Agenda

As of October 8, 2024 please check with the 13^th Annual CSA Conference Guidebook App for the latest information relating to this conference.

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
2:00pm-5:00pm	Pre-Conference Session for CSA Coordinators, FAPT and CPMT Members
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
07:00 AM - 08:30 AM	Conference Registration - North Entry Foyer Continental Breakfast and Sponsor Visits - Common Areas
08:30 AM - 08:45 AM	Welcoming Remarks - Roanoke ABCD Scott Reiner, Executive Director, Office of Children’s Services
08:45 AM - 09:45 AM	Keynote Speaker - Roanoke ABCD
09:45 AM - 10:15 AM	Sponsor Visits and Break Book Signing with Beth Macy
10:15 AM - 11:45 AM	Breakout Session Block A
11:45 AM - 01:00 PM	Lunch - Roanoke ABCD
01:00 PM - 02:30 PM	Breakout Session Block B
02:30 PM - 03:00 PM	Sponsor Visits and Break
03:00 PM - 04:30 PM	Breakout Session Block C
05:00 PM - 06:30 PM	Reception - Join us in the Garden Courtyard
Thursday, October 17, 2024
07:00 AM - 08:30 PM	Continental Breakfast and Sponsor Visits - Common Areas
08:30 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 - 01:30 PM	Lunch Award Presentations and Sponsor Visits - Roanoke ABCD
01:30 PM - 02:30 PM	Closing Remarks and Door Prizes

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Session tracks:

Service Innovations/Evidence-Based Programs: Creative interventions and approaches to service provision that positively affect youth and family outcomes.
Evidence-Based Practices: Approaches to sustainable frameworks in service delivery using evidence and data.
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.
Local CSA Program Spotlight: Highlighting practices within the CSA community that goes above and beyond to produce positive outcomes for youth and families.
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.

Please note session recommendations:
        * CPMT members
        ** FAPT members
        *** New CSA Coordinators

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Pre-conference Training Session: 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dr Sobia Khan Fostering Change Through Trust and Power

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

Breakout Session A: 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.

CSA Basics Track

CSA Data & Continuous Quality Improvement Introduction * ** ***
Carrie Thompson, Research Associate Senior, Office of Children's Services

Previously Utilization (UM) Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is the framework adopted by the Office of Children's Services (OCS) to assist localities in the assessment and improvement by their CSA programs. This session will provide a review of the data sources available on the CSA website, the CQI framework recommended for use by CSA programs, and the CQI template available for use by localities in their CQI activities.
This is an introductory session for those seeking information on where to find data and CQI resources on the CSA website.

FAPT and CPMT Roles and Responsibilities
Courtney Sexton, BA Political Science/Criminal Justice, Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services and Mary Bell, MAFP, Program Consultant, Office of Children's Services

You may have heard: “CSA is a state-supervised, locally administered program.” What does this mean? State law and policy provide high-level guidance for programmatic operation, while local policy clarifies locality-specific procedure and protocol.

In this session, attendees will learn about the functions and duties that the Code of Virginia assigns to the FAPT and CPMT—roles and responsibilities that are shared by teams across the Commonwealth. Attendees will learn about the structure of the CSA program, the System of Care philosophy that guides our work, explore the major areas of responsibility for each team, and discuss components of local teams that make them successful.

State Partners Track

Unlocking the Doors to Systemic Improvements - 2024 OCO Annual Report Findings, Data, and Trends
Eric Reynolds, Director, Office of the Children's Ombudsman, Frank Green, Investigations Analyst, Office of the Children's Ombudsman, and Jamie Anderson, Senior Investigations Analyst, MSW, LCSW, Office of Children's Ombudsman

OCO staff will provide a summary of the 2024 OCO Annual Report, including a discussion of key data, findings, and trends culled from complaints received and cases reviewed during FY2024. The discussion will include identifying the keys needed to unlock the doors for system improvements in the areas of parent engagement, kinship care, case management, achieving permanency, and safety.

Service Innovations & EBPs Track

The Hot Stepper: Special Education is a Stepping Stone, not a Stigma on the Road to Success
Jaclyn Walker, EdD in Educational/Leadership/Administration, Virginia Department of Education License, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, New Story Schools: Rivermont

This workshop is designed to navigate the Special Education process. Beyond legal requirements, it emphasizes recognizing and addressing the unique challenges and potential of students with disabilities. This session covers understanding daily challenges faced by these students and their families, and effective engagement through culturally responsive educational practices. Participants will learn specific strategies and research-based practices for academic, social, emotional, and trauma-informed care needs. Multimodal activities will captivate interest and motivate participation, ensuring stakeholders gain a comprehensive, jargon-free understanding of the Special Education process.

