Register Now!



Workshops

To assist you with your selections, we have identified workshops of particular interest to certain groups with the abbreviations and icons below:

SW- Social Workers

GA- General Audience

HS- Head Start / Early Childhood Dev.

LPC- Counselors

ED- Educators

CPS- Child Protective Workers

HF- Healthy Families/Home Visitation

AD- Administrators

TCCWB – Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards

ICAC – Internet Crimes Against Children

CFRT – Texas Child Fatality Review Team


■ Advanced Sessions

□ Intermediate Sessions

* Basic Sessions


MONDAY, MARCH 19

9:00 A.M. - General Session

Randell Alexander, MD, PhD: “The Impact of Abuse and Neglect on the Developing Brain.”



10:30 A.M. - Session I

  1. Sugar & Spice: The Media's Role in the Sexualized Images of Girls. This presentation will examine the sexualization of girls via the media. Professionals will be able to define sexualization and discuss strategies to protect the emotional, mental & physical health of girls. David Miller, M.Ed., Urban Leadership Institute , Baltimore SW, LPC, HS *

  2. Gangs in Our Communities “A Pipeline from Family to Abuse”. Gangs are widespread and adversely affect the quality of life within our communities with violence, drugs and associated criminal activity. This presentation will focus on, graffiti, street language, tattoos, and new trends of gang involvement. In particular, participants will learn how gang members transcend from birth to generational to exploited gang members. Dwight Stewart, Texas School Safety Center. San Marcos. GA *

  1. Texas Foster Care Redesign. This workshop will focus on the current Texas foster care redesign effort and provide up-to-date information on the new model as well as the status of implementation presented by those leading the effort. David Whiteside, PhD and Kaysie Reinhardt, TX Dept. Family & Protective Services, Austin. GA, CPS □

  2. Stewards of Children, Part 1. Stewards of Children is a revolutionary sexual abuse prevention program that educates adults to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse, and motivates them to courageous action. This workshop will engage attendees to not only understand the prevalence of child sexual abuse, but to understand that adults can take proactive steps in their lives and community to prevent child sexual abuse from occurring. Lindsey Dula and Kimberly Rocha, Alliance for Children, Fort Worth. GA, *

  3. Collaboration at Its Best. Learn how GTCP interfaces with CWBs and local groups to meet its mission through programs, products and services that benefit abused and neglected children. Nikkee Espree, Greater Texas Community Partners, Dallas. GA, TCCWB *

  1. Child Protective Services and African-American Families Affected by Chemical Dependence: Can the Cycle be Broken? The workshop will explore the issue of Child Protective Services (CPS) investigating, providing services, and/or legally intervening with African-American families affected by chemical dependency. The workshop will attempt to answer the question: Can the cycle be broken? Milton Ayala, TDFPS, Austin. GA, CPS *

  1. Ten Pitfalls of Parenting & Seven Keys to Successful Child-Adult Relationships. Engage 10 common pitfalls to avoid in adult/child relationships. Explore 7 action steps to overcome pitfalls and build successful child - to - parent/adult relationships. Sheldon Barr, Region 4 ESC, Houston. GA, ED, HF *

  2. Protecting Children Online. Workshop attendees will learn about the risks to kids online, resources available, and several case studies involving online child victims will be reviewed. Mike Hartman, Ft. Bend County District Attorney’s Office, Richmond and Lt. Matthew Gray, Pasadena ISD Police Dept. Pasadena. GA, ICAC *

  3. Drug Endangered Children. This presentation focuses on the risks children exposed to drug environments face and the way multidisciplinary collaboration can help rescue, defend, shelter and support them. Justin Mazzeo, Texas Alliance for Drug Endangered Children, Dallas. GA, CPS *

  1. Child Abuse and the Bystander Effect: Promoting Social Awareness. Child Abuse is often unreported. This presentation will address and discuss interventions to allow individuals to appropriately respond when the presence of child abuse is suspected. Judith Howard Beechler, PhD., LPCS, NCC and Rosalind Strickland, Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls. LPC, ED *

