Burlington, North Carolina and interned as a Client Advocate at the New Hampshire domestic violence and sexual assault crisis center, HAVEN. These experiences have helped her develop a strong understanding of child development, best-practice when working with survivors, and micro, mezzo, and macro social systems. Sophie is committed to a strengths-based approach when working with survivors.

Kim Parks-Bourn is the Program Manager for Children Missing from Care at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. She is responsible for working with all 50 states to implement federal policy requiring child welfare to report missing children and youth to NCMEC. Her work entails identifying and problem-solving cross-system pain points to improve serving children missing from care. She joined NCMEC in July, 2023 and brings with her over 28 years of experience as a frontline social worker, clinician, trainer, clinical supervisor as well as an administrator in the child welfare and mental health systems in the State of Maryland. Kim has served numerous children, adolescents, and families throughout her career ranging in these capacities. She also has experience in developing and monitoring legislation as well as assessing needs and strategic planning.

Hannah Taverna, MSW, PhD, currently serves as the Program Manager for the Missing or Absent Child Program at the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families, where she oversees teams of supervisors and social workers dedicated to locating, engaging, and ensuring the safe return of missing or absent children. Hannah earned her PhD in Global Inclusion and Social Development from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where her research focused on the wellbeing of unaccompanied refugee minors transitioning into adulthood in the United States. She also holds a Master of Social Work degree from Bridgewater State University. She is a licensed certified social worker (LCSW) with a deep commitment to promoting social justice, inclusion, and equity in all aspects of her work.

Erin Flood began working for LaSalle in June 2020, learning to navigate a new position during the depths of the pandemic. Prior to joining LaSalle she held positions as a direct care staff; case manager; and therapist in both residential treatment and outpatient care. She has a passion for residential care and the change it can make with children and their families. At LaSalle she is a member of our Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training team and has developed other trainings for staff on best practices with youth and families and most recently presented at ACRC about youth running from out of home placements.

Like a lot of parents, Nancy started her “career” learning to navigate the child serving systems for her children. Little did she realize that her personal experiences would lead her on professional quest to ensure every family, no matter the challenges they face have access to a family peer helping and supporting to teach, coach and mentor parents /caregivers as they journey towards their personal strength and empowerment.

Robert E. (Bob) Lieberman has over four decades working with young people and families facing serious challenges, in a variety of capacities, including 28 years as CEO of Kairos Northwest. He has written extensively and is lead or co- author, and editor, of ACRC’s “Redefining Residential” papers, as well as co-editor of two books on transforming residential interventions. He chairs the Outcomes Workgroup of the Building Bridges Initiative, is certified by Massachusetts General Hospital as a trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving and is a certified Master Trainer in the NEAR sciences. He is currently President of Lieberman Group, Inc. and trains and consults across the country and internationally.

Chris has been Chief Operating Officer at Bonnie Brae since October 2018, bringing over 20 years of experience in supporting underserved children, adolescents, and families. His passion for this work was sparked during his studies in Psychology at The College of Staten Island, where the legacy of Willowbrook State School inspired him to advocate for vulnerable populations. Chris holds a Master’s in Counseling from Rider University and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). He has held leadership roles in various residential treatment settings and continues to drive impactful change at Bonnie Brae through collaboration and empowerment.

Millie Sweeney, M.S., Director of Learning and Workforce Development for the Family-Run Executive Director Leadership Association (FREDLA), has over 25 years in the children’s mental health field using her professional expertise and personal experience as the parent of two children with mental health challenges. She specializes in family partnership, parent peer support, and program development, offering training and technical assistance nationally and internationally.

Kayla Herbell, PhD, RN, is an assistant professor in the Martha S. Pitzer Center for Women, Children, and Youth at The Ohio State University College of Nursing. Kayla’s federally funded research is devoted to optimizing treatment gains for adolescents who access residential treatment by way of providing their caregivers with tailored education and support.

Amy Kelly, MBA, MNM, is the National Director of Family Engagement at Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health. Using her personal and professional experience in this role, she has been able to create new ways of engaging and collaborating with families and caregivers inside and outside of the organization, as well as connecting to the major touchpoints of the autism and IDD journey, for staff, leadership, the community and families, both within Devereux and the Human Services professional field.

