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Upcoming events

    • 16 May 2023
    • 17 Jun 2023
    • Coming to you virtually from Minneapolis, MN - Marriott City Center Hotel
    Register


    Early Bird Registration Rates

    M = Member/N= Non-Member

    $200 M/$275 NM Virtual Attendance

    $1,100 M/$1,500 NM Virtual Attendance 'All in Staff Rate'

    **Registrations received after the early bird cut-off of April 14th will incur a $100 fee increase

    Please register early!

    Any Issues Registering as a member please contact: Amanda

    • 14 Jun 2023
    • 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Webinar Provided by CYC Net in Partnership with ACRC

    $20 Registration Fee ACRC Members
    $40 Registration Fee Non-Members
    NASW CEUs Free to Members / $25 Non-members

    What We Didn't Know Then: Contemporary Neuroscience & What Really Matters for Children in Care

    Wednesday, June 14, 2023
    3:30 - 4:30 p.m. CT

    From the perspective of 45 years working with children and young people in care, the presenter looks back at the received wisdom in the field and how this has significantly changed in the light of recent research in neuroscience. Some older ideas (such as the importance of active listening) have withstood the test of time, while others (such as the reliance on behavioral strategies) have either been discarded or significantly modified. The webinar will look at:

    1. the importance of ‘feeling safe’, a notion that has been around since Maslow’s early work but one that had not penetrated into many areas of human service until the ‘discovery’ of developmental trauma – the notion of safety is strangely absent from most of the earlier CYC texts but is now universally accepted. With reference to the work of Stephen Porges and others we will look at the paramount need of our young people to feel safe – and the roles we can play in their journey.

    2. the older focus on the external management and manipulation of problematic behaviours which has given way to a richer understanding of the emotional drivers of many behaviours. This includes the concept of ‘pain-based behaviours’ and ‘pain-based responses’ (Anglin, 2022). It also involves a different perspective on the ways our young people learn to self-manage and self-regulate. Moving beyond our older behavioural and cognitive techniques, we now know that true change will only come about through the ways that our young people experience us over time, how we need to ‘co-regulate’ with them where they ‘live, learn and play’ rather than coercively-regulating them. It’s a way of being with them rather than a skill we impart.

    3. the importance of connection with our young people. We have known this for a long time and the earlier texts certainly stressed that good relationships were important in our work. However, these relationships were often framed as being instrumental; good for achieving our casework goals – they were not seen as a goal or outcome, in and of themselves. The emergence of the trauma perspective (another notion that was absent from the earlier texts) highlights the fact that ‘disconnection’ is the central outcome of developmental trauma (van der Kolk, 2014, 2023; Siegel, 2012) and that our young people yearn for trustworthy, reliable connections. Who we are for them is so much more important that what we do for them. 

    Presenters:


    Dr. Howard Bath
    Allambi Care, Australia

    Dr. Howard Bath has had a long career working with children and young people in the child welfare, youth justice and mental health systems in roles such as youth worker, house parent, program manager, agency director, and clinician. From 2008 to 2015 he was the inaugural Children’s Commissioner in Australia’s Northern Territory with a mission to ensure the wellbeing of vulnerable children receiving care, treatment, education and youth justice services.

    Trained as a clinical psychologist, Howard has also provided direct clinical services for young people and their families as well as training and program support for agencies and schools across Australia and internationally. He has authored papers and reports on child protection, out of home care, family preservation and developmental trauma and is the lead author (with John Seita) of the book: The Three Pillars of Transforming Care: Trauma and resilience in the ‘other 23 hours’, written for care workers, teachers, kinship carers and others who interact daily with children exposed to developmental trauma. 



    • 1 Aug 2023
    • 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Webinar Provided by CYC Net in Partnership with ACRC

    $20 Registration Fee ACRC Members
    $40 Registration Fee Non-Members
    NASW CEUs Free to Members / $25 Non-members
    *NASW CEUs Pending Approval*

    Never Enough: Working with Addictive Behaviors

    Tuesday, August 1, 2023
    11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CT

    What do we know?  What do we think we know?  What do we want to know?

    In our work with families and children who are struggling to survive, much less thrive – addiction is often a part of the equation.  We have received so much conflicting information about how to even view the issue of addiction – as a disease?  As a moral dilemma?  An example of insufficient personal fortitude?  And what role does race, social status, power and politics play into it?  Nothing?  Everything?  No wonder we are confused about what the answers are…we aren’t even sure what the questions should be. This training may leave you with more questions than answers…but maybe they will be the right ones.  

    Presenter:

    Michelle Maikoetter, MA, NCC, LPC-S
    Chief Program Officer, Cal Farley Boy's Ranch

    Michelle Maikoetter has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and retains licensure as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of Texas, as well as a National Certified Counselor and a LPC-Supervisor.