  2. Child Fatality Review Team Tune-Up. Over 70 Texas multidisciplinary teams convene to review child deaths and conduct prevention activities based on the review data. Doing reviews well is a challenge. Learn more about engaging the right team members, accessing records, managing team dynamics and bias, and other challenges facing CFRT. Susan Rodriguez, Texas Dept. State Health Services, Austin. CFRT □

12:00 - Lunch on Your Own

12:00 – Randell Alexander, MD, PhD. (Special Luncheon, additional cost)

12:00 – Christopher Greeley, MD, FAAP. (Special Luncheon, additional cost)

1:30 P.M. - Session II

  1. Crimes against Children on the Internet - Rescuing Them from the Darkness. Will provide information on how children become victims on the internet and strategies and techniques needed to work with victims of Internet crimes, i.e. child pornography & child prostitution. Beth Alberts, Robert Stabe, Shannon Davis and Matt Gray, Texas Center for the Missing, Frisco. All Groups *

  2. Ethical Issues in Preventing Child Abuse, Part 1. When working with children, youth and families, many ethical issues arise. During this interactive workshop, participants will process and learn to communicate through ethical dilemmas. TBA. SW, GA, LPC □

  3. Stewards of Children, Part 2. See 4 above.

  4. Legislation Impacting Child Welfare: 82nd Legislative Session. What happened during the 82nd Legislative Session? TexProtects and Texans Care for Children will provide an overview of legislation and funding impacting children that have been abused and neglected. Diana Martinez, TexProtects and Ashley Harris, Texans Care for Children. Austin. GA, TCCWB □

  5. Child Abuse: A National Epidemic. Part 1. Sgt. Bill Davis will discuss crimes against our children and families. He will talk about physical abuse, wound identification, physical neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual predators and how child abuse and domestic violence intermingle. Bill Davis, (Retired), Beaumont Police Department, Beaumont. GA *

  6. Understanding Our Child Victims: Healing and the Traumatized Brain, Part 1. The workshop will present how abuse and trauma affect the healthy brain development and functioning in children and how it will affect them later as youth and adults. Service providers and law enforcement will learn what behaviors might manifest in victimized children and will be shown what they can do immediately and in the long-term to help those victimized children & youth. Diane Vines, The Children’s Assessment Center, Houston. GA, LPC, ED, CPS, HS, HF *

  7. Cyberbullying and Sexting - Prevention & Response, Part 1. If you are seeking guidance regarding how to address and reduce cyberbullying and sexting in your schools and communities, this workshop is a must-attend! Reggie Cajayon. Texas School Safety Center. San Marcos. GA *

  8. Outside the Box: Working with Families who have Experienced Adverse Early Childhood Experiences, Part 1. This workshop will focus on understanding how early childhood adverse experiences impact the developing brain, specifically as it relates to the parents that we work with, the relationships that we form, and the ways in which we interact to motivate change. Kate Whitaker, Prevent Child Abuse America, Tucson, AZ. HF, □

  9. Fast Scan / Computer Forensics, Part 1. This course is a 3 hour course that will teach a computer forensic previewing tool that is available to Law Enforcement for no cost. The student will be shown the tool applications, and a demo of the tool. Students taking course are encouraged to bring a work laptop computer. Computer knowledge of the student should be at the intermediate level. Sgt. Gary Spurger, Det. Nathan Gates and Inv. Tuan Pham - Law Enforcement Only, ICAC. □

  10. Disruptive Behaviors: Transforming the Negative into Positive. Disruptive behaviors interrupt the learning process. Learn new strategy to overcome disruptive behaviors and transform the negative into positive outcomes for teachers, students and parents. Barbara Fountain, Lifeline Family Enrichment, Austin. SW, GA, LPC, ED, HS *

  11. Interdiction for the Protection of Children. Workshop attendees will gain an awareness of resources, the need for training, and interdiction techniques that will allow them to make a confident decision to begin an investigation or begin collecting information. Lastly, the presenter will share actual examples of cases involving runaways, child pornography and human trafficking that were discovered using interdiction techniques. Sgt. Derek Prestridge, Texas Dept. of Public Safety. Austin. CPS, AD, CFRT *

