Plenary Sessions
Ashley Rhodes-Courter: Three Little Words (Keynote Address)
What three little words could change your life? In her most-requested Keynote, Ashley Rhodes-Courter, LCSW, shares her personal story of survival, breaking barriers, and beating the odds. Ashley spent nearly a decade in the foster care system as a child and experienced extreme child abuse and neglect. Today, she is an award-winning New York Times Bestselling Author and CEO. Laugh, cry, and be motivated by her first-hand experiences and unique expertise.
Awards Luncheon Mini Plenary with Cameron Galloway
Cameron Galloway spent more than 15 years in foster care. This experience led him to serve as an advocate for youth in a variety of ways, including working in youth development, as an advocate for Voices of the Commonwealth (an advocacy group made up of foster youth and alumni), and testifying in front of the Kentucky State Senate and the House of Representatives Committee on House Bill 158 (the Foster Youth Bill of Rights). Cameron will share his experience and convey how various adults in the lives of children involved in the child welfare system – including CASA volunteers – can truly make an impact.
Presenter: Cameron Galloway, Coalition Supporting Young Adults
Judges Panel: Q&A on Court Trends and Best Practices with Family Court Judges
This session will allow CASA volunteers, staff, and board members the opportunity to hear from a panel of Family Court Judges from throughout the state. Judges will discuss trends and issues currently present in their dependency, neglect and abuse dockets and factors that affect permanency for children involved in the child welfare system. Judges will also offer their insights on how child welfare advocates can have an impact on the cases in their courtrooms. Participants are invited to come prepared with questions for the judges and should note that specific cases will not be discussed.
Panelists: Judge Denise Brown, Jefferson County; Judge Ross Ewing, Fayette County; Judge Mica Wood Pence, Metcalfe County
Moderator: Judge Lucinda Masterton, retired
Pre-Conference Film Screening
CLOSURE: A Documentary About Adoption (with Angela Tucker)
Angela, an African-American, was raised by a Caucasian couple in a large, multiracial family in Washington State. She was adopted at the age of one from foster care in the state of Tennessee, under the terms of a closed adoption. As Angela grew older it became apparent that the unanswered questions about her birth story would continue to haunt her if she did not attempt to find some answers. Filmed and edited by her husband Bryan, this documentary follows Angela for two years during the search for her birth family. Several twists and surprising revelations ultimately lead Angela and her family across the country to her place of birth. It is here where Angela comes face to face with her birth mother for the first time, and meets family members who had never known she was even born – including her birth father. Angela will join us following the screening for Q&A and discussion.
Film screening and discussion will take place Tuesday, October 3, 6:00-8:00 pm at Embassy Suites Coldstream Ballroom. Note: This 76-minute film is not rated; several scenes display strong human emotions, with two instances of profanity.
Breakout Sessions
A Master Plan to Building and Sustaining Provider Relationships
In our systems of limited resources, it's critically important for advocates to know how to maximize their time to achieve the best results for the children they serve. The proactive development of strong collaborative relationships among all stakeholders in the child well-being system is vital in your success. Come join this session as we discuss concrete strategies for how to enhance communications, operational visibility, collaboration, and improve your overall child advocacy strategies.
Presenter: Chris Hempfling, BrightSpring Health Services
An Introduction to Best Practices for Serving Kentucky's LGBTQIA+ Youth
This workshop will equip participants with the knowledge and tools to understand LGBTQIA+ identity. The workshop will define the differences between gender, sex, and sexuality, provide recommendations for inclusive language, and explore how identity impacts how we see ourselves and others. Participants will learn best practices for serving LGBTQIA+ youth in Kentucky through case scenarios.
Presenter: Dr. Miles Feroli, Eastern Kentucky University
Best Interest of the Child: Strengthening Families by Enhancing Advocacy Through Collaboration
Children, youth, and families who experience systems involvement due to substance use and mental health disorders do not exist in isolation. Healing this population requires a cross-system collaborative, family-centered, and trauma-informed approach that focuses on family voice, well-being, safety, permanency, and recovery. Children, youth, and families involved in child welfare systems deserve to receive the necessary services, supports, and high-quality, frequent family time to strengthen their families while mitigating risk and building on protective factors to achieve stability and reunification.
