Agenda
14th Annual Commonwealth of Virginia CSA Conference - The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center - Roanoke, Virginia - October 15-16, 2025
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 | |
|---|---|
| 2:00 pm-5:00 pm | Pre-Conference Session for CSA Coordinators, CPMT members and FAPT Members Leading from Any Chair: Building Your Capacity for Greater Influence and Impact – Ellen B. Kagen, MSW, PCC |
Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | |
| 7:00 am - 8:30 am | Conference Registration - North Entry Foyer Continental Breakfast and Sponsor Visits - Common Areas |
| 8:30 am - 8:45 am | Welcoming Remarks - Roanoke ABCD Scott Reiner, Executive Director, Office of Children’s Services |
| 8:45 am - 9:45 am | Keynote Speaker - Roanoke ABCD Creativity is a Practice – Artist/Author Noah Scalin |
| 9:45 am - 10:15 am | Sponsor Visits and Break |
| 10:15 am - 11:45 am | Breakout Session Block A |
| 11:45 am - 1:30 pm | Lunch Award Presentations - Roanoke ABCD/Sponsor Visits |
| 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm | Breakout Session Block B |
| 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Sponsor Visits and Break |
| 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm | Breakout Session Block C |
| 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm | Reception - Join us in the Garden Courtyard |
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | |
| 7:00 am - 8:30 pm | Continental Breakfast and Sponsor Visits - Common Areas |
| 8:30 am - 10:00 am | Breakout Session Block D |
| 10:00 am - 10:30 am | Sponsor Visits and Break |
| 10:30 am - 12:00 pm | Breakout Session Block E |
| 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm | Lunch and Sponsor Visits - Roanoke ABCD |
| 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Closing Remarks and Door Prizes |
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Session tracks:
- Service Innovations/Evidence-Based Practices: Creative, innovative, and sustainable approaches to service delivery that use evidence, data, and demonstrated effectiveness to improve outcomes for youth and families.
- CSA Basics: Fundamental aspects of the CSA program regarding eligibility, program audits, family engagement, and use of CSA data.
- State Partners: Updates for key state partners.
- Self-Care: Activities or practices that reduce stress and maintain and enhance health and well-being for individuals in helping professions.
- Family-Driven Practices: Approaches that promote families as central in the decision-making process in the care of their children.
- Leadership Skills: Effective practices of leadership that positively influences and guides others to adapt their skills and achieve goals.
- Local CSA Program Spotlight
Please note session recommendations:
* CPMT members
** FAPT members
*** New CSA Coordinators
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Leading from Any Chair: Building Your Capacity for Greater Influence and Impact
In this highly interactive and experiential pre-conference, Ellen Kagen, founder of the Georgetown Leadership Academy, will provide a strong foundation for understanding and clarifying the role of adaptive leadership in challenging times. Based on the concept of “leadership as a practice that can come from any chair,” (i.e. clinician, supervisor, family, administrator), Ellen will set the stage by asking us to explore our specific scenarios so that we can provide the kind of leadership that will create change for the children and families we serve as well as for our systems and organizations.
Participants will reflect on how leadership, as a critical function in systems change, can support our ability to achieve our goals and create the change we envision. Participants will explore the many views we carry about what leadership is including an overview of the neuroscience that impacts human behavior. As agents of change, participants will have the opportunity to explore their role within formal and informal authority and consider the behaviors and habits that increase social influence in times of ongoing uncertainty and complexity.
To support the application of the concepts, each participant is asked to bring a challenging scenario they are facing with an individual, a team, cross department or cross agency that does not have an easy answer.
Ellen B. Kagen, MSW, PCC
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Founder, Georgetown Leadership Academy
Founder, Coach Approach Partners, LLC
Principal, Kagen Leadership Group
Wednesday, October 14, 2026
Breakout Session A: 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
CSA Basics Track
Alphabet Soup: What CSA Personnel Need to Know About Special Education and the CSA * ***
Kristi Schabo, Ph.D., Policy and Operations Officer, Office of Children's Services
There are many complexities to the provision of special education services through the Children’s Services Act (CSA). This session will provide a brief introduction to the special education process and include a discussion of student eligibility and IEP development, disability categories, least restrictive environments, and the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan. This workshop will also highlight specific issues specific to the provision of special education services through the CSA, such as what is needed to determine eligibility, LEA/CSA responsibilities, the role of CPMT/FAPT in special education cases, cross-jurisdictional placements, non-educational placements, CSA funded transition services, and the use of special education wraparound funds.
State Partners Track
CSA and the Courts: How Court oversight of CHIN-Services cases impacts CSA * ***
Honorable Chad Logan, J.D., Sitting Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judge, Shenandoah County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Honorable Cheshire I'Anson Eveleigh, Judge, Virginia Beach Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, Honorable Stephen Mutnick, Judge, Henrico Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, and Honorable Marcel Jones, Judge, Spotsylvania Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court
A panel of Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court Judges will provide an overview of judicial authority to direct FAPT assessments and issue orders directing CSA funding used for services found by the Court to be necessary in CHIN-Services cases. The presenters will overview the statutory requirements for compliance and best practices to manage relationships in trust through this process.
The panel will then open the session to questions from the audience. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions in advance to clogan@vacourts.gov.
Sponsored Residential Services Under the Developmental Disabilities Waiver * ***
Ken Haines, Regional Program Manager, Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) and Nicole DeStefano, Director of Waiver Network Supports, Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Sponsored Residential services within the DD Waiver operate as a structured, person-centered support model designed to promote safety, stability, and independence for individuals receiving care. These services follow the expectations outlined in the DD Waiver Manual, including adherence to DBHDS staffing requirements, such as the established 1:2 staffing ratio, and the full range of documentation standards that ensure quality and accountability. Funding for these services is guided by the SIS assessment, with internal DSS, CSA, and FAPT teams determining the appropriate payment structure prior to waiver enrollment. Once the individual transitions to the DD Waiver, the payment model aligns with waiver guidelines, including consideration of a customized rate when appropriate. While this model offers significant benefits, certain barriers remain, such as the challenges of supporting individuals whose primary needs are mental health-related within a DD-licensed residential home. Transitioning from CSA-funded services into the DD Waiver creates a more stable, long-term support framework that supports continuity of care and provides a clear pathway into adulthood. This session will give participants a clear, practical understanding of how Sponsored Residential services function within the DD Waiver, including expectations, funding processes, transition planning, and common challenges, equipping them with the knowledge needed to support individuals and families effectively.
Service Innovations & EBPs Track
From 10,000 Feet to the Kitchen Table: How Do Nationally Validated Evidence-based Programs Work in Virginia?
