Featuring Keynote Speaker: 

Frank Kros, MSW, JD: “Talking to Trauma: Relationship Skills that Reach the Traumatized Brain”: Frank will discuss the effects that adverse childhood experiences (ACES) have on the brain. He will describe how brain anatomy is affected by and how it responds to traumatic distress, the effects of distress on brain neurons, the results of chronic stress, and the role of the hormone cortisol on brain development. Kros will describe strategies about how to “talk to trauma” (stopping the distress, de-personalizing behavior, building hope, tracking behavior patterns, building self-regulation skills, and more.)

Jason Lang, PhD: “Common Components of Evidence-Based Trauma Treatments”: This presentation will discuss general guidelines for clinical intervention with child trauma victims, common components of evidence-based trauma focused treatments, trauma-related resources and tools that can be used during treatment, and how to provide utilize a “trauma lens” throughout treatment. Participants will gain knowledge about elements of trauma-focused interventions and learn about appropriate tools and resources to be used in treatment.

Steve Parese, Ed.D.: “Kids These Days: Preparing At-Risk Youth for the Workplace”: This highly interactive 60-minute workshop explains why at-risk youth and young adults have trouble adjusting to the culture of the workplace, and offers cognitive behavioral strategies for teaching them how to work through workplace problems rather than blowing them out of proportion. We will explore youth culture in contrast to employer expectations, identifying four sets of specific skills and attitudes in greatest demand with service-oriented employers. Parese will teach specific cognitive strategies for teaching/coaching these skills and attitudes needed for success in the workforce.

Deanna S. Green - Girls Educational and Mentoring Services: “Understating the Impact of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE)”: Understating the Impact of Commercial Sexual Exploitation (CSE) workshop will address the psychological, social, emotional and physical impact of trauma. This workshop will also bring awareness to the subcultures of domestic sex trafficking here in the US.

 Robin McHaelen, MSW, True Colors: “Bridges, Barriers and Boundaries: Working with LGBT Youth”: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender adolescents (LGBT) are the only subset of the adolescent population which is routinely stigmatized and deprived of support in every major area of life. This program assists participants in developing and strengthening their clinical knowledge, skill base and cultural competency regarding the issues, needs, risks and strengths of LGBT populations and constituents.

Deanna S. Green - Girls Educational and Mentoring Services: “GEMS Victim, Survivor, Leader™ (VSL™) Model”: The stages of change and how they are related to commercial sexual exploitation victims will be explored. Trainers will discuss the six core values of GEMS programming and the need for Survivor Leadership and Transformational Relationships for effective youth development.

Steve Parese, Ed.D.: “It's Nothing Personal! Why Some Kids Really Push Our Buttons”: This insight-driven workshop develops greater self-awareness in helping professionals by subtly exposing personal beliefs in contrast to our professional ethics. We delve into various interpersonal dynamics and explore specific reasons why some individuals may be especially challenging for us. Finally, we discuss strategies for remaining calm and communicating professionally in moments when things seem very personal.

Cindy Carraway-Wilson, MA, CYC-P - Youth Catalytics: “Invisible and Away from Home: Recruiting Young People to Discover and Count Homeless Youth”: This workshop features social workers who will train audience members to do outreach work with homeless youth members of their communities as well as calculating the number of homeless youth to best serve and understand their needs.

 Jason Lang, PhD: “Screening and Assessment of Child Traumatic Stress”: This presentation will discuss the effects of trauma exposure on children, traumatic stress symptoms and differential diagnosis, how to screen for trauma, standardized assessments for child traumatic stress, recognizing and managing avoidance during assessment, state perspective on trauma-informed care.

 Julie Liefeld, RN, PhD, LMFT and Peter Toriano: “Working within Nature and Nurture:College for Millennial Students”: This workshop will address the make-up and impact of this unique but at risk population - the millenial generation-now entering college, talented but emotionally younger and more at risk-and offer preparation and intervention strategies to assist families, educators, therapists, and other support professionals to facilitate preparation for college that can lower risk and increase the student's ability to persist to graduation.