    For over 30 years, she has worked in a variety of settings with youth and families including domestic violence/sexual assault, juvenile justice, after school programming, and wilderness programming.  The majority of her roles have been administrative positions and she feels the strongest connection serving in residential education settings and is passionate about ensuring leadership and programmatic systems are aligned. 

    Since 2007, Michelle has been a leader at Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Texas, one of the largest nonprofit residential childcare facilities in the United States.  Housed in the middle of the campus is a “special purpose” school - Boys Ranch Independent School District, educating K-12 students. 

    Currently serving as their Chief Program Officer she has led the organization’s transformation from a behavioral modification program into a healing, trauma-informed community. Working collaboratively with Boys Ranch ISD has galvanized these efforts. 

    This transformation was in large part due to the relationship built with Dr. Bruce Perry and receiving training on his Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics beginning in 2009.  Michelle was one of the first Mentors named by Dr. Perry and Boys Ranch was among the first residential facilities to become Phase II site certified in the model.  This expertise has attracted clinicians and facilities around the country and the world seeking consultation and support from Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch under Ms. Maikoetter’s leadership.

    As a long-time member of the Neurosequential Network, Michelle was named their Director of Special Projects (aka “the Sheriff) and plays a leadership role in organizing, managing and facilitating collaboration in the Neurosequential Model (NM) across programs, particularly when there is a high concentration of programs in a geographical area or a high-volume, complex collaboration in a single location. Currently, her two major areas of focus are in Arizona and TexasMichelle’s leadership in coordinating and communicating will be essential in optimizing the implementation and effectiveness of the NM as it expands in these settings.


    • 10 Aug 2023
    • 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Join us for an ACRC Webinar!

    Free to Members / $50 Non-Members
    NASW CEUs Free to Members / $25 Non-Members
    *PENDING NASW APPROVAL*

    Serving Youth with Unmet Complex Needs in Enhanced Care Programs

    Thursday, August 10, 2023
    1 - 2:30 p.m. CST

    Thousands of young people each year are sleeping in offices, hotels, and night-to-night foster homes, shining a glaring light on the fact that youth with unmet complex needs have not been adequately or safely supported in existing systems or programs.  

    Leaders in California, including providers, public system partners, and young people with lived experience, have collaborated to fill a gap in the existing continuum of care with a new approach called Enhanced Care Programs. Enhanced Care Programs serve youth who don't need an acute inpatient level of care but who have multiple identified needs across various domains, including multiple mental health and/or substance use diagnoses; severe challenges in family, social and/or school functioning; neuropsychological difficulties; and developmental delays.

    This webinar will provide an overview about the role of Enhanced Care Programs in California, how they are structured and funded, their foundational principles, and how they have been instrumental in individually serving youth with unmet complex needs.

    Presenters:


    Alex Volpe, LCSW 
    Program Director; Catalyst Center, CA

    Alex has been working with underserved youth and families for over 15 years. Upon completing her Masters in Social Work at the University of Chicago in 2005, Alex worked as a therapist at Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, a residential treatment facility in Chicago. After moving to the East Bay with her family in 2008, Alex began working at Bay Area Youth Center/Sunny Hills Services (now “Side by Side”), a nonprofit serving foster and probation youth. Alex led Bay Area Youth Center as the Executive Director from 2013-2017. Under Alex’s leadership, Bay Area Youth Center significantly expanded mental health and housing services to youth in Alameda County, and earned a reputation as an agency who would provide shelter and services to the highest need youth who were often terminated from other services due to their acute mental health symptoms. Alex is committed to the principles of trauma-responsive care and providing culturally relevant services to young people and their families.

    Following her tenure at Bay Area Youth Center, Alex has held a number of contract and interim positions, including serving as the interim Chief Operating Officer at Unity Care Group, as well as the Executive Director at the Ann Martin Center. Prior to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Alex received her JD from the University of Texas in Austin and worked as a corporate and securities attorney in San Francisco and Austin. She currently lives in Oakland with her family.


    Misty Berard
    Senior Program Advisor; Catalyst Center, CA

    Misty Berard, Senior Program Advisor, joined the Catalyst Team in 2022. She brings over 15 years of direct care and leadership experience in residential and community-based services, including work in supervisor and director-level roles in group homes, Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs), and Wraparound programs in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

    Misty earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Occidental College and her master’s degree in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University. Misty is a Certified Group Home Administrator and brings substantial experience in the leadership and administration of STRTPs, including program development, supervision and training, staffing and scheduling, milieu management, therapeutic recreation, and integration of direct care and clinical staff.

