D-1 The Secret Recipe for Great Boards
Presenter: Laurie Baumer
Summary: It’s been said that an organization is only as strong and effective as its Board of Directors. Wouldn’t it be great to have a recipe for building a great board? This presentation will share the right ingredients and the steps to mix them so you can transform your board from good to great.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain what makes a great board and how to avoid pitfalls
- Identify, cultivate and recruit the right board members
- Keep board members actively engaged and productive
D-2: Moving from Data to Action: Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the Impact of Trauma
Downloads: Slides & Handouts
Presenter: Jodi L. Spicer, MA
Summary: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events such as abuse, neglect or a variety of household dysfunctions that occur during childhood. The landmark ACEs Study found that our childhood experiences have a tremendous and lifelong impact on our health and the quality of our lives. This presentation will help participants understand about ACEs, learn about the impact of ACEs on health outcomes (including both national and Michigan data), and recognize their role in helping to buffer the negative effects of ACEs on children and families.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and have the knowledge and tools necessary to describe the ACEs research (including national and state data)
- Comprehend the impact of ACEs on health outcomes
- Explore ways to use this knowledge and information to buffer the negative effects of ACEs on children and families
D-3: Substance Exposed Newborns: Medical and Legal Issues
Download: D3-Slides
Presenters: Vincent J. Palusci, MD, MS, FAAP; Frank E. Vandervort, JD
Summary: This session will provide an overview of the physiological impacts of in utero exposure to alcohol and drugs (e.g., opioids, cocaine, and marijuana). It will then provide an overview of relevant federal and state laws relating to substance exposed newborns.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify the effects of maternal use of alcohol and various drugs on the developing fetus
- Explain the postnatal management of alcohol and drug-exposed infants (DEI) children
- Describe the federal framework provided in the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and in Titles IV-B and IV-E for handling cases of DEIs
- Explain Michigan law regarding the status and response to DEIs
D-4: Understanding the Legal System and Testifying in Court
Download: D4-Slides
Presenter: Joshua Kay, JD, PhD
Summary: Mental health and other professionals working in the field of child protection often find themselves interacting with lawyers and testifying in court. For many, these interactions are confusing and may cause anxiety and frustration. This presentation will clarify the roles of legal and non-legal professionals in child protection matters, explore the rules that govern the legal profession, and offer guidance for providing court testimony.
Participants will be able to:
- Describe the roles of the legal profession to enhance understanding and reduce confusion for mental health and other non-legal professionals
- Assist non-legal professionals in preparing for and providing court testimony
D-5: Using Parent-Child Interaction Intervention to Address the Maltreatment of Young Children
Presenter: Brenda Jones Harden, MSW, PhD
Summary: This workshop will explore parent-child interaction interventions that address maltreatment of young children. The use of experiential coaching and videotaping will be emphasized. Participants will practice the skill of parental coaching in the context of parent-child interaction.
Participants will be able to:
- Discuss parent-child interaction interventions that address the maltreatment of young children
- Improve skills in parental coaching in the context of parent-child interaction
D-6: Balancing Your Head And Your Heart: Maintaining Resilience in the Face of the Stress of Child Welfare
Presenter: Luther Lovell
Summary: Our ability as a department to deliver quality services to the most vulnerable is largely dependent upon each employee’s ability to remain engaged in the work they do and to thrive in the environment in which they do it. Every one of us plays a role in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment, but exactly what is it that we can do to contribute? What are those things that, over time, chip away at our passion for the work? More importantly, how do we prevent our passion from slowly turning into unhealthy stress, resentment and a desire to leave? In this session we will explore the elements necessary to remain engaged with our “why” and how each individual, from manager to front line staff, can maintain our mission and purpose despite the unique and often overwhelming challenges of child welfare.
Participants will be able to:
- Explain their individual role in creating an environment that breeds teamwork, camaraderie and resilience so that workers stay
- Discuss the neurological impact of both intentional and unintentional incivility and how it affects individual performance and engagement
- Describe the brain’s cognitive bias towards building negative narratives in the workplace and how to combat it
- Identify behaviors and skills that they will be able to immediately put into practice that will strengthen their resilience and that of their coworkers