P-1 Providing Leadership in Child Welfare - Mark Washington

Budgets are tight, human resources are slim, and initiatives lack direction. Sound familiar? This is an opportunity for leaders to step up to the plate and take a bold stance. We cannot afford to overlook prevention-it is the critical element that must be present in our continuum of services. If child welfare leaders overlook prevention, then all else will suffer. How do we start the conversation and begin the movement towards prevention? This workshop will provide concrete tips, encourage discussion among participants and will provide an opportunity for dialogue with peers and a national consultant who has had led systems reform. No two children are alike, and no two leaders are alike, but together we can prevent child abuse and neglect.

P-2 Child Development for Multi-disciplinary Teams - Allison DeFelice

This workshop reviews benchmarks in normal child development from toddlers to teens, describing how development relates to child abuse dynamics, investigations, forensic interviewing and prosecution. Benchmarks in linguistic, cognitive, social, emotional, physical and sexual development are described with lots of examples and opportunities for Q & A.

P-3 Grief and Loss Issues in Foster Care/Wisdom of the Experts - Charley Joyce

GRIEF AND LOSS IN FOSTER CARE: Foster care is an ongoing process of grief and loss for foster parents, foster youth, and the child's family. Special emphasis will be placed on the stages of grief and loss as they apply to each entity. Specific ways to support and respond to the challenges of grief and loss will be discussed. The similarities between foster care worker and foster parent grief and loss will be reviewed.
WISDOM OF THE EXPERTS: The true experts on foster care are the youth that have experienced foster care. The training will focus on stories from older foster youth reflecting on their behavior while in foster care. All of their behavior had a purpose, often unknown to all. Additionally, contextual interventions for seemingly odd behavior will be discussed.

P-4 Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare: A Call for Action - Randy Jenkins and Robert Clayton

This interactive workshop will present the father's perspective on addressing child welfare. It will provide an opportunity to hear from fathers about their experience with the child welfare system, and how fathers have diligently moved from their personal experiences into making a difference in policy and practice regarding engaging and working with fathers.

P-5 Preventing Child Abuse through Nurturing Parenting - Stephen Bavolek

Workshop participants will increase their understanding of the philosophy of Nurturing Parenting, learn the strategies of helping parents change old abusive parenting patterns to positive nurturing ones, increase their understanding and skills in assessing high risk parenting practices, and learn how to implement the program's lessons in group based and home based settings.

Foster/Adopt Parent Training
Supporting and Responding to the Challenges of Visitation in Foster Care - Charley Joyce

An important and yet difficult challenge in foster care is visitation. Information on why visitation is important, foster child regression and impact on foster parents will be discussed. Specific, effective strategies will be presented that have been used by foster parents and social workers.

A-1 It Takes a Whole System: Collaborative Strategies for Serving Families with Substance Abuse Problems, Part I - Mary Nakashian

Participants in this workshop will have an understanding of how addiction affects parents and children. The emphasis will be on such issues as the continuum of use, abuse, dependence; visible cues as to addiction problems, screening tools and techniques; and strategies/tasks for child welfare workers when addiction is suspected or verified. Participants will also have an understanding of collaborative practices on the front line and will develop plans for introducing one or more practices when they return to work.

A-2 Strategies for Front-End Prevention - Mark Washington

This workshop will describe a new way of doing business, of flexibility in investing state and federal dollars, our vast human resources, skills and expertise on the front-end to ensure better outcomes for our families. Prevention on the front end will result in less money on the back end for treatment, foster care and the court system, but we need to build Partners in Prevention to get the job done. When multiple strategies converge within a multi-disciplinary arena, families and children will benefit. Join this national consultant to learn more about what you can do to build the momentum for investment in Partners in Prevention.

A-3 Building and Sustaining an Emotionally Safe School - Dr. James Garbarino

Professionals and parents are paying increasing attention to the need for "anti-bullying programs" in American schools. Yet, the larger issue is creating and maintaining schools that are "emotionally safe." This commits the school to creating a social climate in which bullying, harassment, and emotional violence are inconsistent with the day-to-day norms of students, faculty, staff, and parents. This presentation outlines strategies for accomplishing this that include:

1. an ecological perspective on child development and mental health
2. a focus on character education, structures of adult influence, and habits of peer group behavior

This approach can improve the social climate both on site in the school and on line in the virtual world of today's youth. The presentation is based upon the presenter's books See Jane Hit, Lost Boys, Raising Children in a Socially Toxic Environment, And Words Can Hurt Forever.

