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Racial Equity Panel
Micaela Ríos Anguiano is a Director of Social Change with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence. Micaela is a social justice advocate and activist who works across issues of race, class, gender, and sexuality. She commits to uplifting the voices and histories of those impacted by generational trauma, violence and oppression. Micaela takes pride in her Mexican roots, history, culture and ancestral healing wisdom. She's on a journey toward grounding her own truth and power and serves as a vessel in others' healing and liberation.

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Capnote Speaker, Workshop 1D
Corey B. Best is first, a dedicated father. While originally from Washington, DC, he now resides in Florida. This is where Corey began his transformation into leadership training, systems building, family engagement, anti-oppressive practice, promoting protective factors, social equality and highlighting “good enough parenting” for those impacted by the child welfare system. Mr. Best is commonly known as a leader and skilled facilitator who brings a combination of lived and professional experience as he organizes for child welfare justice and transformation. His innovative style and approach led him to receive the 2016 Casey Family Programs Excellence for Children’s Award. This work has allowed Corey to take leadership to the next level. His perspective is that a leader must have a set a values and behaviors that embrace diversity, shared power and social contribution to see lasting changes within our communities. Corey is Certified in the National Alliance of Children’s Trust and Prevention Fund’s Bringing the Protective Factors to Life in Your Work. In addition to several speaking and technical assistance opportunities, he proudly serves as an active member Board member with Alia. His role has also morphed into a Professional Guide for the Alia Innovation Cohort. Corey has also mobilized countless communities to intentionally share power, while infusing perspectives of constituents in practice and policy changes that directly impact communal wellbeing. In short, Corey’s mission is to positively influence the lives of children, families, and communities through curating emotionally safe and racially equitable relationships.

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Kristen has spent several years working directly with at risk families and the professionals who serve them, particularly around areas of attachment. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Child Development and Family Relations and is a Certified Professional Coach.  Kristen is also a certified Circle of Security facilitator, a Stewards of Children facilitator and is trained in Attachment and Bio-Behavioral Catch-up (ABC). Currently Kristen lives in Coeur d’Alene and is a member of the Strengthening Families Roundtable, HOPE Conquers ACES Community of Practice and has recently become a CASA Advocate.

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Kyle Bringhurst is a Deputy Prosecutor for Ada County. He has worked for the Prosecutor’s Office for over 10 years. He has covered Child Protective Act cases full time for approximately 6 years.  He obtained his B.A. degree in International Studies from Utah Sate University, and his JD from Brigham Young University. He is passionate about keeping children safe and making our community a safer and better place.  He lives in Boise with his wife and sons, and a dog.  In his free time he enjoys fishing, hiking, and spending time in the great outdoors.

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Workshop 1D
Ezequiel Adan Campos was born in Idaho Falls and raised on the Northside of Nampa, Idaho.

In addition to growing up in a troubled household, he navigates fatherhood as well pursuing his

GED at the young age of 14. As a way to cope with the chaos, he started making music in the

seventh grade and has been able to record and publish his songs using the Breaking Chain’s

Recording Studio. Despite the struggles that he has endeavored, he continues to work towards

a better life for himself and his son.

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Parents 4 Parents Panel Ms. Cantamessa has the privilege of being a mother to six amazing children and two grandchildren. She is the owner of Re-Unify Family Solutions LLC and formerly managed contracts with the Washington State Office of Public Defense, Safe Babies Court Team & Children’s Home Society of Washington. She launched the Parents for Parents (P4P) Program and Reunification Day Celebration in the Spokane Court Superior Court and supported the implementation of multiple P4P programs throughout eastern Washington state. As a recovering addict and parent who successfully navigated the child welfare system, she utilizes the skills of her peers to engage parents currently involved in the dependency court system. Ms. Cantamessa is a member of local, state, national and global parent advocacy groups. She is a motivational speaker who has won many awards for her leadership, program design and advocacy work including: the 2015 Lee Ann Miller Group Award, the 2016 Social Entrepreneur Award, and the 2017 Honoring Other People's Experiences (HOPE) Award. The driving force behind her passion is her belief that "The best way to help kids is to help their parents. Kids want to be with their parents and parents want to be what their kids need."

