��è����Ƶ

Workshop Time: 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session provides an opportunity to meet with, and ask questions of, the Director of the Lake County office of the Department of Child Services and the senior judge of the Juvenile Division of the Lake County Superior Court.  Ms. Stokes and Judge Stefaniak will review recent issues and trends in child welfare problems, services, policies, and practices in Lake County.  Discussion topics include parental involvement in child welfare decision-making, the relative roles and effectiveness of foster parenting, kinship care and residential care, and recent developments in the provision of prevention, post-intervention, and other services.

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will receive an update on state policies.
• Participants will learn how to advocate for underserved groups.
• Participants will receive information on how to access local and state resources.

Presenter Bios:

Twan Stokes (MSW – ��è����Ƶ) is Region 1 Director (Lake County) of the ��è����Ƶ Department of Child Services.  Ms. Stokes began her career with DCS as a Family Case Manager. She also served as a Practice Consultant and Supervisor and as deputy director of the Lake County office before assuming her present position.  Ms. Stokes is a “Journey” Fellow and has served as an adjunct professor for the IU Northwest School of Social Work.  Among her trainings is a YouTube video entitled "Increasing Kinship Placements to Expedite Permanency for Children of Color” for the Minority Professional Leadership Development Program at AdoptUSKids.

Judge Thomas Stefaniak (J.D., Valparaiso University) is Senior Juvenile Court Judge for the Lake County Superior Court.  In this position he is responsible for administering the court charged with adjudicating a wide variety of child and family legal matters in the County.  Appointed to the Superior Court in 2001, Judge Stefaniak transferred to the Juvenile Division in May of 2013 and has served as Chief Judge since that time.  Before his appointment to the Superior Court, he served as the (elected) Hammond City Judge (1995-2001).

Workshop Time: 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session introduces an innovative approach to foster care focused on empowering foster parents to serve as mentors for biological parents. While co-care focuses on collaboration, mentoring goes a step further by intentionally modeling parenting skills, building confidence, and fostering growth in biological parents. This model emphasizes relationship-building, skill transfer, and mutual respect to support family reunification and improve outcomes for children.

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will understand how the foster parents as mentors model differs from foster parenting as co-care.
• Participants will understand and learn the principles and required action of the “foster parents as mentors” model.
• Participants will understand how the mentoring model transforms the relationship between foster and birth parents.

Presenter Bio:

Julie Villarreal is the Senior Regional Director of the Northwest and North Central ��è����Ƶ Regions of The Villages. She also oversees the Telehealth Program which serves clients and families participating in all programs offered through the Villages. Julie received her master's in social work in 2002 from ��è����Ƶ, with honors. She has worked in Child Welfare in various capacities since 1995. She is a licensed clinical social worker who also holds a certification for working with youth experiencing sexually harmful behaviors (CSAYC).  Passionate about serving youth and families, Julie has served on the Planning Committee for the Annual Forum on Abuse and Neglect for the past nine years. Her career, spanning thirty years, has been focused on improving the lives of children and families.

Workshop Time: 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

Youth suicide is a growing public health crisis in ��è����Ƶ, with bullying playing a significant role. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among Hoosiers ages 10–34. Studies indicate that children who experience abuse or neglect are nearly three times more likely to be involved in bullying, as victims, perpetrators, or both. This cycle of trauma often carries from home into school, increasing vulnerability to peer abuse, aggressive behavior, and suicide risk. This session examines how trauma and abuse influence bullying involvement and suicidal ideation. Participants will gain tools to interrupt the bullying–suicide connection and help create environments where young people feel safe, supported, and valued.

Workshop Objectives:

• Understand how bullying increases suicide risk in youth.
• Review current ��è����Ƶ trends and high-risk populations.
• Identify warning signs of bullying-related distress or suicidal ideation.
• Apply evidence-based strategies to prevent bullying and support youth mental health.

Presenter Bios:

Lani Kieft has over 20 years of experience in education, child development, and youth-focused work. Since joining School Care Team in 2023, she has supported schools across ��è����Ƶ as a consultant, certified QPR instructor, and Level 2 WRAP facilitator. A suicide loss survivor, Lani uses her lived experience to advocate for mental health, reduce stigma, and foster safe, supportive environments for youth and adults. She emphasizes connection, storytelling, and relationship-building as central to promoting emotional well-being and resilience.

Rebekah Enzler has extensive experience in therapeutic and social service work, providing direct support to youth through crisis intervention, prevention, and trauma-informed care. She focuses on promoting belonging and resilience while equipping educators, care teams, and communities with practical strategies to support young people. Rebekah brings over 30 years of experience in the non-profit youth-serving sector, leading initiatives that improve access to resources, foster safe environments, and amplify the voices of marginalized youth.