A-4 Representing Parents in Child Protective Proceedings: Role, Responsibilities, and Challenges, Part I - Vivek S. Sankaran

This workshop will focus on the role and responsibilities of parents counsel in child welfare situations/cases., including practice tips for attorneys representing parents in these actions. CLE credits will be available for this session.

A-5 Children's Advocacy Centers: Coordinating the Response to Child Abuse - Multidisciplinary Team Members from North Dakota CACs in Fargo, Bismarck and Minot

CACs in ND provided services in 2007 to over 600 suspected victims of child abuse. Multidisciplinary teams are the core of the CAC model. Team members and staff from three CACs will demonstrate the MDT process, provide examples of cases brought to successful prosecution as a direct result of CAC coordination, and review key services provided to support investigation and prosecution of child abuse.

A-6 Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children - 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children, Part I - Shannon Hilfer and Valerie Meyers

Stewards of Children is a revolutionary prevention training program developed for both parents and youth serving organizations. It was designed to educated adults to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Created by experts, this comprehensive program consists of "7 Steps to Protecting our Children", which is a set of best practice prevention strategies shown to be effective in research. Whether you're involved in Stewards of Children as an individual, parent, or organization, you can make a difference in the life of a child.

B-1 It Takes a Whole System: Collaborative Strategies for Serving Families with
Substance Abuse Problems, Part II - Mary Nakashian

Participants will know how to use Screening and Assessment for Family Engagement, Retention and Recovery (SAFERR) as a practical resource in their work with families.

B-2 Cultural Identity Crisis / Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - Christy Goulet

The objective is to help staff and administration understand how CIC is formed and the symptoms known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder associated with it primarily in children. Effective critical thinking treatment methods.

B-3 Special Education Services - Bob Rutten

A significant percentage of children and youth who attend North Dakota schools receive special education and related services. This presentation will highlight the six key principles of the nation's federal law for special education, the Individuals' with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Challenges experienced by educators, social services personnel and the juvenile justice system will be highlighted.

B-4 Representing Parents in Child Protective Proceedings: Role, Responsibilities, and Challenges, Part II - Vivek S. Sankaran

This workshop is continued from A-4.

B-5 Crawford for Non-Lawyers - Jonathan Byers

With the issuance of Crawford v. Washington by the United States Supreme Court on March 8, 2004, widespread confusion and concern swept through the child protection community in regard to one issue: Are forensic interviews of children "testimonial statements" according to Crawford , thus requiring the child to take the witness stand? Mr. Byers will discuss this watershed case in plain language and facilitate a discussion about whether the case impacts statements made to police officers, social workers, medical professionals, and others.

B-6 Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children - 7 Steps to Protecting Our Children, Part II - Shannon Hilfer and Valerie Meyers

This session is a continuation of A-6.

B-7 Sudden Unexplained Infant Death Investigation - Marlys Baker and Dr. Arne Graff

Each year in North Dakota, infants die suddenly of no obvious cause. Many of these sudden, unexplained infant deaths (SUID) are due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of SUID and of all deaths among infants aged 1-12 months. As part of a CDC initiative to improve the investigation and reporting of sudden, unexplained infant deaths, a multidisciplinary team from North Dakota is presenting training for infant death scene investigations. The presentation will cover "how" to gather specific information and "why" the information is needed. Materials highlighting infant growth and development, interviewing and investigative skills, and scene recreation, as well as the conduct and quality of infant death scene investigations will be presented.

Alliance for Children's Justice Reception Alliance Keynote Address: Mark Washington

C-1 Attacking the Problem of Child Exploitation from Every Angle, Part I - Michelle K. Collins

The problem of online child sexual exploitation has reached epic proportions. It is an unfortunate reality that there is no way to "arrest" our way out of this problem. This session will provide participants with information on how a multi-disciplinary approach has increased effectiveness and ultimately protected countless children. In addition to learning about the extensive efforts of NCMEC's Exploited Children Services and law enforcement agencies, participants will learn about the steps taken by the Internet industry, financial institutions, research facilities and our international counterparts.

