CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Turning on the Light: Immigration Laws That Protect Vulnerable Children and Families

Gina Fraga, Esq. | Immigration Attorney - Acosta & Fraga Law, PLLC

​Immigration status can influence whether abuse is reported or whether families access services. This workshop, presented by an immigration attorney, provides a basic overview of immigration protections available to vulnerable children and families. Participants will learn how schools, therapists, social workers, and law enforcement intersect with immigration law. 

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Connecting the Dots: Social Media Investigations in the 21st Century

Dr. Steve Webb | President – Safe Secure Systems

Join our Keynote Speaker and author of the book "Education in a Violent World: A Practical Guide to Keeping Our Kids Safe", Dr. Steve Webb, as he continues the conversation of the dangers of social media usage and provides 21st century investigation techniques to help protect our kids from violence.

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Long-term Impact of Grooming by Today's Most Prolific Sex Criminal

Randee Kogan, LMHC, CSA, CDV, CFT | Therapist, Owner – Kogan Counseling Services

Hundreds of women were groomed as minors, sexually exploited, and trafficked by one wealthy, powerful pedophile. The audience follows a timeline from when they first met this man to the present. The workshop will focus on the impact their 20-year trauma timeline has had on their lives.

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Preverbal Trauma and Its Impact on Adulthood

Jacy Mesch, LCSW | Executive Clinical Director - Lukas Counseling

This training focuses on understanding how trauma experienced during the preverbal stage (infancy to around age three) affects emotional, cognitive, and relational development throughout life. 

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From Survival to Stability: The Postpartum Support Bridge

Angelique Adderly MHA, M.Jur., CD, CLE | President - Sereni Postnatal Retreat

This presentation explores how culturally responsive birth and postpartum support can reduce perinatal depression and strengthen child and family wellbeing. Attendees will explore the postpartum period as a critical window of intervention that supports parental mental health, promotes healthy attachment, and positively influences outcomes for children and families.

 

Helping Children Manage Big Emotions

Diane Kelly Andreou, PhD | Psychologist - Palm Beach County Youth Services Department

This interactive workshop will explore how children develop emotional regulation skills and the vital role adults play in this process. Designed for parents and professionals, this presentation offers practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to support children’s emotional growth, resilience, and positive behavior across settings.

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Normal Expressions of Sexuality in Children

Lawrence Siegel, PhD, CSE, CSES | Director of Education and Training - Sage Institute for Family Development

This session will present an overview of sexuality and sexual conditioning, as well as a developmental perspective on healthy sexual expression. The session will focus on typical developmental childhood sexual expression and present ways to differentiate between normative and potentially problematic or abuse-related sexual behavior in children.

Why We Disconnect: The Science of Communication and Connection

Anna Elton PhD, LMFT, CST | CEO - Longwood Care

Explore the emotional patterns that shape how we connect, communicate, and grow apart. Dr. Anna Elton shares research-based insights and practical tools to improve communication, rebuild trust, and strengthen emotional closeness in relationships, helping partners, parents, and professionals understand what keeps connection alive.

Where Is the Compassion When the Caregiver Is Fatigued?

Nefretiri McGriff, LMHC | Licensed Psychologist - Boystown Behavioral Health Clinic

​This session explores the emotional toll of caregiving through the lens of compassion fatigue. Participants will gain practical strategies to recognize warning signs, restore balance, and model self-compassion, both personally and professionally, without carrying the weight of everyone else’s needs.

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Behavior is Communication: Behavioral Science Principles for Understanding Challenging Behavior of Children and Adolescents 

Marcela Galicia, PhD, NCSP | Founder - Transcendent Living

​This workshop provides an introduction to behavioral science principles used to decrease youth challenging behavior (e.g., tantrums, elopement, etc.). Topics covered include behavior functions, prevention strategies, and positive behavior supports. This workshop is geared toward school staff, parents/caregivers, and anyone who wants to approach problem behavior with empathy and science. 

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