This workshop aims to shift perspectives, viewing Special Education as a stepping stone to success, where all students thrive.

One Mile in Foster Shoes: A Foster Care Simulation
Olivia Snoke, Creator of One Mile in Foster Shoes, IL Social Worker, Foster Care Alumni, CEO, Emerging Phoenix

One Mile in Foster Shoes shifts the mental models when servicing Virginia’s children. This interactive training will give participants a chance to view the foster care system from the perspective of the children that live in it. The presentation’s content will drive home the learning objective of:

Life in foster care is fraught with discomfort, lack of control, and confusion
Gain a new perspective on the grief and stereotypes these children experience
Understand the importance of a social worker and stability
How to support someone in a new environment, surrounded by strangers, with different rules

Educational Stability for Children and Youth in Foster Care (Session 1)
Patricia Popp, Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership - Special Education emphasis, EHCY State Coordinator, VDOE Liaison to VDSS for Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care, Project HOPE – Virginia, and Kristi Schabo, Senior Policy and Planning Specialist, Office of Children's Services

Research indicates children in out-of-home care are more likely to face multiple academic challenges and fall behind in school. ESSA and Fostering Connections address this by increasing school stability 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 agency collaboration and communication; areas of shared responsibility; conducting Best Interest Determinations; immediate enrollment; arranging for transportation; and how the process applies to youth in Fostering Futures. Case-based discussion and problem-solving components will add an additional transfer of learning aspect to the presentation, facilitating a deeper understanding of the nuances and complexities of cross-agency work with multiple federal legislative intersections. Part 1 focuses on the process for students in general education. Part 2 will address how the process varies when the students are served under IDEA or students are educated in private placements.

Local CSA Program Spotlight

Bridging Gaps: Strengthening Kinship Families through Public-Private Partnerships
Nina Marino, MSW, LCSW, Director, Community Engagement & Government Affairs, United Methodist Family Services (UMFS), Tracy Johnson, CSA Coordinator, Henrico County, Alexa Reitz, LCSW, Community-Based Program Director, United Methodist Family Services (UMFS), and Mandi Green, MSW, Assistant Director of Service Programs, Henrico County Department of Social Services, and Velda Chambers, Kinship Guardian

Virginia has made significant progress in placing foster care youth with relatives and fictive kin. These placements result in fewer moves, greater stability, and stronger connections, leading to less trauma, stronger bonds to family and community, and better behavioral health outcomes. However, supporting kinship families can be challenging, especially with the growing demands on local social services. Strong community-based partnerships are crucial for the long-term success of these youth and their caregivers.

This presentation will highlight the journey of one local department in dramatically increasing kin placements and how collaboration with a community provider has enhanced support and outcomes for foster youth. The presenters will also discuss how CSA can support these families and share examples of successful cases.

Family Driven Practices

Engaging Families: Are We the Barriers?
Karen Rice, MSW, LCSW, Director, Therapeutic Resources, Virginia Home for Boys and Girls

Providing best practice care to the youth we serve through our Foster Care system involves engaging family members. Find family. Notify them. Involve them. Hear them out. These are all steps to potentially offering, if not a truly permanent placement plan, a sense of connection for our youth in care. Have you ever wondered if you and your agency do what is needed to truly engage families to their potential? When it comes to bringing family members to the “table,” are we ever barriers?

Join this veteran Clinical Social Worker in an exploration, both of systems and self, in looking at how involving families has changed over time and how we may move forward together to fill the “table” for our youth in creative, safe, and authentic ways.

Fueling Connection: The Role of Parent Reps on FAPT
Cristy Corbin, CPRS, HFW-FSP, President, Family Support Partners of Virginia and Anna Antell, LCSW, Lead Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services

In this session we will provide strategies for maximizing the role of the Parent Representative on FAPT. Elevating family voice and deepening partnerships within the team will be emphasized. Parent Representatives will learn skills to employ in their role, and CSA Coordinators and FAPT Members will leave with knowledge to empower Parent Representatives on their teams.

Don't forget the parents! The key to the sustainability of family progress. Family Check-Up & Functional Family Therapy
Nicholas Sturdifen, DSL, MA, MBA, President, Life Push, LLC, Bevin Lovelace, LPC, Director of Family Services, Life Push, LLC, Larry Burrell, LMHP-R, Regional Director, Life Push, LLC, and Esteban Hernandez, QMHP-C, Regional Director, Life Push, LLC

It is a common reality that parents are often the key to the sustainability of the progress a family achieves through services. In a time of an increased emergence of evidence-based programs (EBPs), it is important not to lose sight of the parent(s)/guardian(s) who will be largely responsible for sustaining the family’s progress made after the services end. This helps to ensure families are receiving the best care possible while respecting the limited resources being used by program funding sources.