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Workshop 2E
Shannon Decker, Executive Director and co-founder of The Speedy Foundation, holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Idaho and has ten years of private and public teaching and administrative experience in Idaho, Nevada, and California. She is a Mental Health First Aid, QPR, and safeTALK facilitator who offers trainings in Idaho and Utah to further the foundation’s mission of promoting mental health education and advocating for suicide prevention.

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Parents 4 Parents panel Ambrosia Eberhardt, BLS, Family Impact Manager at Children's Home Society of Washington

Ms. Eberhardt is the mother of 5 children, some she reunified with and one she did not. She is a parent with a disability, an addict in recovery and a survivor of domestic violence. The pain she felt with being separated is why she shows up every day to help other parents have the support they need to reunify. She has over 20 years of experiencing the child welfare system, both from being in it and working within it with currently involved parents.  She now helps support the statewide Parents for Parents Programs (P4P) within her new role. She uses her story and experience to impact change and influence a different perspective sharing people can and do change.

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Michael J. Elia was raised in Walla Walla, Washington. He graduated from Gonzaga University, magnacum laude, in 1984, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and minor degrees in Computer Science and Finance. He received his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from the University of Washington School of Law in 1987.

Mike began his law practice in San Diego, California, as an associate of McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees, Sharkey & McIntyre, where he emphasized in medical malpractice defense, general negligence, and automobile liability. In 1994, Mike relocated to Boise, Idaho and continued to develop his defense practice in the areas of product liability, insurance coverage, commercial litigation, and construction law, first with Stoel Rives LLP, and later Brassey, Wetherell Crawford and McCurdy.

In 2002, Mike went in-house as claims counsel for General Fire and Casualty Company. In 2004, he became a founding member of Lance, Elia & Associates, PLLC. Then, in 2006, Mike joined his current law firm, now known as Moore Elia & Kraft, LLP, where he practices primarily insurance defense and represents state and local governmental entities in tort and civil rights actions.

Mike is admitted to practice before all state courts in Idaho, Washington and California. He is also admitted to the United States District Court for the Districts of Idaho and Southern California, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mike holds a certificate from the Northwest Institute for Dispute Resolution in Civil Mediation and is a member of the mediation panel for the United States District Court, District of Idaho. He holds an “AV” rating with Martindale-Hubbell and is a member of the Defense Research Institute, the Idaho Association of Defense Counsel, and the Federal Bar Association.

Mr. Elia volunteers his time as the general counsel for the Fourth Judicial District Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program and represents Guardians ad Litem in child protection proceedings. He enjoys skiing, golfing and any other sport involving a ball with his three sons, Noah, Daniel and Joseph.

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Parents 4 parents panel Duston Galusha, Parents for Parents Coordinator for Okanogan, Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Ferry Counties

I am a father of 3 children one being my oldest was the only child involved in child welfare system. Getting a phone call when he was 4 months old as he was taken from his mother and in foster care at an early age. Having a past of my own I had some obstacles to overcome including long term substance abuse disorder and mental health from the trauma in my life, while being a single father. Today I use my lived experience to empower parents and people with mental health and substance abuse disorders in their own lives. To instill hope that change is possible, and we are in control of that. Letting them know that they are not alone and that there is help.

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Workshop 1D
From an early age, Luis was surrounded by gangs & violence. With the help of mentors during that period of his life, he was able to break free from the chains of the self-destructive life he was living. Inspired by those who helped him succeed, Luis developed a deep and sincere passion to help others. Now, as executive director, he uses both his experience & knowledge to help youth who are stuck in a similar destructive lifestyle.