Faye Miles, LPC, MS. ED, Director of Evidence Based Services, Strategic Therapy Associates and Ashley Robinson, MPS, Data Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships of Virginia (CEP-Va)
Join us as we trace evidence-based programs (EBPs) from the systems level down to the family level. For two EBPs--Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT)--we'll explore general evidence, move to the impact and cost savings in Virginia, then narrow to the provider perspective and finally to the family experience. At each level, you'll learn the benefits of EBPs relative to non-evidence-based services. These models do best when the entire system is committed-- from referring agencies to provider organizations. To that end, attendees will leave with specific, Virginia-focused data that these two programs help families. They will also learn concrete criteria for identifying strong candidate families, ideas for referral pathways, and resources to confidently match families to the right program.
Cracking the code that holds families back and a new EBP development that pushes it over the edge.
Dr. Nicholas Sturdifen, DSL, MA, MBA, President, Life Push, LLC, Larry Burrell, II, LPC, Senior Regional Director, Life Push, LLC, Bevin Lovelace, LPC, Director of Family Services, Life Push, LLC, Jackie Rodriguez, Coordinator of Quality Assurance & Onboarding, Life Push, LLC, and Ben Cobbs, Team Supervisor & FCU Therapist, Life Push, LLC
When it comes to Evidence Based Practices (EBPs), professionals in our system of care have popular perspectives that are not necessarily wrong, but simply incomplete. EBPs are critical to helping youth and families; however, they should also propel case managers, agency supervisors, and providers to success while helping youth, parents, and families experience positive growth and healthy outcomes. The voices of our youth and families will only be as loud as the platforms we provide them with. This is what makes EBPs valuable and new developments with the EBP, Functional Family Therapy is about to change the game. This session acknowledges multiple EBPs with a more in-depth focus on a new development within Functional Family Therapy (FFT), in addition to the evidence-based services, Family Check-Up (FCU), and High-Fidelity Wraparound (HFW). This session demonstrates their ability to complement each other to achieve success at every layer of our system of care.
ELEVATE: Wrap-Around Prevention Journey for Youth, Caregivers, and Professionals ***
Maria Richardson, LCSW, Program Manager, Foster Care, Anthem Healthkeepers Plus, Jenna Novak, Director of Prevention Education, 3Strands Global Foundation, and Yolanda Cobblah, Implementation Specialist, 3Strands Global Foundation
This is an interactive demonstration of an exciting new prevention program through Virginia's Foster Care Specialty Plan. ELEVATE supports youth by building a foundation for life skills that fosters independence. It's an online, self-paced program with separate learning pathways for youth, caregivers, and professionals, designed to provide holistic support to youth through strengths-based tools that build safety, placement stability, and long-term resilience. In addition to the demonstration, our panelists of youth, parents/caregivers, and professionals who have used the program will share the innovative ways they have integrated ELEVATE into their own life. The evidence-based content prepares youth to thrive, and parents/caregivers and professionals to focus on building from existing assess, honoring where people are. Topics include:
- Life skills and independence
- Education and career planning
- Healthy families
- Health and wellness
- Financial confidence
- Digital literacy and online safety
- Peer pressure and abuse prevention
- Navigating transitions and goals
- Legal rights and responsibilities
Family Driven Practices
An Overview of Offerings from the Office of Special Education Family Engagement at the Virginia Department of Education
Tracy Lee, Coordinator of Family Engagement, Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)
The purpose of this presentation is to bring awareness of the functions of the family engagement team in the Department of Special Education and Specialized Populations at the VDOE to families of children with disabilities, and the professionals who work with them. We will discuss the resources and training programs that our team provides for families of students with disabilities and will do a “deep dive” into what those resources and training programs include. We will discuss the role of our Special Education Parent Ombudsman and describe how that office can deliver direct support to families. We will also discuss the multiple capacity-building professional development opportunities that we can provide for the schools that work with our youth. There will also be discussion around what effective family engagement is and is not, as well as effective communication strategies for special education teams.
The Science and Power of Celebration
Emily Clark, LCSW, Senior Project Manager, VWIC, Shineforth, and Anna Antell, LCSW, Lead Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
The Science and Power of Celebration is an interactive workshop exploring how celebration engages families, deepens professional partnerships, fuels growth mindset, instills hope, and incites meaningful change. Grounded in neuroscience and psychology, the session demonstrates how noticing and naming positive experiences strengthens learning, motivation, and resilience. Participants practice celebration firsthand, then zoom out to examine macro‑level celebration—using Virginia examples—to explore how recognizing progress can shift culture, reinforce what’s working, and accelerate systems change. Come celebrate with us!
Self-Care
Addressing Workplace Burnout by understanding the Seven Keys to Thriving through Self and Community Care
Sue Badeau, BA Early Childhood Education, Training and Advocacy Specialist, Association on Trauma and Attachment in Children (ATTACh)
Workers in the child welfare field are often impacted by Secondary Traumatic Stress and Vicarious Trauma and vulnerable to burnout. Resilience is often defined as the capacity to “bounce-back” after adversity and to grow after adversity. Yet, resilience is often framed as a survival skill, when the goal is not merely to survive but to thrive. This interactive workshop will present seven key areas for building personal and professional resilience, well-being and thriving through self and community care. Creative and social supports will be practiced during the session, and participants will leave with tools they can immediately use. In addition, this webinar will provide definitions, tips and tools for preventing employee burnout, supporting those employees on the edge and addressing the consequences of burnout in the workplace. Specific tips for supervisors will also be incorporated.
Leadership Skills
Who am I in the Work of Leadership? Values, Values BumpingTM, and Reset
Ellen Kagen, MSW, PCC, Kagen Leadership Group
Values, Values Bumping™ & Reset teaches participants to recognize when two legitimate value systems collide, to reframe that friction as an opportunity rather than conflict and to practice “Reset” – the disciplined leadership skill of shifting how one engages in the moment. This session will build the self-awareness to name a “values bump,” hold what is non-negotiable and reset in the moment rather than defaulting to defensiveness or the status quo – strengthening resilience and credibility as a leader. Content will be reinforced through individual values, identification and reflection, large group mapping, scenario analysis and paired practice applied to each participants own lived leadership challenge experience.
Local CSA Program Spotlight
Collaboration between CSA and Schools * **
Julia Vetterol, M.ED, Administration and Supervision preK-12, Supervisor of Special Instructional Services, Elementary and Private Placement, Frederick County Public Schools, and Jackie Jury, MS, LPC, CSA Coordinator, Frederick County CSA
This session highlights the collaborative processes between Frederick County Public Schools and the CSA. It provides an overview of how referrals are managed by the Department of Special Instructional Services and the Department of Student Support Services. The session will cover FAPT roles and responsibilities, service provision, Community-Based Services, private day and residential placements, and transitional services. Case studies and best practices will also be featured.
