ACRC’s International Direct Care Summit 2025

November 5th

Agenda

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To view a presenter bio, click on their name.

 

Agenda

time iconNovember 5, 2025 07:30 am

Opening Keynote

time iconNovember 5, 2025 08:30 am

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 09:00 am

Keynote - Fostering Relational Safety in an Unsafe World: Hope, Belonging, and the Power of Connection

1 NASW CE Available for this Workshop - Must Watch LIVE


In a world increasingly marked by instability, divisive politics and climate harm, children are absorbing the emotional weight of uncertainty. This keynote explores how relational safety can serve as a stabilising force amidst chaos, offering young people a sense of rootedness, connection and hope. 

 

Drawing on trauma-informed principles, Lisa's research on belonging for those with care experience and practice, we’ll examine how professionals in child and family services can intentionally cultivate environments of trust and belonging.


Through exploring belonging, mattering and liminality, attendees of this keynote will be invited to consider:

 

• How do we recognise and respond to the relational needs of children living in chronic uncertainty?
• What does it mean to model hope?
• How can we embed relational safety into our language, systems and daily interactions to accelerate optimism and agency?


This session is both a call to action and a space for renewal for those who hold hope on behalf of others. 

speaker headshot Lisa Cherry
Author, Researcher, Leading International Trainer and Consultant
time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:00 am

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:30 am

WORKSHOP SESSION A

Workshop Session A has 4 options to choose from. Choose 1 to watch live and view the recordings of the others at a later time for the next 30 days.

time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:30 am

Substance Use and Mental Health: How it Affects the Entire Family

This workshop explores the profound impact that substance use disorders and mental health challenges have—not only on the individual—but on the entire family unit. The emotional, relational, and systemic effects can disrupt family dynamics, cause long-term trauma, and create isolation and fear. By centering the voice of lived experience, this session will highlight how family peer advocates play a critical role in empowering families, reducing stigma, and promoting healing and resilience.

speaker headshot Denise Delio
SCO Family of Services
time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:30 am

Supporting Neurodiversity with Staff: Building Inclusive and Resilient Care Teams

1 NASW CE Available for this Workshop - Must Watch LIVE


This 60-minute interactive workshop will equip leaders and supervisors to better support neurodiverse staff within direct care environments. Through guided discussion and the sharing of practical strategies, participants will explore the strengths and challenges neurodiverse individuals may experience at work, and learn how to foster belonging, psychological safety, and resilience on their teams. The session will include real-world examples, tools for inclusive supervision, and time for Q&A to help participants apply new insights to their own settings.

speaker headshot Deborah Getz
IU School of Public Health
speaker headshot Emma Harding
Tanager Place
speaker headshot Katrina Edmon
MCHS Family of Services
time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:30 am

Workshop A3

time iconNovember 5, 2025 10:30 am

Compassion Culture: It's a Vibe!

Fostering a culture of acceptance and forgiveness is essential. By using child-centric language, we can shift staff perceptions, leading to positive behavioral changes in both our staff and the children we serve.

speaker headshot Ryan Lynn
Pathway Family Services
speaker headshot Sally Ryan Bosworth
Pathway Family Services
time iconNovember 5, 2025 11:30 am

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 12:00 pm

CRITICAL CONVERSATIONS

time iconNovember 5, 2025 12:00 pm

Critical Convo 1

time iconNovember 5, 2025 12:00 pm

Critical Convo 2

time iconNovember 5, 2025 12:00 pm

Critical Convo 3

time iconNovember 5, 2025 12:00 pm

Critical Convo 4

time iconNovember 5, 2025 01:00 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 01:30 pm

Keynote - Six Core What? Making the Core Strategies Real...

1 NASW CE Available for this Workshop - Must Watch LIVE


This presentation will include an overview of the Six Core Strategies which is an evidenced-based practice to prevent and reduce the use restraint/seclusion and coercive practices.  Each Core Strategy will be described, translated into day-to-day practice, and discussed thru the experience of youth, families, and staff.   Effective interventions to replace coercive interventions will be reviewed.  A highlight of the presentation will be the first-hand experience of a program leader, family leader, and youth-expert(s) in applying the Six Core Strategies to their service with recommendations on how to accelerate implementation of this important culture and practice change work.

speaker headshot Janice LeBel
Six Core Strategies©
time iconNovember 5, 2025 02:30 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 03:00 pm

Keynote - A Relational Approach to Caring for Young People Impacted by Sexual Exploitation

1 NASW CE Available for this Workshop - Must Watch LIVE

This session explores the use of a clinical approach and concepts supporting young people who have been impacted by sexual exploitation.  The approach explores the physical, relational and spiritual elements of wellbeing. Relational elements will be emphasized with accentuation on low control and high support.  The session will highlight how mutuality in relationship produces a warm and inviting social environment, enhances learning, safety, and positive therapeutic outcomes. 

speaker headshot Jason Slemko
Clinical Director, Safe Directions/Hull Services
time iconNovember 5, 2025 04:00 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 04:30 pm

Keynote - Caring for our Caregivers: Peer Support for the Pediatric RTC Workforce

speaker headshot David Huskey
THRIVE at Children's Nebraska
time iconNovember 5, 2025 05:30 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 06:00 pm

WORKSHOP SESSION B

Workshop Session B has 4 options to choose from. Choose 1 to watch live and view the recordings of the others at a later time for the next 30 days. 

time iconNovember 5, 2025 06:00 pm

Family Partners and Frontline Providers: The Power of Partnership

Interrogating our assumptions or myths about families and then "busting" those myths is a necessary step toward full partnership.  Family partners as part of the workforce can help in the "myth busting". In this workshop, you will hear feedback from providers who have experienced a shift in culture with more authentic relationships between staff and families. Frontline providers partnering with Family Partners on the healing journey for  youth and their families can be very powerful for all involved. 

speaker headshot Sherry Peters

time iconNovember 5, 2025 06:00 pm

Workshop Session B2

time iconNovember 5, 2025 07:00 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 07:30 pm

Keynote - The Disenfranchisement of Dads

speaker headshot Kevin King
CEO/Empire Training and Consultation
time iconNovember 5, 2025 08:30 pm

Break

time iconNovember 5, 2025 09:00 pm

Keynote

Frequently Asked questions


Yes, you will need to register through ACRC. Register here: https://members.togetherthevoice.org/event-5710043
Access to login will be available starting at 3pm CST on November 13.
The information you provide upon registration will only be used to establish you as a user on the platform and to create your login credentials. It will not be used for any other purposes.
Yes, the vFairs platform is compatible with any computer or mobile device and any browser.
No, this event is not free. Please review the registration options here: https://members.togetherthevoice.org/event-5710043
The recordings will be available for 30 days after the event.
The ALL IN registration option allows for all staff, board members, foster parents and volunteers in your organization to register at no additional cost.
Yes, attendance certificates are available for all sessions except the critical conversations.