Tuesday, October 24 Sessions
Session Block D
(8:30 AM – 10:00 AM)
D19: Creating A Culture of Trauma-Informed Child Advocacy
Marian Harris, PhD (WACAP)
Trauma-informed care is an approach to policy and practice that includes “awareness of the prevalence of trauma, understanding the impact of trauma, and commitment to incorporating those understandings in policy, procedure, and practice ” (Yatchmenoff et al., 2017, p. 167). When a service is trauma-informed, those designing and implementing that service actively seek to provide services in a manner that is welcoming and appropriate, and where safety and empowerment for the client are central and retraumatization is avoided, taking into consideration intergenerational trauma and other past trauma histories. Trauma-informed child advocates are guided by the principles of creating safe spaces for children and families, building trust, supporting client choice, respecting client control, and building on strength. This presentation will focus on the key principles of trauma-informed care, nuts and bolts of the client relationship with children who have experienced trauma, parents with trauma histories and the child welfare system, the impact of psychological and psychological trauma, and integrating trauma informed care and solution focused strategies into child advocacy.
D20: You Can Disagree Without Being Disagreeable. But What is Disagreeable?
Ameila Watson, JD & Marci Comeau, JD (OPD)
Participants will explore the role of a parents attorney in this interactive workshop. The workshop will include discussion of the rules of professional conduct governing attorneys and common advocacy goals of parents attorneys on behalf of their clients.
D21: Collaborating with the Foster Care Assessment Program (FCAP) for positive permanency outcomes
Rima Ellard, LICSW (UW Harborview)
This workshop will help you understand the Foster Care Assessment Program (FCAP) and how we assist in moving children towards permanency. Content will include a program description, referral process, and the child advocate’s involvement in the process. In addition, we will use case examples to discuss contentious topics in child welfare and how we can collaborate effectively to improve outcomes.
D22: What Title II of the ADA requires for courts and child welfare agencies
Susan Kas, JD (US Attorney’s Office)
Both the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and DOJ Civil Rights Division have received numerous complaints of discrimination from individuals with disabilities involved with the child welfare system, and the frequency of such complaints is rising. In the course of their civil rights enforcement activities, OCR and DOJ have found that child welfare agencies and courts vary in the extent to which they have implemented policies, practices, and procedures to prevent discrimination against parents and prospective parents with disabilities in the child welfare system.
D23: Whole Brain Care
Zia Freeman, MA, LMHC (Coordinated Care)
Whole Brain Care introduces participants to the functions of the brain, the effects of the brain’s mirror neurons, and how the brain hemispheres’ impact specific behaviors. This training uses the teachings of Dan Siegel, MD and has easy suggestions to help children self soothe, and participants to better understand how trauma drives the brain in an easy-to-understand format.
Session Block E
(1:15 PM – 2:45 PM)
E24: Planning for youth-focused transitions
Ryan Murrey, MA (WACAP)
Child welfare research indicates that it’s not necessary the number of moves that impact children in care, but more importantly, the number of unplanned moves. As an advocate, it is critical that you ensure that anytime a child needs to move placement, that the transition is sensitive, planned and child-focused. FTDM tools and tips will be provided to ensure that the child is at the forefront of any move.
E25: Understanding the Interstate Compact Process (ICPC)
Shannon Freeman, MSW (DCYF)
When children are (or need to be) placed out-of-state, they are entitled to the same protections and services they would receive if they remained in Washington. The Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC) provides a statutory means to ensure that children placed in another state have a suitable place to live and have access to the appropriate services for that child. Failure to follow the ICPC by Washington courts can lead to the harming of children—the antithesis of the dependency process. This session will explore this process and answer any questions you may have about navigating this process.
E26: Indian Child Welfare Practical Practice
Dr. Thomas L. Crofoot, Professor Emeritus Eastern Washington University
Indian Child Welfare as a practice method to connect children with their families, communities, and nations. Asking about indigenous status, family history, and cultural and ethnic backgrounds to improve tribal identification. Connecting children to cultural supports, treaty rights, and benefits of citizenship in their indigenous nation. Working with in-state and out-of-state indigenous nations. Balancing historical trauma with resilience.
E27: Brown Skin & Curls: An AntiRacist Approach to Caring for BIPOC Youth and Their Physical Selves
Nicole Renee Jordan
Director of Cross-Cultural Engagement at The University of Washington Tacoma
co-presenting with Brittney Ann Lee
In this workshop, we call attention to the racist practices that prevent equitable access to the physical care of BIPOC youth in our society. We acknowledge that the policing of young people of color upholds the systems of white supremacy and anti-blackness. In this workshop, participants will 1) Build awareness of the harm experienced when nurture and care aren’t provided, 2) Practice empathy with themselves and others and 3) Discuss tools for advocating for the intersecting physical needs of BIPOC youth.
E28: Trauma and Discipline
Zia Freeman, MA, LMHC (Coordinated Care)
We all need discipline in our lives to function well in society. For youth especially, discipline helps provide needed boundaries for safety and security. How does a caregiver provide discipline to a child who is not attached or bonded to them, and has had significant trauma in their lives? This training discusses this topic with ideas and tips, as well as an overview of why children with traumatic history can be so challenging!
Session Block F
(3:00 PM – 4:30 PM)
F29: Promising Practices for Early Engagement with families
Pierce and Clark County Child Advocate Programs
This session is primarily geared towards program staff. Hear about two counties’ promising practices when it comes to early engagement and advocacy for kids and families in the system. Pierce County will talk about their Early Engagement staff GALs and what they’ve learned, and Clark County will share some of their innovative practice around pre-filing meetings/FTDMs.
F30: A View from the Bench
Various judicial officers
Join members of the bench for a view from judicial officer’s positions on dependency proceedings. Participants will learn what judges are expecting from advocates and how you can be an effective advocates in the court room. Time for questions and answers will be provided.
F31: ICWA: An overview of of ICWA Laws and Regs
Lori Irwin, JD
This session will focus on Washington’s Indian Child Welfare laws, with a brief overview of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act. Come prepared to put what you learn to practical use in small group discussions of scenarios specific to the child advocate/GAL role.
F32: Child Welfare Housing Assistance for Youth and Families
Greg Williamson, MA (DCYF)
Washington State DCYF is working with the state’s Public Housing Authorities and other partners to build a statewide system of housing voucher access and other housing supportive services for youth and families. Find out the latest updates about activities at HUD, actions by the 2023 Legislature, and DCYF planning and implementation across its six Regions.
If you have questions about eligibility criteria, or how best to make referrals for housing support programs, this is the session for you!
Programs include:
- the federal Family Unification Program (FUP) vouchers;
- the state Child Welfare Housing Assistance Program (CWHP) that supports FUP and offers other flexible assistance;
- the federal Foster Youth to Independence (FYI) voucher,
- the state Foster Care Housing Assistance Program (FCHP) that supports FYI and other programs
Current efforts are at the Regional level, but community participation is necessary to get agreements and services in place in each Public Housing Authority region.
F33: Self Care and Secondary Trauma
Zia Freeman, MA, LMHC (Coordinated Care)
Working with youth who have experienced trauma can be difficult, draining, exhausting, and frustrating. This training will help service providers to understand the differences between Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious trauma. Participants will also be able to recognize warning signs and personal triggers, as well as understand why self-care is important and develop a personal self-care plan.