Breakout Session B: 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
CSA Basics Track
Going Together: Practical Strategies for CPMT and FAPT Partnerships * ** ***
Courtney Sexton, BA, Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services (OCS), Emily Ashley, CSA Coordinator, Lee County Department of Social Services, Glenda Collins, CPMT Chair, Lee County, Executive Director, Lonesome Pine Office on Youth and Tiffany Turner, LPN, Professional Parent Services Program Coordinator, Lee County FAPT Representative, Lonesome Pine Office on Youth
High-functioning local CSA programs depend on strong partnerships between the FAPT and CPMT. While each team has distinct responsibilities, their greatest impact comes from working together toward shared goals that support children and families.
This interactive session will explore practical strategies for strengthening communication, collaboration, and coordination between FAPTs and CPMTs. Participants will reflect on their own local processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop ideas they can take back to their local CSA program. Through guided discussion, worksheets, and real-world examples, attendees will examine approaches that support more effective team partnerships and continuous improvement.
Whether your locality is looking to strengthen existing practices or build new connections between teams, this session provides practical tools and fresh perspectives for building stronger CPMT and FAPT partnerships. Participants will leave with actionable ideas that can be adapted to the unique needs, strengths, and priorities of their own local CSA programs.
CSA Basics 201 - Can CSA Pay? Updated * ***
Carol Wilson, Senior Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
How do you know if it’s appropriate for CSA to pay for a service? What are the “rules” that govern use of CSA funds when serving children and their families? The presenter will take participants through a decision-making flow chart, emphasizing the factors in law and policy that must be considered before accessing CSA funds. But the focus of the workshop will be for participants to work in small groups assessing a variety of simple to complex (possibly “tricky”) scenarios to determine if CSA funding is appropriate in each and then explain how their group arrived at those decisions.
State Partners Track
Education Stability for Children & Youth in Foster Care - Part 1 * ***
Laura Hackett, Ed.S. School Psychology, Foster Care Point of Contact & EHCY Assistant State Coordinator, Project HOPE – Virginia, Jessie Forman, State Educational Stability Liaison, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Patricia Popp, Ph.D., EHCY State Coordinator, VDOE Liaison to VDSS for Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care, Project HOPE-Virginia, and Kristi Schabo, Ph.D., Policy & Operations Officer, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Children in foster care are more likely to face multiple academic challenges, largely linked to frequent school changes due to residential mobility. The mandates in ESSA and Fostering Connections address this by prioritizing school stability, or staying in the same school despite placement changes, for children and youth in foster care.
This two-part session will review federal mandates and Virginia’s implementation based on the VDOE/VDSS Joint Guidance. Topics will include local collaboration and communication, areas of shared responsibility, Best Interest Determinations, school enrollment and transportation. Part 1 will provide an overview of the process and how it applies to students in general education.
DMAS Behavioral Health Services Redesign * ** ***
Laura Reed, LCSW, Behavioral Health Senior Program Advisor, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), Lisa Jobe-Shields, Ph.D., LCP, Behavioral Health Division Director, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), Marie Petrone, Training Director, Center for Evidence-Based Partnerships of Virginia (CEP-Va), and Kari Savage, M.S., Director, Office of Child and Family Services, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)
Behavioral Health Redesign is a three-year project that began July 2024 to redesign legacy Medicaid rehabilitative services. The project was authorized by the General Assembly through the 2024 Appropriations Act (Item 288.XX) and the authorizing language requires that this project retire legacy rehabilitative services (intensive in home, therapeutic day treatment, mental health skill building, and psychosocial rehabilitation), replacing them with an array of evidence-based, trauma-informed services. The presentation will concentrate on giving updates and information concerning year three of implementation with a Go Live date of July 1, 2027. Topics discussed will include new service descriptions, licensing, provider training and the standardized comprehensive assessment of needs and strengths (CANS Lifetime).
Service Innovations & EBPs Track
The Diary Behind the Behavior: Understanding Trauma, Restoring Hope, and Building Resilience
Dr. Jaclyn Walker, VDOE licensed teacher, EdD in Educational Leadership/Administration, Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment, Rivermont Schools
Student behavior is often the visible expression of invisible experiences. This interactive session equips educators, school counselors, social workers, and support staff to look beyond challenging behaviors and understand the impact of trauma on learning, relationships, and emotional regulation. Using the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) framework, participants will examine how trauma influences brain development and why behavior is frequently a form of communication rather than defiance. Grounded in C.R. Snyder's Hope Theory, the session explores how hope can be intentionally cultivated through goals, pathways, and agency, empowering students to envision and work toward a brighter future. Through engaging, hands-on activities including the Treasure Box, Three-Key Hope Framework, and Dr. Walker's Resilience Wheel, then participants will discover practical, trauma-informed strategies to strengthen protective factors, foster resilience, and create psychologically safe learning environments. Attendees will leave with research-based tools to respond with empathy, restore hope, and help students rewrite the diary behind their behavior from survival to strength.
Evidence-based Services Moving Beyond Tradition to Proven Outcomes
Darrius Bethel, LPC, MA, TF-CBT Trained, PCIT Trained, CEO, Storms Assessments and Counseling Services, LLC, Scott Akers, MA, MS, MS, CSAC, BSFT Supervisor, Storms Counseling Services, LLC, and Taylor Kyle, MA, LPC, CSOTP, Director, Youth Connect of Virginia
Too often, families have services in place for one year, two years, or even 3 years only to watch everything unravel once those services end. Length of service should never be confused with effectiveness. In fact, most evidence-based models are intentionally time-limited because their goal is to create lasting change and self-efficacy, not lifelong dependency. It’s ironic that some criticize short-term interventions while simultaneously celebrating systems that require years of involvement with little sustainable progress. If a family falls apart the moment a service ends, perhaps the service was maintaining or managing the problem rather than solving it. We should be asking whether families are stronger and more independent after treatment—not how long we can keep professionals involved. Effectiveness should be measured by outcomes, not by how many years a case remains open. Otherwise, we risk confusing chronic service involvement with success.
Expanding Possibilities for Permanency: A New Collaboration with Wendy's Wonderful Kids to Expand Child- Specific Recruitment in Virginia
Stephen Gilliand, MSW, Adoption Program Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Rachel Wegner, LMSW, MSPH, Director of Case Management, Center for Adoption Support and Education, Krista Watson, Wendy's Wonderful Kids Recruiter, Children's Home Society of Virginia and Aicia Bugauisan, MSW, ATCP Program Manager, C2Adopt
VDSS' Adoption Through Collaborative Partnerships (ATCP) program and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) have existed side by side for years, separately providing recruitment for children in foster care in need of adoptive homes. Now, these programs are combining to add additional recruiters using the WWK child-specific recruitment model to serve more children, expanding to other permanency goals in addition to adoption. This workshop will provide an overview of the model, expansion, modifications to the ATCP contract, and a possible case study. Presenters will highlight the importance of permanency for older youth and engage participants in how they can support child-specific recruitment.