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Workshop 1E
Krista Howard is an attorney in solo practice for 22 years.  She handles cases in Ada and Canyon Counties as conflict counsel for county public defender offices in child protection actions representing children, parents and guardians ad litem. She also represent defendants on criminal cases for the county.

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Workshop 1E
Karen Jennings is an Ada County deputy public defender assigned to the child protection team, which handles primarily child protection parent defense.  She is board certified in child welfare law by NACC and prosecuted child protection cases in New Mexico as long ago as the early 1980s.  She has been in Idaho for about four years, having moved here after 25 years in Alaska.  Her legal experience spans almost forty years and includes private practice, public defense, prosecution and Navy JAG Corps.

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Parents 4 Parents panel Kimberly May, MPA, Contracted Social Services Worker, WA State Office of Public Defense and Constituent Consultant & Strategic Innovations Planning Team (SIT) Member, Casey Family Programs

Ms. Mays is a mother of 10 children, who has experienced both reunification and termination in the dependency court system. Utilizing her education and lived experience, Kimberly helped create the current Parents for Parents (P4P) program model; is now a local, state, and national child welfare policy consultant; and has recently been certified as a Licensed Foster Parent in the State of Washington, after caring for non-relative and relative foster youth over the past 5 years.

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Workshop 1C
Jim McKay is State Coordinator of Prevent Child Abuse WV, a project of TEAM for WV Children. Jim also works as Public Policy Director for the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance and serves as a member of the National Child Abuse Coalition and the national Home Visiting Coalition.

Jim has helped create and lead various initiatives including Our Babies: Safe & Sound, Partners in Prevention, Circle of Parents WV, the WV ACEs Coalition, the State Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children, and the Legislative Action Team for Children and Families.

Previously, he was Program Director at Time Out Youth Shelter, Director of Programs for the Education Alliance, and Legislative Assistant to the Speaker of WV House of Delegates.

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Workshop 2A
Shannon is the Chief Empowerment Officer of Spark!—a social impact agency that helps leaders build vibrant

communities. Shannon wants to live in a world where health is the first wealth, communities are prosperous, and people are empowered to maximize their potential. Over the last 15 years she has worked with businesses, philanthropists, nonprofits and government to address complex social issues.

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Keynote Speaker
The Power of Prevention
Melissa T. Merrick, PhD, is President and CEO of Prevent Child Abuse America, the nation’s oldest nonprofit organization dedicated to the primary prevention of child abuse and neglect. She has nearly 20 years of clinical, research, and leadership experience related to the etiology, course, and prevention of child abuse and neglect. Previously, Dr. Merrick was a senior epidemiologist at the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in Atlanta, and served on a detail in the Office of the Commissioner at the Children’s Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families. In partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Child Abuse and Neglect, she served as the lead scientist for the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study at CDC for 8 years. Dr. Merrick successfully leverages her clinical and research experiences to communicate and disseminate the critical public health importance of preventing early adversity to key stakeholders with diverse priorities, backgrounds, and knowledge, including legislators, business and civic leaders, and members of the academic and medical communities. Dr. Merrick received her BA in psychology, magna 🤬 laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, and her master’s and doctoral degrees in clinical psychology from the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego, joint doctoral program in clinical psychology, where she served as a program coordinator for the San Diego site of the Longitudinal Studies on Child Abuse and Neglect consortium. Dr. Merrick was a National Institutes of Health-funded postdoctoral fellow at the University of Miami Child Protection Team (CPT), where she was involved in a multi-site program of research that examined child maltreatment risk and protective factors in families evaluated by CPTs across the state of Florida. Dr. Merrick is married and has two young children who keep her grounded, thankful, and hopeful for a brighter future for all children.