Celeste Walley is currently the Permanency and Youth Engagement Specialist at CA Alliance’s Catalyst Center. She earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California Merced while simultaneously serving youth in wraparound programs in the Bay Area. Her lived experience is the foundation of her passion. That experience led her to be a co-founder of Seneca Family of Agency’s Youth Advisory Board and has landed her seats on several national and local youth advisory/advocacy boards. Her passion for youth voice has had a tremendous impact and she hopes to continuously grow her impact and drive positive change in the foster, mental, and medical health systems.

Ruth White is one of the nation’s leading experts on the nexus between housing policy and child welfare. She is co-founder and Executive Director of the National Center for Housing and Child Welfare and former director of Housing and Homelessness for the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA). At the Child Welfare League, she co-edited the landmark issue of the League’s journal, Child Welfare, documenting the extent to which children are needlessly held in foster care because their parents lack decent housing. Through Ruth’s advocacy, over $100 million in new funding for the Family Unification Program has been made available for families and youth in child welfare since 2009. Ruth worked directly with current and former foster youth to design the concept of "on demand" vouchers for youth for HUD's new Foster Youth to Independence Initiative. Having achieved the milestone of getting FUP vouchers codified into law, Ruth has now taken her expertise to serve as the Executive Director of Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Wilmington. Ruth has a degree in social work from Ohio State University, a master’s degree in social administration from Case Western Reserve University and is a doctoral candidate, National School of Social Service at Catholic University of America.

Lisa joined the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sussex in January 2022 as Professor of Applied Social Science. Prior to this she was an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of Research in the Department of Education, University of Oxford. Lisa started her academic career in 2000, as a research assistant, based in the Centre for Child and Family Research at Loughborough University. Between 2013 and 2017 she was the Director of the research centre and led a large portfolio of research and evaluation projects focused on children’s social care. Over the past twenty years Lisa has carried out a range of research and evaluation projects, with a particular focus on the relationship between needs, costs and outcomes of services and support provided to children and families. This has included the development of the Cost Calculator for Children’s Services. Lisa has also carried out responsive studies for various government departments, including the Department for Education and Ministry of Justice. These responsive studies were carried out to address specific policy issues. In 2005 Lisa was seconded into the English Government Department for Children, Schools and Families to disseminate research findings and produce a practice guide and resource pack to assist children’s services department with the strategic development and planning of services to best meet the needs of vulnerable children. Lisa has published a range of books, journal articles and project evaluation reports. Along with her colleagues, Professor James Whittaker and Professor Jorge F del Valle, Lisa is co-chair of the International Work Group for Therapeutic Residential Care and is a board member of the European Scientific Association on Residential And Family Care For Children And Adolescents. In late 2017, along with colleagues at UCL and the University of Oxford, Lisa established the Children’s Social Care Data User Group (https://cscdug.co.uk/). The group provides a forum to share expertise and learning between all users and potential users (academic, practice and policy) of children’s social care data. Lisa first started her career in children’s social care as an outreach worker in the early 1990s, followed by three years working as a residential social worker in a local authority children’s home in England.

Kevin King earned a master’s degree in education from Concordia University and has been with Seneca Family of Agencies since 2000 and currently serves in the Seneca Institute of Advanced Practice as A Training Content and Delivery Director. Within this role, he is responsible for overseeing the curriculum development for the (STRTP) Provider Training Academy as well as the forty-hour Initial Certification Training Program for the Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program Certification team, the twelve-hour transition certification and ongoing Continuing Education classes and programs for Group Homes, Educational Staff and Social Work staff.  Previously, Mr. King served as Program Director for Seneca’s Concord Community Treatment Facility, San Francisco Community Treatment Facility, Willow Rock Center Stabilization Unit, The James Baldwin Academy non-public school, and as the principal of a large elementary school in East Oakland. 

Stephen Shedletzky—or “Shed” to his friends—helps leaders listen and nurture the voice of others. He supports humble leaders that put their people and purpose first, all while knowing they are both a part of the problems they experience and part of the solutions they seek to create. Shed has led hundreds of keynote presentations, workshops, and leadership development programs around the world. He is the author of the book, Speak-Up Culture: When Leaders Truly Listen, People Step up. After years on a corporate track, Shed was introduced to Simon Sinek and inspired by his work. Soon after their meeting, Shed joined Simon’s team. For more than a decade, Shed has contributed to Simon Sinek, Inc., where as Chief of Staff, Head of Brand Experience, and Head of Training & Development, he has led a global team of speakers and facilitators. Shed continues to speak and facilitate with The Optimism Company, helping to create a more inspired, safe, and fulfilled world.