C-2 Over-representation of Tribal Children in Child Welfare: Background and Strategy, Part I - Carol Wilson Spigner

For children and families of color the child welfare system is more likely to remove them, keep them in care longer and achieve fewer permanency outcomes. The history of child welfare reveals assumptions, biases and practices that contribute to this result. The goal of this workshop is to examine the definitions, evidence and dynamics of disparity in child welfare; share tribal perspectives on the issues and propose promising practices. (This session will be continued in D-2).

C-3 Identifying Physical Abuse and Head Trauma in Children - Dr. Arne Graff

This workshop will provide a medical review of findings in physical abuse and head injuries for pediatric child abuse. This will include a review of abnormal findings, tests needed and a discussion on "normal findings" in abuse evaluations.

C-4 Workforce Development in a Rural Environment - Miriam Landsman

This workshop will address the strengths and challenges of child welfare workforce development in rural areas. The presenter will discuss proactive strategies that managers and supervisors can use to maintain qualified and committed employees.

C-5 The Effects of Childhood Trauma: Creating a Trauma Informed System, Part I - Steve Wonderlich

This workshop will focus on the Treatment Collaborative for Traumatized Youth, which is a statewide collaborative project designed to enhance the mental health of children who are victims of traumatic experiences. The workshop will focus on the psychobiological consequences of trauma and how these may result in various psychological and psychiatric disorders. Also, the two treatments being disseminated by the Treatment Collaborative for Traumatized Youth will be outlined. Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy is an empirically supported intervention for both families and traumatized children. The Structured Psychotherapy for Adolescents Residing in Chronic Stress is a group therapy which is based on emotion regulation skills for children and teenagers. Finally, the workshop will focus on the role of the child protection worker in identifying symptoms of trauma and making appropriate referrals for mental health interventions.

C-6 Testifying in Court: Preparing Social Service Workers to Prepare and Deliver Credible Evidence - Judge Donald Jorgensen

A district court judge gives social workers insight into preparing and delivering credible evidence in the form of oral testimony. Topics include witness preparation, use of available records, conferencing with legal counsel and appearance in court.

C-7 So, You Have Made a Referral for Parent Education: Now What? - North Dakota Parent Education Network

The North Dakota Parent Education Network will introduce participants to educational opportunities and resources available in the state of North Dakota for individuals referred to parent education services.

D-1 Attacking the Problem of Child Exploitation from Every Angle, Part II - Michelle K. Collins

This workshop is a continuation from C-1.

D-2 Over-representation of Tribal Children in Child Welfare: Background and Strategy, Part II - Carol Wilson Spigner

This workshop is a continuation of C-2.

D-3 Effect of Drug/Alcohol Exposure in Children - Sheryll Clapp

his workshop will discuss effect of drug/alcohol exposure to the fetus. Short and long term effects of drug/alcohol exposure on children in early childhood.

D-4 Mental Health Screening Tool - Dave McGeary

The MAYSI-2 is designed to assist juvenile court staff and juvenile justice facilities in identifying youth 12 to 17 years old who may have special mental health needs. It is intended for use at any entry or transitional placement point in the juvenile justice system. The MAYSI-2 is not used to provide a psychiatric diagnosis.

D-5 The Effects of Childhood Trauma: Creating a Trauma Informed System, Part II - Steve Wonderlich

This is a continuation of C-5.

D-6 Ethical Issues Child Welfare Cases - Joanne M. Brown

The purpose of this workshop is to heighten awareness of the ethical issues which regularly arise in deprivation proceedings and to engage attorneys in the identification of specific practice issues as they relate to the Canons of Professional Conduct. Too often in specialized areas of law, particularly those associated with the emerging problem solving courts, practitioners fail to recognize the legal ethics dimensions of an issue, a communication, a case strategy or a practice. Through the use of courtroom hypotheticals linked to the ethical duties of attorneys for children and parents and the prosecution, we will discuss specific challenges for each lawyer. Finally, we will discuss the standards of ethical practice as they relate to the emerging national direction of these proceedings.

D-7 New American Services - Sinisa Milovanovic

This session will give you an overview of the process of refugee resettlement, from refugee camps to North Dakota, and what services are available for refugee families and children. The session will describe definition of the term "refugee", international, federal and national partners working on resettlement, populations that were resettled in North Dakota, local partners involved in resettlement and integration.