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Racial Equity Panel Whitney is a DEI strategist, speaker, and the Co-Founder & Executive Director of Inclusive Idaho, an organization focused on building inclusion and belonging for underrepresented, underserved and minoritized Idahoans. In addition to helping build Inclusive Idaho Whitney is the co-owner of Equity Candle Co, a small batch candle company with a mission to provide quality candles while elevating & building equity in Idaho and beyond. In her local community she serves as a Boise Angels board member and Bluesky Institute DEI Advisory Board member. Whitney brings with her knowledge and experience from her previous work in athletics, development, and higher education

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Workshop 2A
Jean Mutchie is the west Treasure Valley community health manager for St. Luke’s Health System. Jean has been working in the healthcare industry for 20 years and has spent 17 of those in various capacities within St. Luke’s. Jean’s work has focused on community health and health equity initiatives that impact where we live, learn, work, play, pray and age.

Jean’s efforts include addressing social determinants that influence poor health outcomes. Jean serves on Nampa City Council and co-chairs the Nampa Healthy Impact Coalition through the Mayor’s office. She is also a current Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders fellow; a three-year national leadership program designed to generate innovative, sector-spanning work that disrupts the status quo to advance a culture of health.

Jean completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Idaho and earned her MBA from Western Governors University.

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Workshop 1B
From a wide range of positions, Keith has anchored his professional services to supporting the families, organizations, and systems that care for our community’s children.   A licensed clinical social worker, Keith serves as the Mental Health Specialist for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools.  He was formerly an environmental educator in the Peace Corps, wilderness therapy guide, senior clinician at Idaho Youth Ranch, clinical supervisor of the Family Advocate Program at the Marine Corps Base in Hawai’i, and a classroom teacher in Redmond Washington.

From his passionate keynote addresses and practical workshops to personal and tailored coaching, Keith’s warm and caring personality shines.  Insightful, open, and patient, Keith’s message resonates in a very real, very practical way.

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Workshop 1F
Sgt. Jim Sears has been a law enforcement officer for over 30 years working with the Irving Police Department in Irving, Texas. He has served as a Patrol Officer, School Resource Officer, Detective in the Youth Services Unit, Domestic Violence Unit, and Child Abuse Unit.  Sgt. Sears has worked as a Detective in the Child Abuse Unit for ten years before being promoted to Sgt.  He worked 6 ½ years as the supervisor for the Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, and Youth Service Units at the Irving Family Advocacy Center before retiring in September of 2015.  A dedicated advocate of children and the elderly. Jim is Texas Commission (T.C.O.L.E) on Law Enforcement instructor specializing in Domestic Violence and Child Abuse, Instructor at the Crimes Against Children’s Conference in Dallas for many years, is a Certified Instructor for Advanced Child Abuse Investigations through Texas Municipal Police Association (T.M.P.A.), is on the coordinator for the Fox Valley / N.C.J.T.C. in their national training project for the Conducting Unexplained Child Death investigations, instructor for the Zero Abuse Project (ZAP) formerly the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center, and an Adjunct instructor for Tarrant County College Law Enforcement Academy in Ft. Worth and Hill College. Sgt. Sears is the 2011 recipient of the Lt. Bill Walsh Award for the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center for career achievements in the field of Child Abuse Investigations.  Sgt. Sears is a six-time recipient of the Nick Fowler award from Tarrant County College as the Outstanding / Favorite Instructor for the Basic Police Officers Academy.  Sgt. Sears frequently lectures on topics related to child abuse investigations, interview and interrogation, and crime scene investigations centered on Domestic Violence and Child Abuse cases.  A father of three wonderful boys, Sgt. Sears has dedicated his career to bringing justice to the victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elderly abuse, and the mentally disabled.

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Racial Equity Panelist "The Storyteller" is Tai Simpson's name in the Indigenous language of the Nez Perce Tribe. Tai studied Sociology and Political Philosophy at Boise State University. In the community, she serves as an organizer for the Indigenous Idaho Alliance and works as a Social Change Advocate with the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence. As an antiracism activist and community leader, she uses contemporary and traditional Indigenous storytelling to champion radical inclusion, equity, and liberation.