3:00 P.M. - Break

3:15 P.M. - Session III

  1. Ethical Issues in Preventing Child Abuse, Part 2. See 13 above.

  2. Effects of Alcoholism / Addiction upon Children, Families and Adult Children of Alcoholics. Workshop will offer participants perspective on the clinical implications, family dynamics and stressors that result from growing up with an alcoholic / addict. Related topics of discussion include; family roles, codependency, dysfunctional family roles, appropriate coping skills and a 12 step approach to recovery. Kathleen Gleason, LPC, Boerne Counseling & Consulting Svc. Boerne. GA, ED. *

  3. Do Something Positive! Effectively Advocating for Abused and Neglected Children. Accomplish legislative outcomes for vulnerable children through coordinated community efforts. Learn an advocacy framework that can be used by all organizations and individuals. Madeline McClure and Diana Martinez, TexProtects, Dallas. GA, TCCWB □

  4. Child Abuse: A National Epidemic. Part 2. See 16 above.

  5. Understanding Our Child Victims: Healing and the Traumatized Brain, Part 2. See 17 above.

  6. Cyberbullying and Sexting - Prevention & Response, Part 2. See 18 above.

  7. Outside the Box: Working with Families who have Experienced Adverse Early Childhood Experiences, Part 2. See 19 above.

  8. Fast Scan / Computer Forensics, Part 2. See 20 above

  9. Taking Care of Those Who Care for Victims: PTSD and Stress Management for Service Professionals. This presentation will discuss the importance of caring for victim providers and law enforcement personnel so that their work with victims of crime is effective, compassionate and thorough. Verdi Lethermon, Ph.D., Houston Police Department, Houston. All Groups *

  1. Childhood Injuries: Is It Abuse? This presentation will highlight different childhood injuries and physical findings that may be consistent with child abuse. The medical-forensic examination of children with suspicious findings and actual case studies will also be addressed. Cynthia Garcia, RN, BSN, CA-CP, SANE, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital. San Antonio. GA *

  1. Collecting, Understanding and Using Child Death Data. Data collection is a critical function of CFRT. Attend this workshop to learn best practices in understanding the Case Report Form, requesting records, extracting information from multiple reports, and understanding and using the data to form team recommendations and to plan prevention activities. Ryan Beal and Susan Rodriguez, Texas Dept. of State Health Services. Austin. CPS, CFRT □

4:45 – Adjourn

TUESDAY, MARCH 20

8:00 A.M. - General Session

Sandra Alexander, M.Ed: “The Past, Present and Future of Child Maltreatment Prevention”

9:00 A.M. - Break

9:15 A.M. - Session IV

  1. Children, Animals and Empathy: Using Humane Education to Prevent and Intervene in Child Maltreatment. In light of the link between child maltreatment and animal abuse, humane education uses animal-related activities to detect and intervene early in family violence. Catherine A. Faver, University of Texas – Pan American, Edinburg. GA *

  2. What Makes a Child Welfare Board Successful? A training for Child Welfare Board members on board functions, duties, support for CPS, fundraising, community awareness, how to keep good people and leadership. Nancy Preston and V. Danette Cummings, Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards, Henderson. GA, TCCWB *

  1. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Child Abuse, Part 1. We will discuss causes, characteristics and challenges of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and implications for a higher risk of abuse and neglect within this population. Angelo P. Giardino, M.D., Leah Davies and June Villarreal, Texas Office for Prevention of Developmental Disabilities, Austin. SW, GA, LPC, HS, HF *

  2. Trauma and Juvenile Justice, Part 1. An exploration of different types of trauma ranging from sexual violence, adverse childhood experiences, traumatic brain injury and expulsion from school and the connection to continued involvement in the juvenile justice system. John Kinsey, Texas Juvenile Justice Department, Austin. GA, ED *

  3. Sex and the Law. This is NOT a sex education program. It is an education presentation where Sgt. Davis discusses Texas criminal and civil laws dealing with teenagers and sex. Bill Davis, (Retired), Beaumont Police Department, Beaumont. GA *

  1. Basic Cyber101, Part 1. The basic Cyber101 course is designed to take the average investigator with little to no knowledge of computers and provide them with the basic foundation of what is computer crime. The course will cover basics of the internet and its makeup along with terminology and historical background. We will also cover the different computer crime laws in the State of Texas and their impact on how an investigator needs to approach a case involving computers. Sgt. Gary Spurger, Harris Co. Pct. 4 Constable and Sgt. J.D. Philpot, Harris Co. Sheriff’s Office. Houston. GA, ICAC *