This session focuses on two evidence-based services, Family Check-Up (FCU) and Functional Family Therapy (FFT), to demonstrate how these two evidence-based programs complement each other to achieve family progress, parent connection, empowerment, and sustainability of the family’s progress long after the services have ended. Participants will learn what makes these EBPs unique from other EBPs, when they are appropriate to use, and how they can be accessed.

Breakout Session B: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

CSA Basics Track

CSA Basics 101: System of Care, Eligibility, and Funding* ** ***
Carol Wilson, Senior Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services

CSA 101 will explore some of the “must-know” basics when working in CSA whether you are a parent, an agency case manager, CSA Coordinator, or member of a Family Assessment and Planning Team (FAPT) or a Community Policy and Management Team (CPMT). The workshop will focus on the various types of eligibility for CSA, how eligibility for CSA is determined, how CSA funding is allocated, and how eligibility affects funding, all within the context of a locally administered system of care.

State Partners Track

Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) Hot Topics
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), Adrienne Fegans, Deputy Director for Programs and Operations, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS), and Christine Minnick, MSW, Child Welfare Program Specialist, Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS)

This presentation will provide timely updates from multiple areas within Virginia Medicaid that are most relevant to CSA. Topics will include updates on Cardinal Care Managed Care and policy updates. We will also spend significant time providing an update on what to expect regarding the Right Help. Right Now. Medicaid Behavioral Health Services Redesign project, including the timeline, major project milestones, and frequently asked questions.

VADJJ Implementation of the Standardized Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP TM) – A Validated, Data-Driven Tool for Evaluating Services Provided to Juvenile Justice-Involved Youth
Andrea McMahon, MS in Criminal Justice, Deputy Director of Placement and Program Implementation, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, Christina Zember, Quality Assurance Manager, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice, and Justin Woodley, Quality Assurance Specialist, Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice

In December 2019, Virginia DJJ officially launched the implementation of a validated, data-driven quality assurance tool, in partnership with Vanderbilt University, known as the Standard Program Evaluation Protocol (SPEP™). The SPEP™ model was created in the early 2000s by Dr. Mark Lipsey and was further defined and developed by Dr. Gabrielle Chapman with the introduction of a rating instrument and feedback process and life cycle. The three pillars of SPEP™, which are essential to implementing this evaluative process, are: partnership, education, and transparency.

This session will provide a brief overview of 1) the SPEP™ process and how it leverages what is currently working in our system to support and strengthen existing practice through a sustainable performance improvement process; 2) how DJJ will utilize the SPEP™ to evaluate community-based and residential programs contracted to provide services for DJJ-involved youth; and 3) the current status of implementation in Virginia.

Service Innovations & EBPs Track

High Fidelity Wraparound: Underexplored Potential in Virginia
Emily Clark, LCSW, VWIC Senior Project Manager, UMFS, Felecia Cook, MDiv, VWIC Trainer, UMFS, and Anna Antell, LCSW, Lead Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services

High Fidelity Wraparound (HFW) is an evidence-based practice that has been available in Virginia for over 10 years. With the recent expansion of funding opportunities for HFW, an increasing pool of trained providers, and the persistent mental health crisis that we all face, HFW can offer support and hope for Virginia’s families. This presentation will explore the current ways that HFW is being used in our state and will offer ideas for expansion of future use to more youth and families.

Educational Stability for Children and Youth in Foster Care (Session 2)
Patricia Popp, Ph.D. in Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership – Special Education emphasis, EHCY State Coordinator, VDOE liaison to VDSS for Educational Stability of Students in Foster Care, Project HOPE – Virginia and Kristi Schabo, Senior Policy and Planning Specialist, Office of Children’s Services

Research indicates children in out-of-home care are more likely to face multiple academic challenges and fall behind in school. ESSA and Fostering Connections address this by increasing school stability 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 agency collaboration and communication; areas of shared responsibility; conducting Best Interest Determinations; immediate enrollment; arranging for transportation; and how the process applies to youth in Fostering Futures. Case-based discussion and problem-solving components will add an additional transfer of learning aspect to the presentation, facilitating a deeper understanding of the nuances and complexities of cross-agency work with multiple federal legislative intersections. Part 1 will focus on the process for students in general education. Part 2 will address how the process varies when the students are served under IDEA or students are educated in private placements.

Family Driven Practices

The Missing Link: Integrating Caregivers for Better Health Outcomes
Natalie Handy, MSW, CEO, CareForward

Unpaid caregivers are pivotal in the health ecosystem, yet the complexities of providing care have become increasingly challenging. Isolation and resource scarcity, compounded by the profound impacts of social determinants of health, can lead caregivers to experience feelings of loneliness, guilt, resentment, and helplessness. These emotional burdens compromise their ability to effectively support those they care for. This interactive session underscores the urgent need for the human service community to support and actively engage caregivers, transforming their often peripheral role into central stakeholders in the service planning process.