Family Driven Practices
The Magic of Attachment: Using Evidence-Based Assessment and Intervention to Clear Up the Puzzle of Family Distress
Somer George, Ph.D., LPC, Clinical Director & Supervisor, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center, William Whelan, Psy.D., Program Director & Supervisor, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center, Hannah Jarrett, Therapist, Intake coordinator, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center, and Rob Whelan, Therapist, Assessment specialist, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center
Parents who are referred to us at Secure Child often express confusion, defeat, and doubt that anything will help improve their relationship with their child. At last year’s CSA conference, we talked about how change happens in therapy, and this year we will consider the process that helps us see through family distress to the core of their difficulties and their possibilities.
It can feel almost impossible to make sense of the complex circumstances at play in a family system at first glance. However, we have found that an attachment evaluation can bring the puzzle pieces together into a coherent picture and provides a path forward. This process of moving from confusion to clarity often feels like magic, and we are excited to share how it happens. Secure Child cases and assessment video will be referenced, with a focus on relationship patterns and the rich evidence base that underpins this process.
Leadership Skills
Empowering Our Workforce Using the Coach Approach
Ellen Kagen, MSW, PCC, Kagen Leadership Group
In this interactive workshop leaders and supervisors will learn the foundations of coaching skills with fresh eyes. Grounded in the belief that others are capable and competent, this 90-minute session guides participants in creating a workplace culture where team members feel safe, seen, and heard. Participants will explore key paradigm shifts, such as moving from telling to asking and from reacting to responding, in order to strengthen critical thinking and help staff develop their own solutions. By distinguishing coaching from other forms of support like mentoring, consulting, and therapy, leaders will also learn exactly when to apply coaching to support lasting behavior change. The session introduces a structured six-stage Coach Approach Process Model to guide coaching conversations from initially establishing presence all the way to creating an action plan and gaining commitment.
Leading from Above the Line: Curiosity, Courage, and Candor
Nina Marino, LCSW, Vice President, Program Innovation & External Affairs, Shineforth and Chris Bennett, Vice President, Innovation & Strategy, Shineforth
What if the key to transforming workplace culture was as simple as shifting from defensiveness to curiosity? This 90-minute co-facilitated session introduces the Conscious Leadership Framework — a practical, research-backed approach to how we lead, relate, and communicate.
Participants will explore the foundational above/below the line concept, learning to recognize reactive patterns and consciously choose a more effective response. We'll dive into three core commitments: Radical Responsibility — illustrated through real-world examples across diverse settings; Curiosity — how releasing the need to be right unlocks innovation, diffuses conflict, and elevates team thinking; and Integrity Around Gossip — distinguishing reveal from conceal and using clearing conversations to rebuild trust and transparency.
Attendees will leave with tangible tools they can apply immediately — in the boardroom, the breakroom, and beyond.
Local CSA Program Spotlight
Beyond the Numbers: Using Data to Inform, Improve, and Inspire
Carrie Thompson, Research Associate Senior, Office of Children's Services, and Jacqueline Zemmitt, CSA Program Manager, Petersburg Department of Social Services, Office of Children's Services
Data is more than numbers—it tells the story of children, families, outcomes, and program impact.
Join us for a joint presentation featuring Office of Children’s Services (OCS) and Petersburg CSA staff. OCS will outline the framework of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and highlight available information on the CSA website, including a demo of its Data and Outcomes (CQI) dashboard. Petersburg CSA will share its annual report and how it has successfully incorporated CQI and CSA data sources to tell the story of its program. This spotlight provides local programs with a practical way to make their CSA data accessible to their Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT), and drive data-informed decision-making. Ways in which Petersburg CSA organized its information for partner engagement and program improvement will be provided. Come revisit some CSA basics and hear the experience of how one locality has successfully used data to tell its stories.
Breakout Session C: 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
CSA Basics Track
Service Planning in a System of Care * ***
Anna Antell, LCSW, Lead Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Systems of Care (SOC) is the shared framework of CSA, providing philosophy, values, and an organizing structure. This workshop will highlight how SOC framework is reflected in service planning best practices. This workshop is for anyone who participates in the service planning process at the local level: Case Managers, CSA Coordinators, FAPT members, Supervisors and Families.
State Partners Track
Education Stability for Children & Youth in Foster Care - Part 2 * ***
Laura Hackett, Ed.S., School Psychology, Foster Care Point of Contact & EHCY Assistant State Coordinator, Project HOPE-Virginia, Jessie Forman, State Educational Stability Liaison, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Patricia Popp, Ph.D., EHCY State Coordinator, VDOE Liaison to VDSS for Education Stability of Students in Foster Care, and Kristi Schabo, Ph.D., Policy & Operations Officer, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Children in foster care are more likely to face multiple academic challenges, largely linked to frequent school changes due to residential mobility. The mandates in ESSA and Fostering Connections address this by prioritizing school stability, or staying in the same school despite placement changes, for children and youth in foster care.
This two-part session will review federal mandates and Virginia’s implementation based on the VDOE/VDSS Joint Guidance. Topics will include local collaboration and communication, areas of shared responsibility, Best Interest Determinations, school enrollment and transportation.
Part 2 will address how the process varies when the students are served under IDEA, including students educated in private placements, as well as how the process applies to students in Fostering Futures and the dispute process when there is disagreement about a student’s best interest.
Fraud Awareness & CSA (Compliance, Standards, and Accountability * ** ***
Stephanie Bacote, Program Audit Manager, Office of Children's Services (OCS), Rendell Briggs, Program Auditor, Office of Children's Services (OCS), Rachel Friedman, Program Auditor, Office of Children's Services (OCS), and Annette Larkin, Program Auditor, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Join us for a lively, fast‑moving session that transforms fraud prevention and CSA into something engaging, memorable, and—dare we say—fun. It’s all about boosting your integrity superpowers while keeping the energy high and the learning practical. By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Understand key types of fraud risks and how they occur in operational and financial processes.
- Recognize “red flags” - warning signs and behaviors that may indicate fraudulent activity.
- Apply compliance, standards, and accountability (CSA) principles to promote transparency, accuracy, and responsible stewardship of resources.
- Communicate and follow proper reporting procedures.
- Support a culture of compliance, integrity, and accountability across daily operations.