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Workshop 2C
Ashley Stallings is the Program Director of Upper Valley CAC. She is originally from Louisville, Kentucky. She moved to Rexburg, Idaho in 1999 to attend what was then Ricks College (which later became BYU-Idaho) where she graduated with a B.S. in Psychology. In 2016 she became a Child Advocate and was trained as a Forensic Interviewer in 2017 and is currently trained in both NICHD and Utah CJC Protocols. She completed her Master’s Degree through Montclair State University in Child Advocacy and Policy in 2019. She is also credentialed as a Basic Level Comprehensive Victim Intervention Specialist through the National Advocate Credentialing Program. Ashley’s passion lies in helping child survivors of abuse and their families in their journey towards healing as well as teaching child abuse prevention programs to the community.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, running, hiking and paddleboarding around the many beautiful areas of Idaho. She is also an avid fan of college football, the beach, diet coke and anything chocolate

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Racial Equity Panelist
Julie M. Stevens (she/her) is a Supervisor of Prevention and Permanency Services at Casey Family Programs in Idaho.  Casey Family Programs was founded in 1966 and has a presence in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S Virgin Islands and with tribal nations across North America to influence long-lasting improvements to the well-being of children, families and the communities where they live.  After receiving a Bachelors in Social Work degree from Boise State University, Julie worked for nine years as a social worker for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, Family and Children’s Services in Sandpoint, Idaho, becoming grounded in strength based, family-centered practice.   She then obtained a Masters in Social Work from Eastern Washington University and began her journey at Casey Family Programs where she has been engaged in direct practice, community collaborations, and statewide partnerships.  In the over 30 years of years of service, Julie has been able to exercise her passion for social justice and social change in efforts related to elevating the voices of people with lived experience and championing racial equity.  At Casey Family Programs, she serves as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion and Trainer, and as a member of the Constituency Engagement Work Group and Implementation Team.   She has tremendous passion for addressing disproportionality in our current child welfare system and promoting anti-racist structures and practices to keep children safe in their families and communities.   She is a white woman who aspires to uncover and address the multiple dimensions of white supremacy culture in spaces where we live and work utilizing the privileges she holds.  She is also a mother of three activist daughters, and grandmother of three phenomenal grandchildren.

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Workshop 2B
Janelle Stauffer is a Trauma & Attachment Therapist in private practice in Nampa, Idaho.  Trained as a Clinical Social Worker, Janelle obtained additional trauma focused trainings and certifications to support her work with children and families throughout the Treasure Valley.  Much of her work is done to support adoptive families as they navigate the difficult path of attachment after attachment wounds have been developed.  Over the years she has also developed a passion for the creation of Trauma-Informed classrooms as a means of supporting kids who come from hard places. Janelle also owns a Yoga Studio in Nampa, Idaho.

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Workshop 2C
Kimber Tower is the Executive Director of Upper Valley CAC. She began her work in child advocacy in 2015 and has been honored to work with over 450 child victims and their families since that time. She is a child forensic interviewer and is trained in NICHD, NCAC, and Utah CJC methods of forensic interviewing. Kimber has a bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary Studies with a certificate in Applied Leadership and is currently completing her master's in Public Administration. She is credentialed with the National Advocate Credentialing Program. Kimber has trained hundreds of educators, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, and community members on preventing and responding to child abuse. She enjoys volunteer work and is currently serving on several boards, including the Idaho Network of Children's Advocacy Centers, the Idaho Juvenile Justice Council for Region 7, and Taylor's Crossing Public Charter School. She loves running on her treadmill named Thor Ragnorok. She loves spending time with her family, which includes her favorite husband, her small army of children, her puppies, and the cats that keep showing up at her house. In her spare time, she plays the piano for a local Praise Team (aka rockin' band) with her husband and friends, and watches all the Marvel Movies.

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7:30 PT/8:30 MT

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What is the first thing you plan to do once the pandemic is declared over?