Participants will delve into strategies to integrate caregivers as essential team members, gaining a deeper understanding of the challenges they face, and learning how human service professionals and volunteers can significantly enhance caregiver support. This session is designed to equip participants with the insights needed to provide the necessary resources and support that empower caregivers, ultimately enhancing outcomes for both the caregivers and those they care for.

Self-Care

COVID in Retrospect: The genie that won't back in the bottle
Patrick Slifka, LCSW, CAC, Director, Leadership and Management Development, National Counseling Group/ncgCARE and Stephan Stark, Vice President of Customer Experience, National Counseling Group/ncgCARE

Over four years since our society shut down, the fog of COVID remains in our minds, our workplaces, and our culture. Deficits endure as evidenced by escalated rates in depression, anxiety, social development, and productivity. The world has changed, and the greatest impact on society since the Great Depression has left individuals and organizations exhausted in their attempts to find a new normal. During COVID, Patrick and Stephan held weekly webinars with the intention of maintaining human interaction and providing meaning in a dark time. This training will reflect on what we have learned and how we may move forward in the spirit of healing. Topics will include engagement challenges in both the workplace and in treatment, motivational strategies, and expanding our insight into meaningful interventions with a focus on resilience. Join us in examining the challenges and opportunities we continue to face, as both private and public entities, while we serve those most impacted by the shutdown.

Leadership Skills

Developing Agile Leaders in Human Services: Are you asking the right questions?
Claudette Carter Henderson, DSL, MS, Doctorate level studies in Human Services Development, CSA Program Coordinator, Lancaster County

Supervisors, team leads, and senior workers are essential members of an organization, as they supervise and manage workers to ensure they meet stated goals and mandates. Supportive leaders do their best to ensure that everyone on their team has the necessary skills, tools, and resources to complete their assigned tasks or succeed in long-term projects (Indeed Editorial Team, 2021, March 2). Human service worker recruitment and retention is critical to providing safe and meaningful services.

Breakout Session C: 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

CSA Basics Track

Audits and Data Integrity - Why It Matters * ** ***
Stephanie Bacote, Program Audit Manager, Office of Children’s Services, Annette Larkin, Program Auditor, Office of Children's Services, Rendell Briggs, Program Auditor, Office of Children's Services, and Rachel Friedman, B.S., Program Auditor

Data integrity and reliability are important internal control objectives for CSA programs. They shape the decisions by governing authorities at the state and local levels. When shared publicly, reliable data provides accountability and transparency of the effect of their choices. Audits evaluate the effectiveness of organizational processes and designs intended to provide reasonable assurance that this internal control objective is achieved. Linking concepts of CSA service planning, funding authorizations, and financial reporting, this presentation will discuss “Why it Matters.” Participants will also learn about tools and resources to help improve data integrity and reliability.

State Partners Track

Empowering Families: Enhancing Virginia's Kin First Culture through the implementation of the Parental Child Safety Placement Program
Lauren Weidner, MSW, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Social Services, and Jacqueline Withers-Johnson, MSW, Change Management Specialist, Virginia Department of Social Services

This workshop aims to expand participants’ understanding of how Virginia expanded their Kin First Culture approach through the implementation of the Parental Child Safety Placement Program. The Parental Child Safety Placement Program is a framework that establishes guardrails to protect children and families, including preservation of parental rights; (2) promotes family driven decisions and child-focused and family centered practice; (3) increases placement with kin and fictive kin; (4) transforms the provision of prevention services; and (5) establishes a streamlined process for local agencies

Participants will explore the principles and practices that prioritize family preservation and kinship care, ensuring that children remain connected to their families while also supporting kin caregivers. This session will cover the legal framework, benefits, and challenges of the program. Through interactive discussions, attendees will gain valuable insights and tools to promote child safety and well-being within a supportive family environment.