    Misty has dedicated her career to providing trauma-responsive, relational care to youth and families and these commitments are evident in her approach to leadership and her provision of training and coaching to direct care and clinical staff in the topics of crisis intervention and de-escalation, trauma-informed care, and restorative justice.


    Kelsie Tatum-Martinez, Psy.D.
    Senior Clinical Advisor; Catalyst Center, CA

    Dr. Kelsie Tatum Martinez is a licensed psychologist with over 15 years of experience serving youth and families with experiences of complex, intergenerational trauma and significant unmet needs. She has delivered direct care and clinical services as well as provided clinical, training, and special projects leadership to programs serving young people in California’s public systems of care. After working in residential treatment programs for over 10 years, Kelsie joined the Catalyst Center team to support and advocate for systems change and more equitable, integrated care for youth and families.


Past events

1 Jun 2023 ACRC Webinar - The Application of the Stages of Change Model When Working with Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth (CSEY)
16 May 2023 2023 Annual Conference Exhibitor Registration
16 May 2023 2023 Annual Conference Pre-Con Only
16 May 2023 2023 Annual Conference IN PERSON Registration
16 May 2023 WACYCP - 2023 ACRC Annual Conference
16 May 2023 2023 Annual Conference Sponsorship
21 Apr 2023 HouseParent Affinity Group: Recruiting, Retaining, and Supporting Live-In Staff
5 Apr 2023 CYC-Net Webinar - The Challenges of Practicing Ethical Child & Youth Care: An Interactive Session
23 Mar 2023 CYC-Net Webinar - Planning Restorative Outcomes: Assessment of Strengths and Needs
2 Mar 2023 ACRC Webinar - Machine Learning: New Tools to Improve Youth Mental Health Outcomes
28 Feb 2023 CYC-Net Webinar - Understanding and Responding to Pain and Pain-Based Behaviour: A Central Challenge for Residential Child and Youth Care Workers
23 Feb 2023 ACRC Webinar - Youth Mental Health: The Development of Crisis Stabilization Centers
1 Feb 2023 International Direct Care Summit
26 Jan 2023 CYC-Net Webinar: What Does it Mean to Flourish?
19 Jan 2023 ACRC Member Town Hall: Earmarks 2.0 - The What, When and How of Securing Federal Funding
12 Jan 2023 CYC-Net Webinar: Using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQol) Scale in Supervision
7 Dec 2022 ACRC Member Post-Election Town Hall
1 Dec 2022 Webinar - Educational Success in Residential Settings: Engaging Instruction, Motivation, and Protection Under the Law
27 Oct 2022 Workforce Wellness Training Series
12 Oct 2022 CYC-Net Webinar - Qualities of Caring: Reframing the Direct Care Role
27 Sep 2022 Your Life Your Voice: Leveraging Technology & Connection to Prevent Youth Suicide
22 Sep 2022 Webinar: A Time for Transformation: Working with Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender and Queer Youth and Young Adults in Residential and the Community
15 Sep 2022 CYC Net Webinar: Understanding the Complex Thinking Required by Child and Youth Care Practitioners Who Function in the Life Space of Young People and Families
24 Aug 2022 Family First Act Implementation - ACRC Member Town Hall
17 Aug 2022 Webinar: Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERC) – How Do Non-Profits Qualify?
10 Aug 2022 Member - 2nd Series - Proven Practices for Recruitment & Retention
10 Aug 2022 Non-Member - 2nd Series - Proven Practices for Recruitment & Retention
8 Aug 2022 CYC-Net Learning series: Supervising/Leading to Excellence: Not Settling for Services “Just Good Enough”
11 Jul 2022 2022 Annual Conference Sponsorship
11 Jul 2022 2022 Annual Conference Exhibitor Registration
11 Jul 2022 2022 Annual Conference IN PERSON Registration
11 Jul 2022 2022 Annual Conference VIRTUAL Registration
10 Jun 2022 CYC-Net Learning series: Neurodiversity-Affirming Child and Youth Care Practice
12 May 2022 Webinar: Organizational and Management Preventive Practices to Mitigate Risk and Liability
10 May 2022 Webinar: Trauma Informed Practice: Moving Away from Point and Level Systems
4 May 2022 CYC-Net Learning series: Cultivating Resilience
23 Feb 2022 2nd Annual Direct Care Summit
23 Feb 2022 Essential Staff in TRC - Direct Care Summit Sponsorship
2 Dec 2021 Leadership Development Forum
4 Nov 2021 ACRC Town Hall: Vaccine Mandates in our Sector