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7:45-8 Pt/ 8:45-9:00 MT

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8-9:15 PT/ 9-10:15 MT
The Power of Prevention

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https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6210223/Strengthening-Families-March-2021

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9:15-9:30 PT / 10:15-10:30 MT

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Documentary: Resilient Idaho Hope Lives Here

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Documentary: Resilient Idaho Hope Lives Here

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9:45-11:15 PT / 10:45-12:15 MT
This much anticipated documentary Idaho-izes ACEs and resilience through the stories of people throughout our state with lived experience of child trauma and healing. It will be released on Idaho Public Television in February. We will screen it for the conference audience and have a Q&A after with people in the video and special guests! Panel will consist of Melissa Merrick, Jean Mutchie, and Holly Whitaker

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7:30 PT/ 8:30 MT

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7:45-8 PT / 8:45-9 MT

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8-9:15 PT / 9-10:15 MT Beyond Trauma-Informed: Acting from an Ecological Understanding of Risk & Protection

This session will discuss risk and protection within a broader ecological framework that situates family-level concerns within systems of influence. Contributions of biological factors at multiple levels - including epigenetic and physiologic - will be discussed, and psychosocial factors will be reviewed to build a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay of risk and protection during development. Multiple leverage points for intervention and support will be explored.

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9:15-9:45 PT / 10:15-10:45 MT

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9:45-11:15 PT / 10:45-12:15 MT
1A-1F

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1A: Caregiving during COVID-19: Insights on Systems, Vulnerabilities, and Resilience 

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1A: Caregiving during COVID-19: Insights on Systems, Vulnerabilities, and Resilience 

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Dr. Sarah Watamura
This session will focus on data emerging on parenting during COVID-19, as well as increases in awareness of the critical interplay among stress, adult and child mental health, and parenting that have emerged during these most challenging times. The shared experiences of the past year have the opportunity to build empathy and awareness of the ways that stress impacts families, and  to build insight for areas in need of systemic support. The value of the caregiving support network provided by schools, child care, youth programs, sports and the like for the workforce, for adult well-being, and for economic concerns have been highlighted and offer opportunities to support strategic investment.

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1B: Child Welfare and Well- Being- how to Develop Trauma Informed Schools 

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1B: Child Welfare and Well- Being- how to Develop Trauma Informed Schools 

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Keith Orchard, LCSW Schools are an integral part of the success in all community child and family welfare programs. This workshop will discuss the journey that Coeur d’Alene Public Schools is on to be fully Trauma Informed and how other schools and communities can learn from their experiences to build the capacities of the education system to support the needs of the whole child. Part of this endeavor is to purposely build relationships and partnerships with families and community organizations, creating a system that fully wraps around and meets the various needs of all families.

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Strengthening families Cda SEL Journey .pptx

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1C: Advocacy Lessons from the Wizard of Oz: Education Policy Makers and Telling Our Story

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1C: Advocacy Lessons from the Wizard of Oz: Education Policy Makers and Telling Our Story

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Jim McKay, Public Policy Director Children’s Trust Fund Alliance Advocacy can be intimidating, but it is crucial that policymakers hear from people who care about children. Using a fun approach based on the Wizard of Oz, this session features community organizing strategies to build grassroots support and advocate for policies effectively. The session will also include an overview of policies that strengthen families and help children thrive.

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Advocacy Lessons from the Wizard of Oz - Policy Presentation Idaho SFTI 2021 - Jim McKay

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Luis Fernando Granados joined by "Little Homie" Ezequiel Campos
All kids need a caring adult and a chance to make mistakes in order to succeed in life. The Breaking Chains Academy of Development in Nampa provides that opportunity by providing youth who are at-risk of gang involvement with alternatives to a gang lifestyle. Breaking Chains provides one-on-one mentoring to help navigate and educate youth on the importance of education and the realities of addictions, gangs, etc. Also, through the mentoring process they train youth to use the mentoring skills they have acquired to become mentors themselves and productive leaders in their communities. This workshop will focus on how the Academy got started, how it engages with youth and the community, challenges and successes and lessons learned from their experience. Some of the teens who are involved with the Academy will join Luis in the presentation.