Addressing Unmet Needs of High Acuity Youth: Safe and Sound Updates, Perspectives, and Practical Applications - A Panel of State and Local Leaders
Mira Signer, LMSW, Special Advisor, DBHDS, Assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Em Parente, LCSW, Ph.D., Assistant Director, Family Services, Virginia Department of Social Services, Kari M. Savage, M.S., Director, Office of Child and Family Services, Virginia Department of Health, and Amanda Long, Director, Youth Network, Culpeper County; and Andrew Crawford, LCSW, Director, Bedford County Department of Social Services

Have you worked with high acuity youth and wondered how other professionals cope with system of care challenges in meeting their needs? Do you want to know more about what “high acuity” means and why some children are labeled this way? Join us to develop a shared understanding of optimal treatment and placement paths for high acuity youth. Engage with peers from child-serving settings who have faced similar challenges, successes, and questions. This interactive panel will delve into the demographics of high acuity youth within the Safe and Sound Task Force and explore how systemic inadequacies, rather than the children themselves, contribute to these challenges—and what you can do about it. Together, we will discuss what works (and what doesn’t) in supporting high acuity youth, uncovering practical insights from state and local leaders to make a difference.

Service Innovations & EBPs Track

Beyond Graduation: Preparing Students with Disabilities for Life's Next Chapter
Kelly Conn-Reda, Master of Education, Murray State University/Ph.D. student at George Mason University, Senior Manager, Multi-Agency Services, Office of Special Education and Procedural Support, Fairfax County Public Schools, and Christina Hunt, LCSW, School Social Worker, Fairfax Public Schools

This session explores strategies for supporting students with disabilities transitioning to adulthood. We'll cover key components of successful transition planning: person-centered goal setting, self-advocacy, post-secondary education and employment options, community resources, and independent living skills. Presenters will share evidence-based practices and innovative approaches, emphasizing family-driven and culturally responsive strategies.

Recognizing that many youth lack consistent caregiver relationships, we'll focus on empowering community agency representatives with knowledge about post-secondary services. Participants will learn practical tools to help students and families navigate available resources. Time will be allocated for questions, resource sharing, and participant idea exchange.

The Importance of Blending Neuroscience and Clinical Interventions and Strategies for Better Outcomes
John Ross Murray, Jr., MSW, President/CEO, Families First of Virginia

In this session the participants will learn why neuroscience knowledge is needed for trauma informed care. It is crucial to understand how trauma changes brain function and brain development. We will explore specific proven and well researched techniques and strategies that will help children and adults move from dysregulation to self-regulation. The session will explain how to use specific techniques that will help activate parts of the brain that need stimulation and avoid stimulation in parts of the brain that are overactivated. If we want better outcomes, we need to learn more effective and efficient skills in identifying the appropriate neurological targets.

Plotting Prevention: Navigating Virginia EBPs for Children and Families
Ashley Sandman, Partner Engagement Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships (CEP-Va), VCU, and Ashley Robinson, Data Director, Center for Evidence-based Partnerships (CEP-Va), VCU

Children's services systems in Virginia have been recently evolving toward prioritizing evidence-based programs that support and strengthen families. Since the launch of Family First in Virginia, families have gained an opportunity to access such quality services. This session will provide an overview of the several evidence-based programs (EBPs) included in Virginia’s Family First Plan, with an emphasis on (a) which populations may benefit from them and (b) how to help families connect to them via different funding sources.

Local CSA Program Spotlight

PEP Talk! How Enhanced Technical Assistance Helps Local CSA Programs Reach Their Potential
Courtney Sexton, BA Criminal Justice/Political Science, Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services, Glenda Collins, CPMT Chair, Executive Director, Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, Heather Kesterson, MPhil, MBA, CSA Program Manager, Franklin County, Reesa Moore, MA Marriage and Family Counseling, QMHCM, FAPT Chair/Sussex County, FAPT Member/City of Hopewell, District 19 Community Services Board and Stephanie Pfeil, MSW, CSA Coordinator, Floyd County

Have you heard of OCS’s Enhanced Technical Assistance (ETA) program? This initiative officially began in 2021 and offers support to local CSA programs who want to improve their functionality and performance. While engaged in this program, localities benefit from in-person observation and recommendations from an OCS Program Consultant. ETA offers localities the opportunity to develop a Program Enhancement Plan and work directly with OCS to meet some of the challenges they face.

While localities were initially identified by OCS for engagement in ETA, the program has since expanded to include many self-identified localities – 16 localities in the state have engaged in this program over the last 3 years. In this session, you will learn how ETA works and hear from a panel of local CSA stakeholders who have participated in ETA. You will also learn about common challenges faced by localities and learn some ways to address them.

Family Driven Practices

Becoming what I needed: One Mom's Journey to Becomming a Family Support Partner
Kirstan Ann Knipple, CPRS, FSP, HFW-SP, Culpeper FAPT Parent Representative, Encompass Community Supports

This presentation is that of resilience and strength. Eight years ago, Kirstan was in a dark place; her then abusive husband had just left her, and she was forced to move back into her parents’ home with her two young children. Over the next few years, in and out of Family Court, Kirstan would face the death of both her parents, her sister being incarcerated, an eviction, living off public assistance, and being unhoused while also navigating the behavioral health and school systems for her children. Even through all that darkness, Kirstan has finally found her “why” in life and has the honor to use her lived experience to support other families by becoming the Family Support Partner she wishes that she had.

