Join us for an ACRC Webinar!

1:30 - 3 p.m. CST

Join this interactive webinar with practical tools to engage youth with complex unmet needs. Gain knowledge and techniques shared from Together Facing The Challenge, an evidence-based therapeutic model of care for youth experiencing out-of-home care. Learn alongside Omni Family Institute’s team of presenters who share years of experience in the field in various roles from direct care to national directors. You’ll hear life stories from a TBRI practitioner, a Foster Mom, and a Mom who has adopted children with complex unmet needs from foster care.

Presented by:

Mindy Kiser, President/Executive Director - Melinda (Mindy) brings more than twenty years of experience working within the child welfare sector to the position. Mindy has been a trainer and consultant for TFTC and TBRI practitioner for the past 5 years and worked as the National Director of Quality Assurance with The Bair Foundation. Melinda has a Master of Arts in Counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania. Melinda has a deep passion for helping vulnerable children and families and has dedicated her career to advocating for trauma-informed practices that promote healing and resilience. She’s an experienced leader, particularly in curriculum development, and has played a pivotal role in the implementation of evidence-based interventions to address the complex needs of the foster care population..

Michelle Wingate, Learning Ambassador - Michelle comes to OFI from Together Facing the Challenge, where she spent the past 5 years as a Certified Trainer and Consultant. Michelle is a mom of 6, 4 of her children came to her through foster care and adoption. Michelle and her husband, Chase, have been foster parents for over 5 years, serving over 20 children in multiple capacities. Michelle studied Human Development at Azusa Pacific University and completed her Masters in Family Studies at Texas Woman’s University. Michelle is passionate about supporting youth with complex unmet needs, an those who love and care for them.

Bridget Kucharski, Trainer and Consultant - Bridget Kucharski has worked in child welfare for 14 years in several capacities, including direct care through residential and case management, as well as leadership through program supervision and state organization leadership.  Bridget’s work has primarily focused on high-needs kids and families, with an emphasis on keeping kids in the community through supporting caregivers with effective interventions.  Over the last decade, Bridget’s trauma-informed and innovative approaches have helped caregivers and staff meet the needs of kids in community placements who may otherwise be in more restrictive settings. Additionally, this passion led Bridget and her husband to become foster parents and parenting 10 kids in their foster parent tenure.  They focused primarily on teens who were discharged from residential or juvenile justice settings, with high needs and difficult behaviors.  Recently, Bridget transitioned to Omni Family Institute to begin a new journey as a National Trainer and Consultant for evidence-based practice models.        

Registration Rates:

Free to Members / $50 Non-Members
NASW CEUs Free to Members / $25 Non-Members
*NASW CEUs Pending Approval*