Presenters: Dr. Andrea Sivanich and Meredith Russo, Center for Children and Family Futures
Court Process 101: Your Map to Better Understanding DNA Court
Are you confused by the court process? You are not alone! Navigating the court system can be intimidating and confusing. This workshop will teach you the basics of Kentucky's Dependency, Neglect, and Abuse court system, including hearing overviews and timeframe requirements. The session will also review the rights and obligations of parents and possible safeguards for third-party non-parents raising children. The presenter will review tips for court reporting and provide helpful legal resources.
Presenter: Laken Albrink, University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law
Demystifying Kentucky Foster Youth Benefits
This workshop will review the benefits, qualification requirements, and process for accessing benefits available to Kentucky transition age foster youth, including access to cell phones, funds for extracurricular activities, supports for obtaining driver's license and car insurance, career preparation, tuition benefits, and even how foster youth can get paid to pursue their GED or a vocational certificate. An overview of the LYFT/ Life Skills Reimagined online independent living curriculum (which is mandatory for entering an independent living program) will also be provided.
Presenters: Paula Saenz and Jeff Culver, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Disrupting Stigma and Using Empathy and Accountability to Improve Outcomes for Families
Stigma about substance use disorders affects the attitudes of court, treatment and social service professionals, families, community members, and the individuals themselves—creating barriers for people seeking to engage in services. Disrupting stigma and using empathy with accountability enhances information gathering efforts and increases meaningful engagement through relationship building and cross-systems collaboration. At the same time, it promotes protective factors, resiliency and overall family well-being, thereby improving outcomes for families affected by substance use disorders.
Presenters: Dr. Andrea Sivanich and Meredith Russo, Center for Children and Family Futures
Elevating Your Board for Effective Board Governance: Assessing Your Readiness for Engaging in Strategic Planning
Join non-profit consultant Greg Nielsen for an interactive discussion to help you determine your board’s readiness for strategic planning or a board retreat. As part of the KCN’s Board Governance Project, Greg will provide an overview of services he can provide to local CASA programs to include assessing your program’s readiness to engage in strategic planning and hosting a board retreat. The session will include a facilitated question and answer session on successful strategic planning for a CASA program, with opportunities for attendees to ask questions on topics that include engaging your stakeholders, avoiding mission drift, and selecting board members for your planning team.
Presenter: Gregory Nielsen, Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC
Excellence in Board Governance: A Roadmap in Cultivating, Creating, and Implementing a Strategic Plan for Your CASA Program
Strategic planning can sometimes seem like a daunting undertaking. There is hope, and a path to a far more energizing and effective plan. A strategic plan serves as a roadmap to enable an organization to set priorities and measure progress. This interactive workshop takes the fear out of strategic planning. Combining interactive discussions with presentation, attendees will learn about the value of developing a culture of planning while understanding the components of an effective, inclusive planning process. We will also explore ways to manage the critical inflection point of translating vision into reality by seamlessly moving from planning to implementation.
Presenter: Gregory Nielsen, Nielsen Training & Consulting, LLC
Family Recovery Court and Creating a Recovery Ecosystem
This presentation will describe best practices in treatment for caregivers in recovery, including the Family Recovery Court (FRC) model. The FRC model addresses the issue of parental substance use disorder to increase family reunification rates and decrease the duration of out-of-home care for families involved with the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). The program offers a collaborative approach which includes a specialized FRC team made up of members from VOA, Administrative Office of the Courts, and DCBS, as well as other important community stakeholders and partners. The FRC model aims to assist individuals in achieving long-term sobriety and the speakers will discuss Volunteers of America's successful efforts in creating a recovery ecosystem for individuals in all stages of recovery from substance use disorder. Attendees will understand the unique needs of caregivers in recovery and learn best practices for treating substance use disorder.