  2. Recognizing the Child Who is Being Commercially Sexually Exploited or Trafficked. Part 1. This presentation will focus on the following: recognition of physical and psychological signs; how children become involved; identifying the perpetrators; key vulnerabilities; educational resources; and prevention strategies. Tomi Lee Grover and Deena Graves, TraffickStop, Burleson. SW, GA □

  3. The Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities: A Cross Systems Approach, Part 1. This workshop engages the audience in a powerful conversation on institutionalized racism and its role in creating disproportionality and disparities in all systems and institutions serving vulnerable populations. Joyce James and Sheila Sturgis Craig, HHSC - Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities, Austin. SW, ED, AD ■

  4. The Dark Side of Technology in Child Abuse. There are an increased number of technological developments that have created new and dangerous means to encourage new forms of child abuse. Parents, teachers, counselors and public in general need to become aware of them and explore how to prevent these new threats. Victor Alvarado, Ed.D. University of Texas – Pan American, Edinburg. GA □

  5. Trauma Informed Care - Understanding Children in the Foster Care System. This Trauma Informed Care overview was developed using NCTSN curriculum. The physical, emotional and physiological effects of trauma on a child's life will be reviewed. Sarai Leeb, LMSW, Cenpatico, San Antonio. SW, GA, LPC, ED, CPS, HS, AD *

  6. Child Fatality Review – Q & A with the Medical Examiner, Part 1. This workshop will discuss child death scene investigation, determination of Cause and Manner of death, death certification, tips on reviewing autopsies, and managing an “undetermined” cause of death. Reade A Quinton, MD, Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences. Dallas. GA, CFRT *

10:45 A.M. – Break

11:00 A.M. - Session V

  1. Fostering Connections & Foster Care Redesign. This workshop will focus on the Fostering Connections and Foster Care Redesign initiated by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services. Colleen McCall and Jim Cleveland, TDFPS, Austin. GA, TCCWB *

  2. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Child Abuse, Part 2. See 36 above.

  1. Trauma and Juvenile Justice, Part 2. See 37 above.

  2. Innovative Programs to Reduce the Victimization of Children through Prostitution. This presentation will focus on two distinct areas: 1) the newly established Harris County Girls Court which provides structure and support for those girls who have been involved in criminal or other behavior suspected to be related to the commercial sex industry; 2) the John School in Dallas which focuses attention on the purchasers of sex in order to deter future violations. Michael Schneider, Harris County 315th Juvenile Court, Houston. GA, SW, LPC, ED, CPS *

  3. Basic Cyber101, Part 2. See 39 above.

  4. Recognizing the Child Who is Being Commercially Sexually Exploited or Trafficked. Part 2. See 40 above.

  5. The Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities: A Cross Systems Approach, Part 2. See 41 above.

  6. Dealing with Child Abuse in Multicultural Settings. Cultural factors to be considered when dealing with child abuse cases in multicultural settings. Issues and concerns. Victor Alvarado, Ed.D, Erika Perez and Marcos Silva, University of Texas Pan-American. Edinburg. GA □

  7. Child Death Investigations - A Team Approach. Creating synergy in child death investigations by understanding the symbiotic relationship between law enforcement, Children's Protective Services, the Medical Examiner, the District Attorney and hospitals. Lt. Dan Harris, Houston Police Department, Sgt. Lanette Chandler, Sgt. Brian Harris and Amy Odin. Houston. GA, CPS *

  8. Case Studies of Internet Crimes against Children Prosecutions. The presenters will outline the federal and state statues, noting differences, used to prosecute cases of human trafficking of both international and domestic minor victims including the proof requirements: the various reasons for the prosecutive decision. Robert Stabe, Shannon Davis and John Wakefield, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Texas. Houston GA *

  9. Child Fatality Review – Q & A with the Medical Examiner, Part 1. See 44 above.

12:30 P.M. – Closing Luncheon


Darlene Ellison, M.S. “The Predator Next Door”


Christopher Greeley, MD, FAAP – Blue Ribbon Task Force


2:30 P.M. – Adjourn




Register Now!