Service Innovations & EBPs Track
Intensive Care Coordination using High Fidelity Wraparound: Fidelity and Outcome Reporting Across Virginia * ***
Alexander Garinther, Ph.D., MPA, Evaluation Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships (CEP-Va) at VCU, and Emily Clark, VWIC Senior Project Manager, Shineforth
High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) is a structured, team-based service coordination model for children with complex multi-system needs. Nationally, the approach has a rich evidence base supporting its use, but Virginia-specific evaluations had remained out of reach until 2025. In that year, VDSS contracted with CEP-Va to launch a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation effort tracking fidelity and outcomes at all active provider sites. Working closely with VWIC, CEP-Va gathered nearly 500 survey responses from intensive care coordinators, family support partners, and caregivers involved in HFW. This feedback, in combination with other data sources, such as a decade of CANS records, has painted a comprehensive picture of where and how this service is delivered, its achievements, shortcomings, and local opportunities for growth. This presentation will share in-depth findings related to HFW team fidelity and youth outcomes. We also compare outcomes for HFW-enrolled youth to those of youth enrolled in other CSA-funded services.
Supporting Child Development with Clinical Approaches to Caregiving
Jessica Cash, Ph.D., LMHC, LCPC, Doctorate in Counseling and Theology, Foster Parent Trainer, Extra Special Parents
The training will provide an overview of essential concepts for treatment foster parents, highlighting the significance of being trauma-informed and effective communication techniques. The trainer will emphasize the importance of understanding trauma responses and introduce trauma-sensitive communication to foster trust. Participants practice reframing accusatory comments into empathetic questions and converting judgmental statements into validating prompts, enhancing their skills in trauma-sensitive dialogue. This work involves implementing the Strategic Parenting Model, which includes preemptive, responsive, and rectifying toolkits to guide foster parents in managing child behavior and building relationships. The model is designed to support children through trauma-informed interventions and promote positive developmental outcomes.
Serving the Forgotten MiddleTM: Innovative Strategies for Transitioning High-Acuity Youth from Congregate Care to Family-Based Placement
Natalie Handy, MSW, CEO, Handy Innovation Solutions, and Dr. Challen Mabry, Chief Clinical Officer, Handy Innovative Solutions
Across Virginia, a growing number of youth become stuck within the continuum of care because traditional placement approaches fail to meet their complex needs. These youth often cycle between family-based placements, congregate care, and acute psychiatric hospitalization, or remain in residential treatment long after they are clinically ready for discharge because no appropriate community placement can be identified. This presentation introduces The Forgotten Middle™—a population of children and youth whose highly specialized clinical, developmental, behavioral, relational, and environmental needs often exceed the capacity of traditional placement models and require individualized transition planning beyond traditional placement practices. Participants will explore practical strategies to improve placement success through comprehensive child profiling, attachment-informed caregiver matching, structured stakeholder collaboration, and intentional transition planning. Through real-world case examples, presenters will demonstrate how individualized planning and cross-system coordination can successfully move youth from institutional care to stable family-based placements while providing participants with practical tools they can immediately apply within their own communities.
Beyond Referrals: Collaborating to Improve Behavioral Health Access and Stability for Foster-Connected Youth
Michelle Turner, MSHS, CEO/Founder, Here Now Health, Shanice Gangadeen, MSN, RN, CCM, Director of Foster Care, Anthem Healthkeepers Plus Foster Care Specialty Plan, Susan Perez, LCSW, BSN, RN, Program Director, Anthem Healthkeepers Plus Foster Care Specialty Plan, Jaclyn Satchel, LCSW-S, PMH-C, Clinical Director, Here Now Health, and Adam A. Creveling, LMSW, Utilization Review/Continuous Quality Improvement Specialist, County of Frederick, Virginia
Children and youth connected to the foster care system often face barriers to behavioral health care due to placement changes, changing caregivers, fragmented communication, missing information, and challenges navigating complex systems. Traditional referral-based approaches frequently fall short of meeting their needs. This session highlights a partnership between Anthem HealthKeepers Plus Foster Care Specialty Plan, Here Now Health, a child welfare-focused behavioral health provider, and local child welfare partners to deliver specialized Medicaid-covered behavioral health services through a connected care model. Presenters will share how clinicians, care managers, caregivers, local CSA partners, and child welfare professionals collaborate to address both behavioral health needs and practical barriers to care. Through real-world examples and lessons learned, attendees will explore strategies to move beyond “referral made” to “connection achieved” by strengthening warm handoffs, engaging caregivers, supporting placement stability, and helping reduce the risk of unnecessary escalation to emergency, residential, and other higher levels of care for foster-connected youth.
Family Driven Practices
What You're Not Seeing
John Ross Murray, Jr., Bachelor's of Psychology, Master's of Social Work, CEO/Owner/President, Families First of Virginia
An interactive, skill-based training presentation aimed at understanding the actual causes and patterns of dysregulation leading to the acting-out behaviors we chase in foster children. This presentation is regarding the current moves towards kinship families and the need for assisting kinship, foster, adoptive and even biological caregivers in finding more efficient and effective ways in assisting children in learning how to self-regulate. So often behavior is focused on because it scares us and shows itself to a caregiver first. However, by engaging with the actual neurology behind their real needs, there can be better placement stability and connection-driven parenting rather than simply corrective. This presentation will provide techniques in doing this and give an audience real tools to take away to practice.
Effective Communication with Teens
Douglas Fenoff, QMHP-T, R-CPRS, ADS, COAPS-F, School-Based Case Manager, Henrico Mental Health and Developmental Services
The original training was developed from the Family Support Partner perspective and was crafted using personal background of an identified "at-risk youth" and someone who has worked in multiple aspects of professional public education and community-based mental health professions. The training was developed to train not only parents, but other professionals (whether they be school-based or community mental health) in how to reframe conversations to fit the narrative of an average modern-day teenager, especially one dealing with significant mental health and/or behavioral concerns. This training gives professionals an additional layer of understanding when it comes to the words we use, the tone of our voice, and how our body language is framed; it teaches us to recognize how best demonstrate an open, non-judgmental, welcoming environment that a teenager could then feel safe and respected.
Leadership Skills
From Training to Transformation: How Leadership-Trainer Partnerships Drive Culture, Not Just Competency
Renee Brown, LPC, CSAC, President & CEO, DePaul Community Resources, and Natasha Saunders-Cotton, CPC, MS, Founder & Principal Consultant, Transition Life Consulting
Many organizations invest heavily in training yet struggle to translate learning into meaningful change. This session explores how intentional partnerships between executive leadership and professional trainers can move organizations from isolated training events to a sustained culture of growth. Presenters will share a practical framework that connects leadership’s role in shaping a learning culture with strategies that bridge individual staff development and broader organizational goals. Participants will learn how aligning vision, feedback, and accountability creates greater impact across teams. The session will highlight key elements of successful partnerships, the “secret sauce”, including clarity of roles, mutual trust, and continuous adaptation based on staff voice. Through real examples and lessons learned, attendees will examine what works, what doesn’t, and how to design development efforts that truly stick. This interactive session will equip leaders with tools to transform training into lasting organizational change.