Presenters: Judge Clint J. Harris, Juris Doctor, Family Court Judge, Kentucky 41st Judicial Circuit; Maegan Mayne, LCSW, TCADC, Volunteers of America Mid States; Sue Fox, TRADPSS, Volunteers of America Mid States
Kentucky's Safety Model: An Update on DCBS Policies for Decision-Making
DCBS staff are tasked with making a variety of decisions impacting children and youth, from whether a report meets acceptance criteria for child welfare intervention to determining the finding of an allegation of abuse, neglect, or dependency. As well as decisions in active cases such as removals, placement changes, and reunifications. These decisions are guided by various processes and regulations, some of which have changed recently. This session will provide an overview of Kentucky's Safety Model, including review of new Structured Decision-Making tools, acceptance criteria, and other recent regulatory changes. Participants will better understand DCBS protocols and identify who to contact if they have questions about reporting or active cases.
Presenter: Chelsea Harrod, Cabinet for Health and Family Services, Division of Protection and Permanency
Practical Tips for Safe Home Visiting
This session empowers social service professionals and volunteers with practical strategies necessary for their personal safety. The training enhances awareness of surroundings as well as general situational awareness before, during, after, and between home visits. Participants will gain an understanding of the different types of home-visitor “styles,” how to prepare for a home visit, and strategies for mitigating a crisis situation during home visits.
Presenter: Kent Conder, KVC Behavioral Health Kentucky
White Privilege by Osmosis: Straddling Two Worlds as a Transracial Adoptee
Transracial caregiving is a multifaceted journey for the entire family, but it is often the child who bears the brunt of navigating the complexity of the experience. It is critical that caregivers, parents and child welfare professionals understand the history of why children of color are over-represented in child-welfare in order to avoid perpetuating racism. With this understanding, advocates can instead embrace an anti-racist outlook to support the health and wellbeing of transracial adoptees and/or transracial foster youth. This workshop will provide a window into the nuanced first-hand narratives of adoptees through videos, anonymized case studies and Angela’s personal stories. Angela will share her personal experience as a transracial adoptee, as well as the insights of other transracial adoptees to highlight the intersection of racism and classism in child welfare. This interactive workshop will leave you thinking about the role transracial adoption plays in our quest for racial justice in America.
Presenter: Angela Tucker, The Adopted Life
Pre-Conference Staff, ED, and Board Workshops
Executive Director Meeting
The executive director lunch meeting is a time for local program directors to connect and network. After lunch, directors will engage in active discussions around volunteer recruitment and the 2024 strategy for networking, skill development, and support.
Audience: Local program directors only
Effective Board Governance
Executive Directors and board members will join together in a pre-conference workshop that will include an overview of a successful Executive Director and board partnership which is integral to be a highly effective local CASA program. The workshop will also talk about the KCN’s Local Board Governance Project and resources available from the KCN to support local CASA boards that include board training, the creation of a new Board Member Handbook and work on a board member certification module. The workshop will also include a discussion and overview of the KCN quality assurance process and the role of board members in implementing a successful follow-up action plan.
Audience: Local program board members and executive directors only
Carrying Care: Enhancing Staff Well-Being and Resilience
Working in the child welfare system carries inherent challenges for well-being and increases the risk of staff burnout, compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, and moral distress. Understanding and addressing these risks are essential for successful workforce recruitment and retention, and maintenance of high-quality programs and services for youth and families. This session explores the effects of this cumulative toll on staff, and provides strategies and resources to promote awareness, reduce risk and mitigate impact.
Presenter: Miriam Silman, Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities, Cabinet for Health and Family Services
Audience: Local program staff only
Managing Volunteers to Serve Gender Expansive Youth
Prior to birth, some families impose gender stereotypes on young children based upon societal expectations. What happens when the child does not conform to the gender stereotypes? Often, these children are not accepted by society and receive messages by peers and adults to conform to the norm, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and gender dysphoria. Understanding the lived experiences of families with gender expansive children and how to provide support is important. Participants will learn how families navigate the journey of raising a gender-expansive child. This journey includes questions, fears, struggles, and celebrations. Participants will gain an understanding of how volunteers can best assist the family and discover resources for staff, advocates, and families. The session will include discussion on how to build volunteers' capacity to be an ally to better serve gender expansive youth and their families.
Presenter: Dr. Mary Sciaraffa, Eastern Kentucky University
Audience: Local program staff only
