WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Session 1A: The Challenges and Triumphs of Embracing Family Driven Care
Lesley Hawley, ATR, LCPC, Clinic Supervisor; Keith Polan, LCSW, Director of Residential Services; Rich Bobby, LCSW, Placement & Transition Supervisor
Children’s Home + Aid / Rice Child + Family Center

Incorporating family driven care and youth guided services into every aspect of programming is essential if residential providers wish to make a true difference in the lives of the children and families they serve. Partnering with families and children on every aspect of treatment promotes partnerships built on trust, honesty, and compassion. At Rice Child + Family Center we believe that incorporating family driven care is the right thing to do. This workshop will be an honest panel discussion about the triumphs and challenges of embracing family driven care within our agency. The panel members will discuss the philosophy and the challenges and triumphs they found implementing and encouraging this paradigm shift.

Session 1B: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
Frank Massolini, Director, Volunteer; Jennifer Mitchell, Assistant Director
The Salvation Army PROMISE Program

This training will provide information on commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), a form of human trafficking. Participants will be able to recognize the commercial sexual exploitation of children, detect risk factors, and identify victims of CSEC.

Session 1C: Juvenile Justice: A Diversion Model
Cynthia Williams, MS, Director, JISC Case Management
Sinai Community Institute

This workshop will describe various juvenile justice diversion programs and their importance when working within the child welfare system. Diversion programs engage youth either prior to arrest or in place of sending an arrested youth to court. They are designed to be an alternative to court and therefore replace sentencing, incarceration and/or probation.  Through this workshop participants will gain a general understanding of how they can integrate division programs into their plans for youths.

Session 1D: Professional Boundaries and Self-Care for Social Service Employees
Jennifer White Goehrig, MHS, CADC, Administrator
Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center

Social service staff has a high rate of burnout and an increasing number of stress related illnesses. This workshop will assist participants in defining professional and personal boundaries within their own lives and career setting. Once professional and personal boundaries are established, it becomes easier to develop self-care strategies and routines. Participants will learn the four key points to remember for self-care and will be able to identify four types of self that must be maintained and nurtured.

Session 2A: Older Youth in Substitute Care: PROMOTING Successful Transition
Lauren Williams, Associate Deputy & Nicole A. Neely, Public Service Administrator
Illinois Department of Children & Family Services

This workshop will describe a continuum of care and how to promote successful transitions as youth transfer to other levels of care and eventually age out of care.  Focusing on forming collaborations, developing a treatment team approach, and establishing partnerships and kinship connections will assist in problem solving and identifying practices when planning and implementing transition. All of these strategies will help to meet the goal of improved outcomes for youth.

Session 2B: Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention
Katrina Wyss, Prevention Specialist
National Runaway Switchboard

Every year in the U.S., between 1.3 and 2.8 million youth run away or are expelled from their homes. In an effort to address this social epidemic, the National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) offers Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum, a free 14-module social, emotional and life skill tool.  Participants will learn about 1-800-RUNAWAY services and discuss how the prevention curriculum can help homeless students transition into their futures better prepared to deal with ongoing life challenges.

Session 2C: Juvenile Probation’s Role to Protect and Serve Our Community
Carmen Casa, Deputy Chief Probation Office
Cook County Juvenile Center

This learning opportunity will provide insight into the role and responsibility of a Juvenile Probation Officer and the collaborative efforts in partnering with community outreach organizations.

Session 2D: Sustaining Creativity: Invigorating Your Work by Maintaining Personal Connection
Lesley Hawley, ATR, LCPD, Clinical Supervisor; Seeley Cardone ATR, LPC, Therapist
Children’s Home + Aid / Rice Child + Family Center

This workshop will focus on enlivening our creative energy. We will consider pieces of our identity that we can bring to the forefront of our work to enhance our experience as well as our clients. The two presenters will illustrate that by consciously relying on their inner artists for problem solving, self-care, and connecting they bring creative attunement and vibrancy to their work at a residential facility. Participants will partake in an experiential where they will contemplate aspects of themselves that might be brought to the forefront of their work to enhance their job and enliven their spirits.

Session 3A: Differential Response in Illinois: An Update
Womazetta Jones, Project Director, Differential Response
Illinois Department of Children and Family Services

Differential response is an innovative approach whereby the Department can  provide help and support to parents who are struggling to meet the needs of their children - rather than a Department that “takes away your kids” when you mess up or fall short.  By incorporating strengths-based, family-centered approaches, and integrating an understanding of the protective factors within families the Department can help strengthen and support families.  This workshop will provide a historical and implementation overview of Illinois DCFS’ Differential Response initiative; it will include an update via ‘lessons learned’ to date and an overview of future plans.

Session 3B: Successes and Challenges of Partnership: Getting Started, Learning as We Go, and the Ups and Downs Along the Way.
Heather Bradley, Youth Outreach Manager; Nate Metrick, Crib Coordinator
The Night Ministry

What we’ve learned.  What we’re learning.  What we wish we knew.  We’ll share our highs and lows (and hopefully some insights) as we’ve collaborated with partner organizations to open an innovative, LGBTQ-friendly, low-threshold, overnight shelter for youth.  We’ll outline strategies for communication, accountability, managing the cultures of different organizations, visioning, delineating responsibilities, building ownership, community relations, dealing with conflict, and celebrating successes. 

Session 3C: CeaseFire 101
James Highsmith, Program Manager
CeaseFire Englewood

This workshop will describe the CeaseFire concept regarding violence being considered a contagious disease.  Participants will begin to understand the human and financial toll that violence has on cities and our country, as well as reflect on violence from a moral perspective. We will also consider the public health approach to behavior change of affected individuals.

Session 3D: Motivation, Engagement, and Drive – Keeping Your Mojo Alive
Dave Betz, Assistant Director of Staff Development & Workforce Engagement Team Leader
Aunt Martha’s Youth Service Center

What motivates us? Are we getting what we need at work? How can we feel happier, better and more fulfilled in our jobs? In this highly interactive workshop, we will review what drives human behavior and then engage in honest dialogue about the challenges we are facing regarding engagement and feeling good at work. Finally, we will problem-solve to determine practical take-aways to help you keep our mojo alive.