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1E: Attorney Tactics and Perspectives: A Panel Discussion on Improving Outcomes for Children and Families

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1E: Attorney Tactics and Perspectives: A Panel Discussion on Improving Outcomes for Children and Families

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Panel Discussion hosted by The Child Protection Section of the Idaho State Bar Panelists: Prosecution: Kyle Bringhurst, Defense: Karen Jennings, Guardian ad Litem Attorney: Mike Elia; Counsel for Children: Krista Howard

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1F:Initial Response and Investigation of Child Deaths

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1F:Initial Response and Investigation of Child Deaths

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Speaker James Sears
Most Child Deaths appear normal or accidental, but it is sometimes later determined that foul play was involved.  We will take your initial response to the child death or unconscious child and show methods to prevent investigators from falling behind from the very beginning.  Discussions will include information on using your multi-disciplinary team to make your cases stronger and assure important issues are not overlooked.

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7:30 PT / 8:30 MT

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It looks like we are going to have about $1 million new dollars to spend to prevent child abuse and neglect.  What are the most important things we can do with it in your community or statewide?

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7:45-8 PT / 8:45-9 MT

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8-9:15 PT / 9-10:15 MT
6 Breakout workshops

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2A: 2C Kids Succeed: Building a Collaborative of Hope

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2A: 2C Kids Succeed: Building a Collaborative of Hope

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Jean Mutchie, MBA and Shannon McGuire Community collaboratives can be challenging to build, shape strategy and sustain. There isn’t a secret sauce to success but hear how 2C Kids Succeed has engaged elected officials, educators, healthcare systems, law enforcement partners, nonprofits and other community leaders to link arms to build healthy and resilient communities. The voice of our youth is helping shape the movement, and their direction is clear: they want a community where hope, trust, connection and possibility are rooted. With a goal of investing in a generation for a generation, hope does live here.

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2C Kids Succeed PPT_Strengthening Families Conference_FINAL (1)

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2B Attachment, Play & Resilience: Building Positive Experiences Early on Through Play, Movement, & Connection

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2B Attachment, Play & Resilience: Building Positive Experiences Early on Through Play, Movement, & Connection

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Janelle Stauffer, LCSW This workshop will delve into play and movement as an important function for the developing mind and for mental wellness across the lifespan. Janelle will discuss inmate functions of play and ways it can create a broader sense of security in childhood. She will also share the innate need for play for all humans regardless of age.

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2C: Intervention as Prevention: Preventing Child Abuse for the Next Generation

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2C: Intervention as Prevention: Preventing Child Abuse for the Next Generation

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Kimber Tower and Ashley Stallings, MA Primarily, a Child Advocacy Center’s (CAC) mission is to intervene after child abuse has occurred. However at Upper Valley CAC we have come to notice and understand that prevention is a necessary part of the job. By providing both intervention and prevention services to the communities we serve, Upper Valley CAC has had the honor of making a positive impact on over 1,500 families in southeast Idaho. Over the years our understanding of both the intervening and preventive side of child abuse has grown. Recently we have come to recognize that intervention and prevention are very much intertwined. Looking at intervention as a necessary part of prevention has become a focus as we provide advocacy services to those families who have experienced child abuse victimization first hand. We believe that understanding this key component and finding ways to provide education and prevention in the midst of intervention has the ability to break the cycle of abuse for generations to come

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A document with the chat from this session

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2D: Wait- Race is not REAL! The Invention and Evolution of Racial Ideology 

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2D: Wait- Race is not REAL! The Invention and Evolution of Racial Ideology 

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Corey Best, Community Curator, Mining for Gold Corey will invite participants to take a tour of key occurrences that has lasting impacts on how we view “others”. During the workshop, we will co-create a brave space as we examine, explore, and deepen our analysis of how racial formation, historical policies, complex social identities, and racial ideology churns the system of racial inequities. Participants will be provided with resources, literature and walk away with a minimum of one concrete goal that will positively impact their spheres of influence. This is a participatory learning experience. It is encouraged that you approach this conversation with love, compassion, and an open mind for endless possibilities.

