FamiliesFirst Network's 20th Annual Child Welfare Training Conference

FamiliesFirst Network's 20th Annual Child Welfare Conference Workshops include: Hidden in Plain Sight: Understanding Digital Coercion and Intimate Partner Violence Jennifer Krumbein Facing the Unknown: The Harsh Reality of Aging Out and Creating Better Paths Forward Aging out of foster care is like being handed a parachute… without the instructions. In this engaging and eye-opening session, you will hear straight from former foster youth about what it really takes to transition into adulthood successfully. Through real talk, interactive discussions, and a strategy-packed brainstorming session, we’ll tackle challenges like housing, finances, and mental health. You’ll leave with fresh insights, practical ideas and perhaps a new perspective to help youth in foster care not just survive—but thrive! Be ready for real stories, real solutions, and real impact! Carrie DuRard Intro to TBRI Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) is an attachment rich, trauma-informed intervention designed to meet the complex needs of vulnerable children. The TBRI Introduction and Overview focuses on the impacts of trauma and toxic stress and explains the three primary components of TBRI – Empowering, Connecting, and Correcting. Participants will explore the “why” behind children’s behaviors and learn specific strategies for keeping connection at the heart of the relationship. TBRI is used in homes, residential facilities, schools, churches, juvenile justice facilities, child welfare, in clinical practices, and with ANYONE that works with children. MaryAnn Day Understanding Brain-Based Differences in the Child and Family Well-Being System—FASD and Beyond This presentation will allow participants to understand what brain-based differences are, including FASD. Participants will be able to recognize how brain-based differences or neurodevelopmental disorders impact behavior, functioning, and system involvement. Our hope is to help others recognize the implications that can come into play when establishing case plans, support, and permanency outcomes. Our goal is for participants to walk away from the training able to apply practical, strengths-based strategies in their daily work with families and clients. Jennifer Werden Virtual Reality in Child Welfare The NWF Health Network Training Team would like to take this opportunity to share a Virtual Reality Training Experience that helps the learner process many different aspects as they relate to child safety. The hands on virtual experience helps the learner practice assessment skills, motivational interviewing, critical thinking, and implicit biases in decision making. Virtual reality places the learner in a no-risk but very real experience of working with families. This will help team members feel more confident and prepared when assessing child safety. The method we are using is called AVEnueS. In it, each caseworker goes through a virtual reality experience involving the safety assessment of a 7-year-old girl named Sophia. After the virtual reality experience, groups of caseworkers have the opportunity to reflect and unpack their experience in a seminar format with the trainers and the other participants. Jennifer Sikes