Workshop Time: 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

, is one of the only evidence-informed, adult-focused child sexual abuse prevention trainings in the United States proven to increase knowledge and change behavior.  This workshop provides an introduction to the training and explores the Social Behavior Change framework which guides work in preventing child sexual abuse.  Social Behavior Change is a proven approach for enabling changes at individual, community, and societal levels to improve health and overall well-being. 

Workshop Objectives:

At the conclusion of this workshop, participants will:

• Become aware of the scope of the issue of sexual abuse
• Be able to take actionable steps towards both preventing and responding to abuse
• Understand how to create safer environments for children
• Learn and be able to implement the 5 Steps to protecting children from sexual abuse

Presenter bio:

Sara Hoyt is the Public Education Director for Dunebrook, Inc, (Michigan City). She has been providing abuse prevention education to Northwest ��è����Ƶ schools for over 8 years. She has trained over 500 adults in the Stewards of Children Program and has presented Body Safety to over 100,000 students in her 13 years at Dunebrook. In addition to serving as the director for Public Education, Mrs. Hoyt sits on ��è����Ƶ’s Prevention Roundtable, coordinated by the kNot Foundation to help generate awareness, initiate prevention strategies, and support restorative services to end sexual abuse, exploitation, and trafficking of children in ��è����Ƶ.

Workshop Time: 10:45 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session addresses basic immigration law and administrative practices. Topics for 2026 include the legal issues facing immigrants and their families today; recent (Trump Administration) changes in laws, policies, and practices that affect documented and undocumented immigrants; the services available (and not available) to immigrants by law; and some local resources available to help them.

Workshop Objectives:

• Attendees will learn the definition of undocumented people and immigrants and be introduced to policies and practices that impact them.
• Attendees will understand the key changes in administrative practices initiated by the current federal administration and actions taken by legal advocates for immigrants in response.
• Attendees will be able to identify available resources within local communities for supporting undocumented persons and immigrants.

Presenter Bio:                        

Sophia Arshad (J.D., Valparaiso University) is the managing partner of the law firm, Arshad, Pangere, and Warring LLP. Licensed to practice in state and federal courts, she deals with a variety of issues including estate planning, probate, family law, immigration matters, and citizenship. As part of her graduate work in law, attorney Arshad earned a joint Master of Arts degree in Psychological Foundations. She has taught immigration law and labor and employment law at Davenport University.

Workshop Time: 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

Belonging is a crucial, innate need that influences our daily decisions, motivation, problem-solving, and overall well-being.  Genuine belonging fosters resilience and positive health outcomes in us and those we serve.  This workshop addresses the power of belonging through the four-directional model: internal, horizontal, vertical, and external.  The workshop will empower participants to embrace belonging and bridge the gap for others while offering a fresh perspective and intention for impactful work.

Workshop Objectives: 

• Participants will understand how and why belonging is a fundamental need for everyone
• Participants will understand how belonging impacts development
• Participants will understand how and why belonging matters in the workplace
• Participants will understand how belonging allows human service workers to successfully serve in their roles

Presenter Bio:  

Gaelin Elmore is a former foster child (10+ years) and NFL athlete who has become a nationally recognized keynote speaker and belonging expert. He has worked with Fortune 500 companies, state agencies, and small locally-run nonprofit organizations, all with the same mission – to create environments where EVERYONE can thrive:  teams, leaders, AND clients.  Mr. Elmore’s keynote addresses and workshops are a perfect blend of humor, practicality, and hard truth that challenges, connects, and changes every audience he shares space with.  His message, passion, and story has led him to stages in thirty-nine different states in the last year alone.  Even still, the most important stage where Gaelin gets to practice what he preaches is at home with his superstar wife, Micaela, and their superstar children (depending on the day), Laniah, Gideon, and Tatum.

Workshop Time: 10:15 AM to 12:00 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session focuses on why and how to safely store firearms when children are in the home and how and what to teach children about guns to keep them safe. This practical, judgment-free workshop will provide a variety of tips to keep families safe including where they can get gun locks, precisely what to teach children about firearms including what they should do if they encounter one, and advice on protecting children when their friends’ families have guns in the home.

Workshop Objectives:

• Attendees will understand the basic principles of gun operation and safe storage of firearms and ammunition.
• Attendees will become aware of the availability of gun safety resources including free gun locks and more formal gun safety training.
• Attendees will be able to teach children and families about gun safety and understand ��è����Ƶ law on the liability of homeowners for failing to secure firearms.