30 Sep 2021 Advocacy 101: Making Your Voice Heard to Make a Difference
22 Sep 2021 Hiring, Supporting, and Retaining Quality Staff: What Evidence-Based Practices and Implementation Science have to Teach Us
3 Aug 2021 Reclaiming Youth Conference Registration Page
3 Aug 2021 2021 Annual Conference Sponsorship
3 Aug 2021 2021 Annual Conference Exhibitor Registration
3 Aug 2021 2021 Annual Conference Member Registration
3 Aug 2021 2021 Annual Conference Non-Member Registration
1 Jul 2021 Recruiting Staff and TFC Families to Serve Unaccompanied Children
23 Jun 2021 Innovations in Affirming Care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Youth: Where we are today as a community and as a field
17 Jun 2021 Community and Stakeholder Engagement: Internal and External Communication When Serving Unaccompanied Children
17 Jun 2021 Therapeutic Programming in Special Education Schools: A Panel Discussion
11 Jun 2021 Meeting the Medical Needs of Unaccompanied Children
14 May 2021 Meeting the Educational Needs of Unaccompanied Children
11 May 2021 Patience, Partnerships and Perseverance: A discussion of New York State's journey to advance ACEs education, practice, and legislation
10 May 2021 Contracting with ORR: Considerations as You Craft Your Proposal
23 Apr 2021 Webinar - Building a Foundation: An Overview for Providers Interested in Contracting with ORR to Serve Unaccompanied Children
16 Apr 2021 Live Q&A for current ORR Providers
15 Apr 2021 Stop Asian Hate: The Role of Community-Based Providers in Advancing Racial Healing
27 Mar 2021 ACRC Call to Action: Immigrant Children at the Border
12 Mar 2021 “Turning the Mirror Inward” - 1 Day Training March 12th
11 Mar 2021 Providing Quality Care for Trans Youth in Residential and Other Complex Care Settings
11 Mar 2021 “Turning the Mirror Inward” - 1 Day Training March 11th
4 Mar 2021 IMPOWER Telehealth: The New Connection
25 Feb 2021 Member Registration: Essential Staff in Therapeutic Residential Care - International Virtual Conference
25 Feb 2021 Non-Member Registration: Essential Staff in Therapeutic Residential Care - International Virtual Conference
25 Feb 2021 State Association Registration: Essential Staff in Therapeutic Residential Care - International Virtual Conference
25 Feb 2021 Student Registration: Essential Staff in Therapeutic Residential Care - International Virtual Conference
19 Feb 2021 Training: The Impact of Systemic Racism on Foster Youth
14 Jan 2021 What about the Boys? The Challenges of Identifying and Treating Male CSE and SE Youth in Residential Treatment
17 Dec 2020 “Turning the Mirror Inward” - 2 Day Training 2A/2B
10 Dec 2020 “Turning the Mirror Inward” - 2 Day Training 1A/1B
7 Dec 2020 3 Questions to Help Build Reparative Relationships in Trauma-informed Care
2 Dec 2020 Post-Election Town Hall
9 Nov 2020 Navigating Difficult Conversations about Social Injustices
21 Oct 2020 Webinar - Expanding Residential Services to Create a Continuum of Care: Benefits & Challenges of Strategic Growth
14 Oct 2020 Children And Residential Experiences: Creating Conditions for Change
24 Sep 2020 Webinar - Cultivating Safe Spaces to Address Racism
10 Sep 2020 Webinar - Creating Cultures of Accountability
2 Sep 2020 MEMBER TOWN HALL - New Approaches to Risk Mitigation in the Wake of COVID-19
13 Aug 2020 Webinar - The Omni Visions and The Victory Lap Partnership: Utilizing Senior Living Housing for Youth Aging Out Of Foster Care
5 Aug 2020 Youth Voice Collaboration meeting 3
3 Aug 2020 Youth Voice Collaboration meeting 2
1 Aug 2020 Youth Voice Collaboration meeting 1
29 Jul 2020 Webinar - Beyond Awareness: Practical Application of the My Life My Choice Prevention Solution Model
9 Jul 2020 Webinar - Public Policy: What's New & What's Next?
18 Jun 2020 Webinar - Measuring Trauma-Informed Care Across Sectors
17 Jun 2020 Accreditation Provides Essential Infrastructure: Pandemic Pivots, Risk Management, and Implementing FFPSA
9 Jun 2020 Webinar - Creative Activities to Support Connection In a Time of “Social Distancing”
5 Jun 2020 Webinar - Public Policy: What's New & What's Next?
21 May 2020 Webinar - A New National Campaign: Engaging Congress to Prevent and Address Trauma and Build Resilience
12 May 2020 Webinar - Public Policy: What's New & What's Next?
20 Apr 2020 Webinar - Using Telehealth/Telemedicine Services
7 Apr 2020 ACRC NOW VIRTUAL 64th Annual Conference
6 Apr 2020 2020 Annual Conference
6 Apr 2020 Exhibitors & Sponsors