Self-Care

It's a Balancing Act: Reclaiming Yourself Through Self-Care and Wellness
Tina Norris, Certified Self-Care Coach, Certified Bullying Prevention Specialist, Certified Healing Centered Engagement Practitioner, Family Engagement Specialist, PEAT-C

It’s a Balancing Act: Reclaiming Yourself Through Self-Care and Wellness is an experience. Life can be unpredictable, so understanding the stressors inherent in your professional roles as you navigate the complexities of supporting others is important. Reclaiming yourself requires finding your unique path to wellness and committing to making yourself a priority. It’s challenging to balance life and responsibilities while remaining at peace, and not in pieces. By participating in this workshop, you’ll learn how to prioritize self-care and make it an integral part of your daily routine. With the right tools and techniques, you can achieve a sense of balance, peace, and well-being, both personally and professionally.

Leadership Skills

In My Coaching Era: Upskilling Through Coaching and Feedback
Erica Mann, LCSW, Director of Learning and Special Projects, UMFS, and Emily Clark, LCSW, Senior Project Manager, VWIC, UMFS

Tired of one-and-done trainings that don’t seem to change how people do things? Need better processes that upskill employees even when there is constant turnover? In the busy nature of our day to day, it can be hard to find time for training, learning and skill development, although we know it is needed at all levels. This presentation is about how to teach and grow employees beyond the initial on-boarding in a way that gets results. It will pull from best practices in implementation science, feedback, and coaching, and will be relevant whether you are supporting clinical programs, building broader teams, or simply trying to grow your own skills. Trainers will highlight experiences in leading teams, with increasing evidence-based model fidelity, and with realistic examples of how it looks in practice.

Thursday, October 17, 2024

Breakout Session D: 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.

CSA Basics Track

Measuring Progress: Continuous Quality Improvement After Strategic Planning * ***
Carrie Thompson, Research Associate Senior, Office of Children’s Services

Your program has its strategic plan, now what? This session will explore ways to measure progress towards your program goals using available CSA data. Topics covered will include: SMART goals, defining what progress looks like, CSA data sources on the website and the questions they can answer, and using the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) template for your CPMT’s CQI documentation and planning. Attendees are encouraged to bring their program’s strategic goals to the session to assist in developing program-specific CQI planning during the presentation.

Alphabet Soup: What CSA Personnel Need to Know about Special Education and the CSA * ** ***
Kristi Schabo, Ed.S., Senior Policy and Planning Specialist, 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

Information coming soon.

Service Innovations & EBPs Track

Reducing Adolescents’ Self-Harming Behaviors and Risk of Suicide in Outpatient Settings
Angelique Caley, LCSW, LSATP, CSOTP, CAADC, CASAC, C-DBT, EMDR Certified Clinician, Owner and Clinician, Child & Adolescent Trauma Services, LLC

Suicide has been among the leading causes of death for adolescents for many years. This presentation will review research on risk factors for suicide in adolescents. Linehan’s biosocial theory of self-harm and Joiner’s interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide will be summarized. Participants will be educated about Dialectical Behavior Therapy, an evidence-based practice, for reducing self-harming behaviors and suicidality in adolescents. This outpatient treatment program can help reduce hospitalizations and the use of higher levels of care.

Therapeutic Cognitive Training: Enhancing Therapeutic Engagement Holistically
Daniel Brooks, LCSW, Founder, Motivate the Game

Have you ever struggled to connect with youth or teen clients? Had a client who comes to sessions but there is very little engagement during the session? Or struggling with a number of client cancellations? We have developed a way to not only reduce each of those issues but to also decrease ADHD, Anxiety, and low self-esteem systems in youth ages 11-21.

Therapeutic Sports/Cognitive training combines the benefits of basic movement, cognitive development and therapeutic activities to create the ideal therapeutic environment for teens and athletes. The skills clients develop through this form of support have led to increased resilience, frustration tolerance, decreased impulsivity, self-regulation, and behavioral improvements, with the ultimate goal to decrease cancellations, track progress tangibly, and improve therapeutic alliance between clinician and client. We believe this approach should be in every clinician’s toolbox.