Local CSA Program Spotlight
Putting Implementation Science to Work: Transformation Zones in Virginia
Ashley Sandman, BSW, Partner Engagement Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships of Virginia (CEP-Va), Jackie Jury, MS, LPC, CSA Coordinator, Frederick County CSA, Christian Rosseau, MA, President/CEO, Haven Mental Health Center, Inc., Dr. Nicholas Sturdifen, DSL, MBA, MA, President, Life Push, LLC, Sherra Lawrence, MA, Senior Implementation Specialist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Taylor Kyle, LPC, C-SOTP, Assistant Director, Youth Connect of Virginia
This session introduces Transformation Zones, an innovative, community-driven approach to improving child and family outcomes through implementation science. Participants will hear from national experts, state leaders, and local implementation team members about how Transformation Zones were conceptualized, adapted, and launched in Virginia to increase the use of High Fidelity Wraparound, an evidence-based prevention service. Presenters will highlight the “why,” “how,” and “what it takes” to design and implement cross-system change. Each segment includes a hands-on activity where participants apply practical implementation tools to their own work. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of implementation science in practice and concrete strategies to advance systems transformation in their communities.
Thursday, October 15, 2026
Breakout Session D: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.
CSA Basics Track
CSA Finance: Overview of the CSA Funding and Reimbursement Process * ** ***
Scott Reiner, Executive Director, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
Join the CSA Executive Director for an overview of the CSA funding and the financial reimbursement process. This session will provide an overview of CSA appropriations, including administrative funds, Special education wraparound, and financial reporting. Improve your CSA financial acumen and maximize the funding available to your local CSA program. The session will conclude with a Q&A session.
State Partners Track
An Overview of DARS Pre-ETS and Vocational Rehabilitation Transition Services * ***
Patti Hodge, MA, CRC, Statewide Transition Specialist, Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
The Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) works together with students, youth, families, schools and community agencies and organizations to provide services that promote successful transitions from school to work and adult life. DRS offers two sets of services to help students with disabilities move from school to post-school life: pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) transition services.
Participants can expect to learn the basics of DARS Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition Services, how the services are provided, and all the roles of the partners involved in well-rounded, quality services.
Participants will gain a basic understanding of DARS Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) and Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Transition Services so that they are empowered to pass the knowledge on to families, educational teams, and other service providers, and get them connected to their local DARS offices for further information.
OCO Annual Report Findings, Data, and Trends - FY2026
Eric Reynolds, Director, Office of the Children's Ombudsman (OCO)
OCO staff will provide a summary of the 2026 OCO Annual Report, including a discussion of key data, findings, and trends culled from complaints received and cases reviewed during FY2026. The discussion will include identifying systemic and practice improvements in the areas of child safety, parent engagement, kinship care, case management, and achieving permanency.
Service Innovations & EBPs Track
It's All About Fly Fishing (Not!)
Scott Barrier, Roanoke Project Lead Mentor, The Mayfly Project, Roanoke, Helen Barrier, Roanoke Project Co-Lead Mentor, The Mayfly Project, Roanoke, Judy Edwards, Richmond Project Lead Mentor and Zachary Smith, Pearisburg Project Lead Mentor, The Mayfly Project, Pearisburg
This session is not your average evidence-based program! While not all youth respond to traditional interventions, connecting them with The Mayfly Project may be one of child welfare's best-kept secrets. Learn about this national volunteer organization that pairs foster and adopted youth ages 8–18 with caring adult mentors to build self-confidence, promote healing, and foster meaningful connections to local waters through fly fishing. This highly interactive session brings the outdoors inside through rotating activity stations led by youth and mentors, offering a firsthand look at the Mayfly Project experience. Explore project materials, try casting and fly tying, and view videos and photos that demonstrate how time on the water, positive mentorship, and outdoor recreation transform lives. You'll leave with practical ideas, new community connections, and a fresh perspective on an innovative intervention that just might become one of your favorite resources for the youth and families you serve. Visit The Mayfly Project website and preview the story at Outdoor Fund feature.
Black, Brown, or White. What no one says out loud that youth and families hear the loudest.
Dr. Nicholas Sturdifen, DSL, MA, MBA, President, Life Push, LLC
Leave your emotional lenses at the door and bring your objective perspective as this session goes deep and direct to an issue that needs to be acknowledged while safely encouraging real thought. There are unaddressed realities that sit in front of our faces during FAPT/CPMT meetings, IEP, treatment team, staff meetings, and more. These realities are directly linked to culture, education, race in all directions, gender, economics, faith, and trauma. This is not an issue of being “woke” or “intolerant”. It is an issue of comfort. Discomfort is risky and comfort seems safe for all at face value. In reality, that same comfort we choose as professionals can create an atmosphere of discomfort for those relying on us to be effective. The youth and families we serve here and feel that discomfort clearly. Maybe it is time to start listening to their frequency to gain a more effective understanding.
Improving Psychotropic Medicaid Decision-Making for Youth in Foster Care: Balancing Safety, Oversight, and Family Engagement
Alexis Aplasca, MD, Director of Foster Care Health and Safety, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Felicity Adams-Vanke, MD, Division Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Carilion Clinic/VirginiaTech-Carilion Clinic School of Medicine, and Annie Wright, Ph.D., LCP, Assistant Professor, Virginia Treatment Center for Children at VCU
Youth in foster care are significantly more likely to receive psychotropic medications, often within complex systems where medication consent, treatment oversight, and caregiver engagement present unique challenges. This interactive session will examine key issues including off-label prescribing, polypharmacy, the limitations of child welfare-led consent processes, and barriers to meaningful participation by foster families in treatment decisions. Dr. Felicity Adams-Vanke, a child psychiatrist, will present a local oversight model that uses data and multidisciplinary case reviews to improve prescribing practices and promote accountability. Dr. Annie Wright, researcher and child psychologist, will share research on foster family involvement in behavioral health treatment and strategies to strengthen shared decision-making. Following brief presentations, participants will engage in facilitated small-group discussions to identify policy, practice, and system-level opportunities to improve psychotropic medication oversight and family engagement in their jurisdictions. Findings will be shared through a report-out and facilitated discussion.