Presenter Bios:

Erica Rios is a Police Social Worker at Griffith Police Department with 10 years of social work experience in child welfare and public service. Erica earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2013 from ��è����Ƶ. She started her social work career working with children and families in need of services as a Family Case Manager with the ��è����Ƶ Department of Child Services. Erica graduated with a Master of Social Work in 2017 with honors from ��è����Ƶ. She completed her mental health and addiction concentration practicum through a pilot internship with the Griffith Police Department. Erica began her work with the Griffith Police Department in January 2018 as ��è����Ƶ’s first embedded Police Social Worker. Erica is a licensed social worker providing officers and their families with mental health training, access to wellness resources, and education on trending social issues. She facilitates community-focused training and education on mental health, substance abuse, child/elder abuse, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. Erica represents Griffith Police Department on several coalitions and multi-disciplinary teams to foster positive collaboration with government, non-profit, and local human service agencies in Lake County. 

Sgt. Jeffrey A. Gang is a veteran member of the Griffith Police Department and a former U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist/Combat Security Police officer who served both in the United States and overseas. Since joining the Griffith Police Department, he has served in a variety of leadership roles and developed a strong commitment to training, preparedness, and community partnership. A certified Law Enforcement Firearms and Active Shooter Response Instructor, he has dedicated much of his career to equipping officers and schools with the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in critical situations. Currently, Sgt. Gang serves with the Northwest Regional SWAT as the team’s Public Information Officer and Crisis Negotiations Team Leader. He is also assigned as a School Resource Officer for Griffith Public Schools, where he works closely with students, staff, and families to promote safety, trust, and positive relationships within the school community.

Workshop Time: 12:15 PM to 2:15 PM

(Note: workshop participants will view the video, Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age, during the lunch hour to prepare for this session, please pick up your box lunch in the Moraine Center and proceed to Hawthorn Hall – Room 107 for the beginning of the video at 12:15 PM. The discussion will begin immediately after the end of the video.)

Workshop Summary:

Last year the Fort Wayne-based School Care Team provided two excellent workshops for IUN forum goers. This session features a quick review of the services provided by northwest ��è����Ƶ’s version of the School Care Team – Geminus Corporation’s programming under ��è����Ƶ’s Regional Evidence Based School and Community Prevention Program – and a special showing and discussion of Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age.  A panel of local, experienced users of the video will review it and explain how they use it in their work.  They will also review the resources available to extend the impact of the video including a parent guide, a book on parenting in the screen age, podcasts, YouTube videos, and Tech Talk Tuesdays, a library of 450 blogs from Screenagers’ filmmaker, Dr. Delaney Ruston.

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will become aware of the services provided locally by Geminus Corporation under the Regional Evidence Based School and Community Prevention Program.
• Participants will understand how to use the Screenagers video in their work with teens and in their service to parents of teenagers.
• Participants will become aware of and be able to use the many resources available to build upon the video, Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age.

Presenter Bios: 

Amanda Morrison, MS, CPS has nearly two decades of experience advancing prevention and behavioral health systems across ��è����Ƶ.  She currently serves as Director of Prevention Services at Geminus Corporation, a member of Regional Care Group, where she provides executive leadership in strategic planning, fiscal oversight, grant compliance, and program performance. She oversees complex state and federal funding streams, leads multidisciplinary teams, and ensures initiatives are aligned with measurable community impact and long-term sustainability.

Amanda began her prevention career working directly in coalition development and remains deeply committed to grassroots community engagement as a founding leader and ongoing partner of Supporting Addiction Free Environments, a local drug-free coalition focused on reducing substance misuse and strengthening protective factors for youth and families. Her ability to bridge executive strategy with community-based action has been a defining strength throughout her career.

Earlier in her professional journey, she contributed to statewide prevention strategy and infrastructure through work with ��è����Ƶ Family & Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction and ��è����Ƶ University Bloomington’s ��è����Ƶ Prevention Resource Center. She holds a Master of Science in Applied Health Science with a concentration in Health Promotion and maintains certifications as a Prevention Specialist and Mental Health First Aid and QPR Instructor.

Recognized for collaborative leadership, operational excellence, and a steadfast commitment to community wellbeing, Amanda continues to champion data-driven, partnership-centered solutions that strengthen individuals, families, and systems across the region.

Outside of her professional work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, tending to her flowers and garden, taking long walks with her furson, Marco Blu, and creating meaningful experiences with her 12-year-old niece through fun and educational adventures.