Trauma Systems Therapy
Kelly Perrel, LCSW, TST Clinical Consultant, Family Preservation Services/Clarvida, Danielle Calhoun, State Program Director, Family Preservation Services/Clarvida, and Brandy Carraway, LCSW, TST Program Director, Family Preservation Services/Clarvida

Trauma Systems Therapy (TST) is a clinical and organizational model for traumatized children aged 4 to 21 and their caregivers. TST is about breaking down barriers between service systems, understanding a child’s symptoms in the context of their world, and building on a family’s strengths and dreams. The program length is typically 9-12 months and has three phases: Safety Focused Treatment, Regulation Focused Treatment, and Beyond Trauma Treatment. TST agencies create a multi-disciplinary team, which meets weekly to address the complex needs of traumatized youth and families. Interventions are designed to increase the environment’s ability to protect the child and enhance the child’s capacity to self-regulate. TST addresses a “Trauma System,” which is a traumatized child who struggles to regulate their emotions and behaviors, and that child’s social environment. Training and consultation are provided by the Trauma Systems Therapy Training Center at the NYU Child Study Center.

Local CSA Program Spotlight

Hanover CSA Review Committee – Hanover CSA Review Committee - Continuous Quality Improvement on State and Local Partnership
Julie Dubee, CSA Coordinator, Hanover County CSA, Anna Antell, LCSW, Lead Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services, Karen Butler, CSA UR Specialist, Hanover County CSA, and Daricka Jones, Director, Hanover County Department of Social Services

Since January of 2020, the Hanover CSA Review Committee has been meeting monthly to review high acuity and high-cost youth and families being served by Hanover FAPT. The committee also makes policy recommendations to Hanover CPMT based on trends identified in this higher-level overview. The team is made up of individuals from different lenses and perspectives including a county administrator, director of finance, and OCS lead program specialist. After 4 years of implementation, Hanover has outcomes and lessons learned to share. Some of the biggest areas of programmatic change have been around residential placements, CSA parental agreements, and independent living apartment usage.

Family Driven Practices

The Secure Child: Caregiving Security as a Healing Intervention (Session 1)
Somer George, Ph.D., LPC, Clinical Director, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center, and William Whelan, Psy.D., Program Director, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center

Many childhood behavioral and emotional problems result partly or largely from high-risk or poorly matched attachment-caregiving patterns. Such patterns increase stress, undermine healing, and overwhelm community systems with high levels of need. In this presentation, we will describe how improving attachment-caregiving patterns creates and supports healthy functioning and promotes healing from stress and trauma. For some caregivers, their own internal working model of attachment makes it difficult to provide sensitivity and appropriate responses to the child’s emotional and relational needs. A caregiver may misinterpret or ignore attachment behaviors in the child and, without being aware of it, may behave in ways the child experiences as critical, insensitive, or rejecting. This can lead to dysregulated, controlling, or role-reversed behavior in the child, creating a high-risk developmental pathway. We will describe what theory, research, and clinical practice demonstrate are needed for healing, and will include case examples and video illustrations.

Leadership Skills

Changing the adage: People leave managers, not companies
Brittney Hyer, SPHR, Senior Director of Human Resources, New Story

You’ve likely heard this before: “People leave managers, not companies.” In this session, we’ll explore how leadership and management directly impact turnover rates. From there, participants will gain an understanding of how they can develop themselves and others as leaders to reduce the rates of turnover in their organization.

The Excellence Ethos: Leading a Culture of Continuous Improvement
Brandi Tinsley, LCSW, Assistant Director of Quality Improvement & Risk Management, UMFS, and Molly Icban, BA, QI Coordinator

Join us for an insightful workshop where we explore the critical role of organizational culture in fostering continuous quality improvement. Discover how the underlying values, beliefs, and behaviors within your organization can support or hinder quality initiatives. Grounded in adult learning principles, this session will equip you with interactive tools and strategies to lead and sustain quality improvement. Whether you are beginning your quality improvement journey or looking to enhance existing efforts, this workshop offers valuable insights and actionable takeaways to drive meaningful change.

Breakout Session E: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

CSA Basics Track

CSA Basics 201 – “Can CSA Pay?” How do your FAPT and CPMT make this decision? * ** ***
Carol Wilson, Senior Program Consultant, Office of Children’s Services

What questions do you think CSA staff are asked most often? It’s “Can CSA Pay?” Come learn how you can answer this question for your agency, FAPT, and CPMT. Using a flow chart, this workshop will explore the factors which influence decision-making in CSA and provide you with a step-by-step process to assure that you are on solid ground when using CSA pool funds. Participants will apply the flow chart to specific situations and determine if “CSA Can Pay.”

A prior basic understanding of CSA eligibility will assist participants in benefiting from this workshop. Attendance at CSA 101 is recommended, but not required.

OCS Finance – Overview of the CSA funding and reimbursement process * ***
Kristy Wharton, Chief Financial Officer, Office of Children’s Services

This presentation will provide an overview of CSA funding, reporting, and expenditure reimbursement process. It will also include an overview of Medicaid billing, administrative funding, and procedures for expenditure reimbursement.