Beyond Behavior: Empowered Families, Stronger Outcomes - Building Caregiver Capacity in Complex Cases
Amy Kingery, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist/Owner, Occupational Therapy Foundations, Melissa Beckler, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Foundations, Maria Hartman, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Foundations, and Sara Terwilliger, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist, Occupational Therapy Foundations
Families navigating DSS, CSB, FAPT meetings, and special education systems are often expected to advocate for their children while managing complex diagnoses, behaviors, and service systems. However, family-driven practice is not just inviting families to the table; it is ensuring families have the understanding, regulation, confidence, and tools to fully participate at that table. This session explores a caregiver-centered approach that recognizes the caregiver-child relationship and the family system as part of the intervention. The presenter will also share the Parent Partnership Program at OT Foundations, a structured 6–9 month curriculum designed to build caregiver understanding of their child’s nervous system, identify triggers, implement co-regulation strategies, and develop advocacy skills across IEP, FAPT, DSS, and CSB systems. Drawing from caregiver trainings and pilot program outcomes, attendees will leave with strategies to strengthen family voice, caregiver capacity, and collaboration within CSA services.
Self-Care
You Can't Pour from an Empty Cup: A-Z Self-Care Practices for the Human Services Leader
Dr. Zachary Haney, Ph.D., School of Finance, MA, Edu Leadership, MSED, Curriculum and Instruction, Vice President of Schools, Solterra School, and Brittney Schuessler, RYT 500, CEO, Solterra School
Who cares for the caregiver? This interactive workshop confronts one of the most persistent challenges in human services: the professionals most committed to serving others are often the least practiced at serving themselves. The consequences — burnout, compassion fatigue, eroding self-efficacy, and diminished leadership effectiveness — are felt not just by the individual, but by entire teams and the families they serve.
The A–Z of Self-Care is a mindfulness-anchored, leadership-integrated workshop offering 26 concrete, evidence-informed self-care strategies participants can begin practicing immediately. Rooted in both research and lived professional experience, this session blends brief didactic content, peer sensemaking, guided reflection, and hands-on practice. Participants leave with a personalized self-care framework, a full A–Z reference guide, and a renewed sense of permission — and responsibility — to care for themselves as whole persons and effective leaders.
All attendees welcome. No prior mindfulness experience required.
Leadership Skills
Why can't we all get along? Tools for navigating conflict
Erica Mann, LCSW, Director of Learning and Special Projects, Shineforth, and Alexa Reitz, LCSW, Program Director, RRC, Shineforth
With so much being thrown at you, the one thing we don’t have time for is conflict! And yet, conflict is often the thing that impacts productivity, agency culture, and even worse—impacts retention. Rarely are human service disciplines provided formal schooling on how to manage it in the workplace. This workshop will provide practical tools to help navigate conflict across multiple settings and situations. It will pull from best practice approaches in communication, teaming, and conflict management. Whether you are working with peers or families, supervising others or managing up, or working across bigger systems, you will find something helpful.
Local CSA Program Spotlight
From Data to Decisions: Fairfax County's Approach to Continuous Quality Improvement
Laura Haggerty-Lacalle, MPP, CPM, Deputy Program Manager, CSA, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and Muhammad Qasim, MPA, Management Analyst, CSA, Fairfax County Department of Family Services
Come learn how a local CSA program has harnessed data analytics to power Continuous Quality Improvement across the system. This session will showcase how they track and interpret trends in service delivery, client outcomes, and operational efficiency to drive data-informed decision making. Presenters will highlight practical examples of using administrative and financial data, timeliness metrics, and provider monitoring results to identify gaps, test solutions, and sustain improvements. The session will also explore challenges encountered in implementing this approach and the practical lessons learned along the way, offering insights to help others navigate similar efforts. Attendees will leave with strategies and tools they can adapt to strengthen performance and accountability in their own organizations. The session will conclude with an interactive activity designed to help participants identify opportunities to apply data-informed continuous quality improvement strategies within their own localities.
Breakout Session E: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
CSA Basics Track
Mission Possible: Empowering CPMTs to Build Strong, Effective CSA Policy * **
Kristi Schabo, Ph.D., Policy and Operations Officer, Office of Children's Services (OCS)
This training session equips CSA leaders and CPMT members with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to strengthen local policy development under the Children’s Services Act. Participants will explore the full lifecycle of policy creation—from identifying pressing community needs to designing clear, effective policies that promote accountability, fiscal stewardship, and positive outcomes for children and families. Through a practical, step‑by‑step framework, attendees learn how to evaluate evidence, collaborate with stakeholders, draft and refine policy language, adopt changes thoughtfully, and assess their real‑world impact.
Grounded in statutory requirements and best practices, this program emphasizes clarity, consistency, and alignment with both state guidance and local priorities. By the end of the session, participants will be better equipped to make informed decisions, lead policy initiatives confidently, and ensure their local CSA program operates with integrity, transparency, and a strong commitment to improving lives.
Service Innovations & EBPs Track
Partnerships in Prevention: Family First and the Prevention Continuum * ***
Alexis Aplasca, MD, Director, Foster Care Health and Safety & the Office of Family Wellbeing, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), Lauren Weidner, MSW, Special Projects Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS), and Vanessa Alonso, Community Prevention Program Consultant, Virginia Department Social Services (VDSS)
The Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) partners with community organizations to support families across the prevention continuum. This session, hosted by the Office of Family Wellbeing, highlights how primary and secondary prevention strategies are advanced through coordinated, community‑based services. Presenters will explore evidence‑based approaches that strengthen protective factors, reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect, and promote family stability. The session also outlines pathways to prevention services through VDSS’s Family First and Kinship Navigator programs and shares the agency’s expanding efforts to support families impacted by substance use disorder. Attendees will gain insight into how cross‑system collaboration and upstream investment create meaningful opportunities to keep children safe, supported, and thriving within their communities.
Breaking Cycles: Family Systems, Trauma, and Sustainable Change
Caylee Gilham, MA, LCMHCS, LMHC, LPCC, LPC, Clinical Director, SPARC Services and Programs, and Ashely Burgess, QMHP, Family Centered Treatment Specialist and Supervisor, SPARC Services and Programs
Family-Centered Treatment (FCT) is an evidence-based, nationally recognized trauma treatment model of home-based family therapy designed to improve family functioning, preservation, reunification, and permanency outcomes. Rooted in systemic and relational approaches, FCT recognizes that sustainable change occurs within the family system rather than through individual intervention alone. Commonly utilized within child welfare, juvenile justice, and behavioral health systems, FCT addresses the impact of trauma on family dynamics, communication, attachment, emotional safety, and behavioral interaction patterns.