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2E: Suicide Safer Homes, a Focus on Lethal Means

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2E: Suicide Safer Homes, a Focus on Lethal Means

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Shannon Decker, M.Ed. Speedy Foundation This workshop will focus on Idaho’s suicide data, provide an overview of the basics of gatekeeping and QPR basics and home in on the reality that Means Matters (Harvard -https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/).The workshop will explore key concepts about suicide including: Intent isn’t all that determines whether a person attempting suicide lives or dies; means also matters. Access to firearms is a risk factor for suicide. And reducing access to lethal means saves lives.

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2F: The Parents for Parents Program: The Solution for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System

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2F: The Parents for Parents Program: The Solution for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System

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Parents for Parents (P4P) is a court-based engagement, peer mentoring and education program that has been proven effective in promoting safe and timely reunification of children with their parents. The program has also been found to increase early engagement with parents, as well as decrease the likelihood of the termination of parental rights. P4P is a promising practice and has expanded statewide in Washington, as well as in other jurisdictions across the nation. This presentation will provide information about how the program works and why it is so effective - including insights from Parent Allies, parents who have successfully navigated the court system, reunified with their children and now support other families. Additional discussion topics will include: how to begin a P4P program, tips for how to engage parents in child welfare, and how to instill hope for our families.

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https://video.idahoptv.org/video/resilient-idaho-hope-lives-here-fhrafv/

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Keynote, Workshop 1A
Dr. Sarah Enos Watamura is Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at the University of Denver where she directs the Child Health & Development Lab and co-directs the Stress, Early Experience and Development (SEED) Research Center. After training with Megan Gunnar, PhD, at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, she received her PhD from the Department of Human Development at Cornell University in 2005. She has longstanding interests in children’s physiologic regulation, their development within caregiving contexts, and in understanding mechanisms and trajectories from early life stress to later physical health, mental health, cognitive/educational, and socio-emotional outcomes. Her work focuses on the unique stressors and buffers in families experiencing poverty and among newly immigrated and refugee families and includes testing promising intervention approaches. Recent projects test and develop interventions to support families facing adversity, including those that target the wellbeing of the adults in children’s lives who themselves may have history of adversity.

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11:05-11:15 PT/12:05-12:15 MT
End of day closing reflections

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https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6210223/Strengthening-Families-March-2021

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9:15-9:45 PT / 10:15-10:45 MT

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Capnote: Panel on Racial Equity Hosted by Corey Best

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Capnote: Panel on Racial Equity Hosted by Corey Best

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9:45-11:15 PT / 10:45-12:30 MT
Panelists:
Corey Best, Micaela Rios Aguiano, Whitney Mestelle, Tai Simpson, and Julie Stevens

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https://idahofamilysupport.org/

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Child Abuse Prevention Month Resources and Toolkit

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Child Abuse Prevention Month Resources and Toolkit

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April Is National Child Abuse Prevention Month - Child Welfare Information Gateway

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Mission:  The Ribbons of Hope Project invites citizens to make a commitment to strengthen themselves, someone they know, or the community and add it to the display to show how small actions collectively add up to create big change. The result is a beautiful exhibit that can empower individuals and remind them that every action counts.
About:  Organized by the Strengthening Families North Idaho coalition, the project initially was displayed in Kootenai County in the fall of 2020. The display gained wide attention and interest and is now being replicated in communities throughout the state of Idaho. The project is supported by the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund in its mission to prevent child abuse and neglect.

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Please fill out this survey and let us know your thoughts on the conference! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6210223/Strengthening-Families-March-2021

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https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6210223/Strengthening-Families-March-2021

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https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6210223/Strengthening-Families-March-2021