State Partners Track

The Continuum of DARS Transition Services for Students with Disabilities
Patti Hodge, MA, CRC, Statewide Transition Specialist – Staff Development, Department for Aging and Rehabilitation 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.

Service Innovations & EBPs Track

Introduction to Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis
Cathy Brown, LCSW, Division Director for Child, Youth, and Family Services, Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare, and Erica Vest, LCSW, Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare

Currently, 11 CSBs across the Commonwealth offer Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis, which is an evidence-based treatment for youth and young adults experiencing a diagnosis of a psychotic disorder. This is a prescriptive team approach to treatment for the youth and their caregivers to support them and wrap them in services to empower them to navigate treatment while moving forward with their education, school, relationships, etc. We will discuss the impact of a diagnosis of psychosis for an individual from a physical and behavioral health perspective, and share the positive results found in providing early intervention to youth and their families.

The Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP): Overcoming Resource Shortages Through Connections
Julia Richardson, MSW, LCSW, VMAP Lead Licensed Mental Health Professional, Virginia Mental Health Access Program at the Inova Kellar Center, Hanna Schweitzer, MPH, VMAP Program Administrator, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), and Kimberly Anderson, VMAP Lead Care Navigator, Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC), Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

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 how VMAP uses motivational interviewing in navigation to partner with families whose child or adolescent is 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 kids the services they need.

Local CSA Program Spotlight

Information coming soon.

Family Driven Practices

The Secure Child: Caregiving Security as a Healing Intervention (Session 2)
Somer George, Ph.D., LPC, Clinical Director, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center, and William Whelan, Psy.D., Program Director, Secure Child & Virginia Attachment Center

For some caregivers, their own internal working model of attachment makes it difficult to provide sensitivity and appropriate responses to the child’s emotional and relational needs. A caregiver may misinterpret or ignore attachment behaviors in the child and, without being aware of it, may behave in ways the child experiences as critical, insensitive, or rejecting. This can lead to dysregulated, controlling, or role-reversed behavior in the child, creating a high-risk developmental pathway. We will describe what theory, research, and clinical practice demonstrate are needed for healing, and will include case examples and video illustrations.

Family Matters: Exploring the Importance of Kinship Care
Samantha Chillious, Trainer/Instructor III, Virginia Department of Social Services – Local Training Division

This training session aims to equip participants with a deeper understanding of kinship care and its significance in the child welfare system. By prioritizing the placement of children and youth with kin, we can create a more supportive and empowering environment for families. Together, we can work towards strengthening kinship care arrangements and promoting stability and well-being for children, youth, and families in our communities.

Self-Care

Vicarious Trauma: An Overview
Stacie Vecchietti, MSW, Policy Specialist, Virginia Department of Social Services, and Laurie K. Crawford, MPA, Director of the Office of Trauma and Resilience Policy, Virginia Department of Social Services

Vicarious trauma is a negative reaction that occurs when a person is exposed to the trauma of another and as a result of that exposure, the person’s worldview may shift, and they can experience symptoms that can negatively impact their life and their work. Anyone working in or engaging with child and family-serving systems is at risk of experiencing vicarious trauma. Individual self-care is not enough to mitigate the impacts of trauma; both individual and organizational strategies are needed to address vicarious trauma as an occupational hazard. During this dynamic session, participants will develop a strong foundational understanding of terminology related to trauma, discuss the impact of vicarious trauma on individuals and organizations, and explore individual and organizational strategies to mitigate vicarious trauma.

Leadership Skills

The Doodling Collective: Leadership as a Creative Endeavor
Amanda Noell Stanley, MS, ACC, CEO/Founder, The Artisan Leader, and Katie Means, MA, Managing Consultant for Culture and Strategy, The Artisan Leader

Leadership requires presence, non-judgment, and creativity. Yet our daily working realities – pressure, performance, and perfection – make it difficult for us practice them. This workshop is part teaching, part experience, focused on giving participants much-needed, high-ROI self-care. Doodling is one of the most effective ways to unlock your potential; it leaves you calmer, more focused, and your creativity sparked. Beyond the immediate physical, cognitive, and emotional benefits of doodling, participants will leave with greater understanding between creativity and leadership as well as tips for building their own practices to improve their leadership presence.

PS: You may think this workshop is not for you because you believe that you are not creative. Remember, everyone is creative. This is not a workshop for artists. It is a workshop for people who do important work and want tools to be more effective in caring for themselves and others.

Please note session recommendations:
        * CPMT members
        ** FAPT members
        *** New CSA Coordinators

CONTACT: Liz Fillman, Virginia Tech Richmond Center
Email: lfillman@vt.edu