Through experiential activities, case examples, and interactive discussion, this 90-minute presentation will provide participants with an overview of Family-Centered Treatment, including treatment phases, target populations, and treatment outcomes. Participants will gain practical insight into trauma-informed, family-centered interventions that strengthen relationships, improve stability, reduce recidivism and out-of-home placements, and promote long-term positive outcomes for children, adolescents, and families involved in complex systems of care.
The Power of Implementation: Strengthening Outcomes Through Effective Implementation and Partner Engagement
Sherra Lawrence, MA, Senior Implementation Specialist, Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill, and Ashley Sandman, BSW, Partner Engagement Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships of Virginia (CEP-Va)
Successful outcomes are not achieved simply by selecting evidence-based programs and practices; they depend on how those programs and practices are implemented. This interactive session introduces Implementation Science with a particular focus on the importance of implementation teams and partner engagement. Participants will explore key concepts including usable innovations, implementation stages, implementation drivers, and continuous improvement cycles. Participants will also learn how engaging critical perspectives, including individuals with lived experience, frontline practitioners, family members, youth, community partners, and system leaders, can strengthen implementation planning, problem-solving, and sustainability. Through practical examples and group activities, attendees will identify strategies for building effective implementation teams, strengthening collaboration across agencies, and creating shared ownership of initiatives. Participants will leave with concrete tools for improving implementation outcomes and sustaining change within CSA programs and local systems of care.
Connection Before Correction: Creating a Trauma-Informed Culture Through Leadership, Relationship, and Resilience
Randi Paxton, BSW, Chief Operations Officer, HopeTree Family Services, and Brandon Rose, LCSW, Director of Clinical Services, HopeTree Family Services
What happens when trauma-informed care becomes more than a training? It becomes the culture of an organization.
As child-serving agencies face increasing behavioral complexity, workforce burnout, and growing demands for collaboration, leaders are searching for ways to create environments where both staff and the individuals they serve can thrive. This session explores HopeTree Family Services' development of Connection Before Correction, an organization-wide initiative grounded in Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI) principles that places regulation, connection, and relationship at the center of leadership and service delivery. Presented by HopeTree's Chief Operating Officer and Director of Clinical Services, this session will highlight how trauma-informed principles have been woven into leadership practices, staff development, policies, procedures, and wellness initiatives across the agency. Participants will leave with practical strategies for building a resilient, relationship-centered culture that supports staff, strengthens teams, and improves outcomes for children and families.
First Contact - Lasting Impact: A Trauma-Informed Model for Police-Youth Encounters
Dr. Jeffrey Aaron, Ph.D., Juvenile Justice & Behavioral Health Program Manager, Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and Kim Simon, INCI, Founder, S2C LLC/Safe Schools & Communities
Police officers typically serve as the first point of contact between young people and the justice system. Outcomes can range from supportive contact to arrest and involvement in the legal system, yet this critical juncture remains underappreciated and underinvested. The stakes and potential rewards are high: research consistently shows that not arresting low-to-moderate offending youth (the overwhelming proportion of youth arrested) leads to better outcomes for youth and public safety than involving them in the legal system. Further, racial disparities are especially acute at the arrest and referral stage – the system’s “front door.” This session presents a trauma-informed, relationship-based training model for police – grounded in research and informed by conversations with youth about their experiences - that improves youth encounters and reduces the likelihood of arrest. Participants will explore the evidence, examine the training model, and leave with practical tools to replicate this approach in their own jurisdictions.
Family Driven Practices
Trauma-Infomed Communication: Building Trust, De-Escalating Conflict, and Supporting Families Effectively
Love Kingsbury, Coordinator of Staff Development and SPED Dispute Resolution, PEATC
This interactive session explores how trauma-informed communication can strengthen relationships with families, reduce conflict, and improve collaboration during challenging conversations. Participants will learn how trauma impacts communication, behavior, and emotional responses, while gaining practical strategies for active listening, validation, de-escalation, and maintaining professional boundaries. Through real-world scenarios and engaging activities, attendees will examine common communication pitfalls, practice reframing responses, and build skills that foster trust, empathy, and connection. The session also highlights the importance of self-awareness and self-care when supporting families experiencing stress, crisis, or conflict. Participants will leave with practical tools and communication techniques they can immediately apply in their work with families and caregivers.
Trends in Perinatal and Pediatric Mental Health
Lindsey Lumley, MA, Pediatric Care Navigation Lead, Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), Michelle Diehl, LPC, Lead LMHP, VMAP for Moms+, Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP), and Ale Silva-Tucci, Pediatric Care Navigator, Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP)
The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) is a statewide initiative that helps health care providers take better care of children and adolescents with mental health conditions through provider education and increasing access to child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and care navigators. This presentation will provide an overview of VMAP, along with overview of current trends we are seeing in perinatal and pediatric mental health as well as current workforce needs. We will share how VMAP partners with families whose perinatal mother, child, or adolescent are being referred for behavioral health services, and ways VMAP cultivates relationships with community behavioral health providers and child-serving professionals to bridge the gap and improve access to mental health care. This presentation will demonstrate how a statewide, inter-agency collaboration and evidence-based practice can assist the behavioral health workforce in addressing the current pediatric mental health crisis. We will illustrate this with ways VMAP and CSA coordinators can share resources and work together, partnering with other professionals and families to overcome obstacles and get moms and kids the services they need.
Local CSA Program Spotlight
Collaborate, Innovate, Transform: Bridging School and CSA Partnerships for Students with Complex Needs
Kelly Conn-Reda, M.Ed., Ph.D., Candidate (George Mason University), Senior Manager, Office of Special Education Procedural Support, Fairfax County Public Schools, Sarah Young, Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) Coordinator, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, and Christina Hunt, LCSW, School Social Worker, Fairfax County Public Schools
The core of this "Local CSA Program Spotlight" aligns directly with this year’s conference theme. Identifying and providing appropriate school services is uniquely difficult when a student’s complex needs extend beyond the school walls and threaten their ability to remain stable in the home or community. To meet these challenges, our model demonstrates how to innovate by moving from fragmented, single-agency approaches toward coordinated, multi-disciplinary service delivery. We specifically focus on the essential collaboration between special education case managers and lead CSA funding case managers to align educational mandates with CSA eligibility. Presenters will share practical tools, including Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) templates, educational funding job aids, and interagency consent forms used to facilitate seamless communication. By leveraging collective knowledge and different perspectives, this partnership demonstrates how interagency collaboration serves as the primary tool to achieve transformation in the lives of youth and families.
Please note session recommendations:
* CPMT members
** FAPT members
*** New CSA Coordinators
CONTACT: Liz Fillman, Virginia Tech Richmond Center
Email: lfillman@vt.edu