Sgt. Monte White, Sr. is a 20-year veteran with the Hobart Police Department and has served as a School Resource Officer (SRO) and SRO Supervisor for the School City of Hobart for the past eight years. His dedication to youth advocacy and community safety is demonstrated by his work as the Law Enforcement Chair for the S.A.F.E. Coalition, where he manages the distribution of $300,000 in annual grant funding for substance abuse awareness and harm reduction.

He has been a driving force behind innovative safety and wellness initiatives, including the School City of Hobart district-wide implementation of A.L.I.C.E. safety protocols and the GoGuardian Beacon program at the police level, which provides proactive mental health services to students. Sgt. White also instructs the "Decisions That Stick" anti-drug course and was named Officer of the Year in 2014 for his work with the Community Athletic Program (CAP) that fostered positive relationships between law enforcement and youth.

Erica Rios-Corbin is the Police Social Worker at Griffith Police Department with 10 years of social work experience in child welfare and public service. Erica earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2013 from ��è����Ƶ. She started her social work career working with children and families in need of services as a Family Case Manager with the ��è����Ƶ Department of Child Services for 5 years in the Permanency Division. Erica graduated with a Master of Social Work in 2017 with honors from ��è����Ƶ. She completed her mental health and addiction concentration practicum through a pilot internship with Griffith Police Department. Erica began her work with Griffith Police Department in January 2018 as ��è����Ƶ’s first embedded Police Social Worker. Erica is a licensed social worker providing officers and their families with mental health training, access to wellness resources, and education on trending social issues. She facilitates community-focused training and education on mental health, substance abuse, child/elder abuse, intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. Erica provides support and resource referrals to victims of intimate partner abuse, individuals with substance use disorder, and children and families needing community resources and services. She also works directly with Griffith Public Schools identifying at-risk students requiring additional support at home and school and providing staff, students, and their families with tiered prevention programs addressing drug and alcohol use, bullying, and suicide prevention. Erica represents Griffith Police Department on several coalitions and multi-disciplinary teams to foster positive collaboration with government, non-profit, and local human service agencies in Lake County.

Erica's passion is to grow the police social work program in Northwest ��è����Ƶ by working with neighboring law enforcement agencies to identify their communities' needs and create programs that improve outcomes for officers and the people they serve.

Workshop Time: 1:00 to 2:15 PM

Workshop Summary:

Foster Success, Inc. is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring teens and young adults transitioning out of foster care are educated, housed, financially stable, employed, and connected to a reliable support system by their 26th birthday. Foster Success supports 14-26-year-olds transitioning out of foster care through a variety of programs including: Financial Empowerment, Youth Engagement, Health & Well-Being, Workforce Readiness, and Educational Success. This session will inform participants about all Foster Success programs and resources and how to access them.

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will understand the problems faced by those aging out of foster care.
• Participants will become aware of the services provided to those aging out of care by Foster Success and other organizations.
• Participants will understand the role of the ��è����Ƶ Foster Youth Alliance in supporting those aging out of the system and the planning processes involving foster care and child welfare.

Presenter Bio: 

Angel Crone, MPH, joined the Foster Success, Inc. team in the fall of 2021 as the Director of Health and Well-Being and has since been promoted to Vice President of Programs, where she oversees the national program team, ensuring programs are implemented with fidelity and aligned to national standards while remaining responsive to local context and youth voice. Angel holds a bachelor’s degree in public health and human sexuality and a master’s degree in public health, both from ��è����Ƶ University. She has spent her entire professional career working within the child welfare systems of ��è����Ƶ. From mothers and babies to teens and non-traditional families, the guidepost of her work is celebrating and uplifting the strengths and voices of youth and families. Angel was born in rural southern ��è����Ƶ and holds a special interest in ensuring access to resources for all communities, both rural and urban. She is a lover of cats, horror movies, and rainy days!

Workshop Time: 1:00 to 2:15 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session focuses on the rights of immigrants and their families in 2026 and the impact of the new administration’s policies and practices on families. Topics include the rights of immigrants in encounters with law enforcement, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, the Border Patrol and others; rights to legal representation; and the impact of new policies and practices on everyday life for immigrants and their families.

Workshop Objectives:

• Attendees will understand and be able to communicate to immigrants and their families their rights, including their right to legal counsel, when they encounter various law enforcement agencies (e.g., local police and ICE agents).
• Attendees will understand how the key changes in administrative practices initiated by the current federal administration have affected the daily lives of immigrants and their families.
• Attendees will be able to identify some resources within local communities for supporting immigrants and their families.

Presenter Bio:

Anthony Burrell (M.A., Psychology, Walden; BS, Psychology, IU Bloomington) is Founder and Executive Director of the Chicagoland Immigrant Welcome Network based in Hammond ��è����Ƶ (2014 – present). His organization provides hosting and orientation programs for refugee and asylum-seeking families, a US Justice Department certified legal clinic for immigrants, and a special program serving Syrian refugee children and families.  He has been an accredited US Department of Justice Legal Representative since 2015. His training credentials include speaking engagements for the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities.

Workshop Time: 1:00 to 2:15 PM

Workshop Summary:

A panel of volunteers discuss a variety of issues related to sexual/gender identity.  Topics include common problems faced by families, best practices for working with families, updated language on these matters, and safe places to ask questions about sexual/gender identity. 

Workshop Objectives:

• Attendees will learn about the best practices in the field and gain information about the LGBTQAI + population.
• Attendees will be introduced to public policies that support families, and individuals in the LGBTQAI+ community.
• Attendees will gain knowledge about support groups and organizations.

Presenter Bio:

Natalie Lukich, LMHC (M.S. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Purdue University Northwest) is LGBTQ Program Coordinator and Supervisor of Resource Family Support at Crown Counseling Services in Crown Point, ��è����Ƶ. She is founder and co-facilitator of an affirming support group, Pride Initiative, which provides support and education for the families, friends, and allies of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning community. She is a trainer for the Department of Child Services and other social service organizations on issues related to LGBTQ youth.

Workshop Time: 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM

Workshop Summary:

The Identification and Management of Pediatric Experiences of Trauma and Underlying Stress (IMPETUS) project brings together university researchers, clinicians, and students, with community pediatric clinics and providers to increase and enhance child trauma prevention and intervention efforts throughout Northern ��è����Ƶ. Now entering its third year, over 20,000 children and families have been impacted by this project, including over 10,000 children screened for pediatric traumatic stress, and over 1,500 evidence-based interventions provided. Presenters will discuss the development and integration of the neuroscience-informed Care Process Model for Pediatric Traumatic Stress (CPM-PTS) in Northern ��è����Ƶ, focusing on strategies for improving trauma-informed care in pediatric medicine, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and addressing barriers to implementation. This session will provide an overview of the project and brief demonstrations of the most frequently used brief in-office interventions. 

 Workshop Objectives: 

• Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the goals and early outcomes of the IMPETUS project. 
• Upon completion, participants will be able to identify key challenges faced in integrating pediatric traumatic stress screening and intervention in primary care settings. 
• Upon completion, participants will be able to discusslessons learned from the IMPETUS project regarding interdisciplinary collaboration, implementation challenges, and opportunities for expanding trauma-responsive partnerships across Northern ��è����Ƶ.

Presenter Bio: 

Dr. Amanda Zelechoski (zell-uh-husky) is a licensed clinical and forensic psychologist and attorney, specializing in trauma. She is a Clinical Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame and Director of Clinical Services at the Veldman Family Psychology Clinic. Her research interest lies at the intersection of psychology, law, and trauma, particularly for underserved populations. This includes evaluating psychological and forensic assessment methods, as well as working across systems to make evidence-based, trauma-informed practices more accessible. Dr. Zelechoski is board-certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and is currently the principal investigator or co-investigator on several trauma-informed capacity-building and implementation grant-funded projects for child-serving systems (e.g., juvenile justice, pediatric primary care, outpatient mental health, and K-12 education). She is passionate about “giving psychology away” through knowledge translation and dissemination initiatives, such as the digital resource hub, , and , and  podcast projects.

Workshop Time: 1:00 PM to 2:15 PM

Workshop Summary:

This session provides an introduction to the science of trauma and its impact on the nervous system.  It then explores how traditional therapeutic approaches can be combined with body-based, trauma-informed practices to help individuals and professionals manage stress, regulate their nervous systems, and build resilience.  Participants will explore the use of live healing sounds (crystal singing bowls, rainsticks, and ocean drums) for nervous system calming along with practical strategies for integrating these tools into professional and personal self-care routines.

Workshop Objectives:

• Participants will understand the science of trauma and its impact on the nervous system.
• Participants will experience several somatic healing approaches and understand how they can be used in self-care.
• Participants will be able to apply these tools to their professional practices and personal self-care routines.

Presenter Bio:

Tiffany Green Mikel, LCSW (MSW – Chicago State University, 2009) is the founder of Resilient Mental Health and Wellness Solutions.  She is a licensed clinical social worker, registered trauma-informed yoga instructor, and holistic wellness practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in mental health and community engagement.  She has worked in a variety of child welfare, juvenile justice, and crisis intervention settings where she has found great satisfaction in accompanying individuals on their healing journeys and in supporting their growth and fulfillment.